Anyone Have Experience With Home Or Portable Oxygen Systems?

Rickochet

My wife has been dealing with some serious health issues recently and a few days ago got her third red bus ride to the ER in the last three months. This past one was a real scare. After a stressful day with two Dr. appointments one of which was a 2 hour chemo infusion. She was very tired when we got home so she laid down to nap. After checking on her several times I decided to wake her up. I couldn't wake her up so I called 911. She is now at the hospital and doing better. One issue she had was that her O2 level was very low. She is doing better but she is either occasionaly wearing a canula for supplemental 02 and they put her on a BiPap making for periods to help reduce her CO2 levels. She hates the BiPap and fights with that mask.

I haven't discussed this with the Dr. yet but I am guessing that after going home she is going to need some type of supplemental O2 for at least the short term. I don't know squat about O2 systems other than the old tank type and the stationary and portable concentrators and trying to get up to speed so I can be ready when I get her home. I am doing internet searches but there is too much info. If anyone has any experience with this I would appreciate any info you can provide. TIA

sdandrea1

Wow! Best wishes for her recovery Rick🙏

My mom lugged a tank around for 10 years but that was ages ago. I'm not sure what technology is available now.

Rickochet

sdandrea1 Wow! Best wishes for her recovery Rick🙏

My mom lugged a tank around for 10 years but that was ages ago. I'm not sure what technology is available now.

I am hoping to stay away from tanks if possible. My wife is very weak and dragging a tank around would be an issue. Thanks Steve.

PA-PLAYA

I was looking into portable battery operated machines for my mom while she was still living. She had to take a mini tank with her wherever she went. She was on supplemental oxygen 24/7.

The reviews go from one extreme to another. So I recommend that she talk to her doctor to get some knowledgeable feedback. The higher quality ones (reliable) are not cheap. Not sure if insurance will cover it, but it would definitely be worth looking into.

Rickochet

PA-PLAYA So I recommend that she talk to her doctor to get some knowledgeable feedback. The higher quality ones (reliable) are not cheap. Not sure if insurance will cover it, but it would definitely be worth looking into.

I have not talked to the Dr. yet and not sure what the needs are. I have Humana Medicare and they do cover this equipment but I am not sure about which ones. Expense is not an issue but insurance coverage would be nice. The lightest weight portable unit would be good. The Inogen unit seems to be the lightest. At this point I am not sure if she needs it 24/7 or not. They had her walking to the restroom at the ER without anything and she would get short winded by the time she got back to her room and put the cannula on and she recovered quickly. Thanks for the info.

Rickochet

Geez, I just got a call from her, "Come get me!" She hasn't been released but wants me to come get her. I think I am in for a fun day. 😟

qotsarock

If it's for home use, you could look into oxygen concentrator machine. My wife has one in a central location and uses a long oxygen cord to get around. For mobile use, you can get a portable, battery-powered, backpack style concentrator that lasts 2 hours or so per charge. If your wife's oxygen needs are high, the portable concentrator may not have enough flow...then you are stuck with bottled air when out and about. We get this stuff through our insurance. Best wishes to your wife!

Rickochet

qotsarock If it's for home use, you could look into oxygen concentrator machine. My wife has one in a central location and uses a long oxygen cord to get around. For mobile use, you can get a portable, battery-powered, backpack style concentrator that lasts 2 hours or so per charge. If your wife's oxygen needs are high, the portable concentrator may not have enough flow...then you are stuck with bottled air when out and about. We get this stuff through our insurance. Best wishes to your wife!

Thanks for the info. When I went to visit yesterday the Dr. told me that they were giving her a 1/2 liter flow rate hoping to wean her off of it completely so I am guessing a portable unit will work if needed. Most seem to have a 1-9 liter flow rate. I also found out yesterday that she has a bit of pneumonia they are treating so once that it cleared up her breathing should improve.

Typhoon

Sorry to hear what you guys are going through… best wishes for a nice recovery for her. So sorry.

Martee

Very sorry to hear, here is wishing you both the best.

For the last 2 years I have a home concentrator, long line, centerally located, works well for single story.

Mobile is a POC, depending on the flow and if is on demand or fulltime determines its tike. Mu unit has provisions for AC while charging and using. Also came with car adapter. Also mine has theoversize battery almost doubling its use time.
I did discover the carrying POC for short distance showed me how week i had become. Shopping carts or buddy can be real friends walking around in walmert.

Im sure the doc will suggest you exercise/yoga. My exercising started out just try daily activities, such picking up a bookbor magazine and around the rooms till i could walk with no labored breathing and no 02.

The chemo really can take major toll on the body, the treatment the effect become accumulative. Stay Positive, Stay Strong

backinit

No info, but hoping for a good outcome, Rick.

Rickochet

When I went to visit yesterday her O2 levels had greatly improved as well as her recovery rate after exertion which is good. She had not used the BiPap since the day before and she was not wearing the cannula nose O2 the whole time I was there which is also good. The nurse told me that at some point they will do a final eval and make recommendations for any needed supplemental 02. The hospital also has a coordinator to help with equipment acquisition and insurance. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions.

accufitgolf

For home use an oxygen generator with a 50ft cannula tube is sufficient. . There are portable (battery) oxygenators. The up to 3 liter ones are not terribly expensive. On the portable ones you want ones that will charge off of house electricity and charge in car. Portable ones can be used overnight by running on electricity. Pay attention to battery life on portable ones.

Trust me. I know what I speak of. feel free to send me Email if you need more information. accufitgolf(at)aol.com.

Rickochet

accufitgolf For home use an oxygen generator with a 50ft cannula tube is sufficient. . There are portable (battery) oxygenators. The up to 3 liter ones are not terribly expensive. On the portable ones you want ones that will charge off of house electricity and charge in car. Portable ones can be used overnight by running on electricity. Pay attention to battery life on portable ones.

Trust me. I know what I speak of. feel free to send me Email if you need more information. accufitgolf(at)aol.com.

Unfortunately things have taken a wicked change since I started this post. My wife was in the hospital get treatment to get her 02 up and it was doing better everyday and they were going to send her home on Friday. As I walk into her room there are about 8 people. She had a heart attack. They got her stabilized quickly and obviously she wasn't going home that day. She had another cardiac issue that night. She had several health issues she is dealing with. Apparently the small cell lung cancer went nuts and was pressing on her heart. She is too small and frail for any surgical intervention. She has been getting worse everyday and less alert. This morning I don't think she recognized me. She is in not pain and resting comfortably. All of the docs are recommending Hospice and discontinue other efforts. One doctor said she only had a few days or weeks left. Hospice said that if they do what they are allowed to do she will probably be gone in hours. There is no good option. Her son and I will be meeting with the hospital dude and Hospice to make a choice.

This is the worst thing I have ever had to deal with. We met on a blind date and have been married 39 years. We Ham and Egged it from the getgo and pretty much did everything together. We have seldom spent a night apart. It kills me to watch our little dog search the house looking for mama knowing she isn't coming home again. 😭

scotts33

Rickochet I am very sorry to hear this Rick!

Walterjn

Rickochet I am so very sorry!!
Is there any way you can get to take the dog to visit her??
Some hospitals allow that

Eguller

Rickochet

So Sorry.... I'm very sad reading this and I cannot imagine what you are going thorough.
Wishing you peace and comfort now and the days ahead.

Par4QC

Rickochet Her son and I will be meeting with the hospital dude and Hospice to make a choice.

Seems like only yesterday I went through this. The worst thing a man may ever have to do for his wife. But also the most loving thing he'll ever do for her.
I'm feeling your pain, and shedding tears.

Baaab

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Rick

Rickochet

Walterjn Is there any way you can get to take the dog to visit her??

I had thought of that but today she was totally out of it and wouldn't have noticed her.

Rickochet

Eguller So Sorry.... I'm very sad reading this and I cannot imagine what you are going thorough.

Maybe bad planning on my part. We have wills and all of that but I never considered all of the gut wrenching decisions that needed to be made. Maybe I had hoped I would go first. She is a tough nut and would have handled it better than I am. I have gone through a bunch of boxes of tissue.

Walterjn

Rickochet maybe not, however it might help the pup not search the house as much.