An Easier Way to Deliver Oxygen at Home
There must be a better way!
For those of you using supplemental oxygen, you know it is a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because without it we would die, but a curse because it is so difficult to access, use, and live with daily. Check out my previous column about my frustrations using supplemental oxygen.
I’m forever tripping on the cords, trying to unkink them, and urging my husband to stop standing on them. You know what I mean.
A new solution
I recently tried a new way to deliver supplemental oxygen at home and I want to tell you about it. A few months ago, I heard about a system by Captive Technologies called StationMaster. I recently got it for Christmas, and it has made my life easier, so I wanted to tell you about it. Please note, I receive no financial benefit from recommending this system to you.
It consists of a central box where you send your oxygen from a concentrator, or in my case, a tank of liquid oxygen. There are four tubes to send oxygen from the central box out into other rooms. Each room has a smaller box into which you plug your cannula. Check out this quick video I made to show you how it works.
This has eliminated cords throughout the house, reduced tripping, and is less of a hassle for my husband, too. It’s easy to install, but you’ll need someone to help you. The only tool you need is scissors!
Here’s a link to the brochure if you’d like to learn more, as well as a link to the company’s video about this product.
It is a little pricey but has made a quality of life difference, which is very important to me. I can’t control so many things, so I try to make small changes that increase my quality of life whenever possible. I purchased it for $100 less here!
How about you?
What do you think about this new way of delivering oxygen? Do you think it could be a help to you? Have you found other ways that make using oxygen at home a little easier?
I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below, and share with those who could benefit via email or on social media. We’re in this together!
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Note: Pulmonary Fibrosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Fibrosis News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary fibrosis.
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Comments
Judi Zoboli
Just curious. What happens when you want to go outside?
Kim Fredrickson
Hi Judi, great question. It's the same when I use the longer cord. It only reaches a few feet out the door, so I use a portable oxygen stroller to go outside.
Mary Lasowski
Thanks for the new info always need good news.
Kim Fredrickson
I'm so glad it was helpful Mary. It really has helped me a lot!
Robin Ives
Oh Kim I can't wait to get home and show this to George!! After 1 month I can see how much better this would be without the tangle on the floor!!
Kim Fredrickson
Hi Robin! I'm so glad...it really has helped! I had to use the other cord yesterday, while my hubby tinkered with it, and it was so much worse. I'm grateful for it! My one bit of advice is to use extra tape to attach the units to the wall. You can also use the screws they provide. Yay!!!
Maureen Lake
This is a good idea! I presently only use O2 on exertion. When I need it I would consider this.
Thanks for sharing
Maureen Lake
Kim Fredrickson
So glad this was helpful Maureen. It really has helped me a lot! Thanks for sharing.
Julia
Thanks for sharing this, I will share with my pulmonary rehab patients.
Kim Fredrickson
Hi Julia, I'm so glad it is helpful, and I'm so glad you'll be sharing with your patients. Wonderful!
ash
Hi Kim -
Hope you are well. Was curious to know if you are keeping an eye on clinicaltrial.gov?
These things are so hard. Also - how does one private message here?
Thanks.
Kim Fredrickson
Hi Ash, My pulmonologist is pretty good about keeping up on the trials. I see another specialist next week, too, and I'll ask them too. As far as contacting me, you can always e-mail me at [email protected] Thanks for your comment.
Lisa D Neal
What do you do about changing the tubing? It sounds great! I am forever in a tangled mess! My 4 yr old twin granddaughters pull my tubing from underneath my closed door when I lay down in my bedroom if they decide they need me! This would eliminate that!
Kim Fredrickson
Hi Lisa, I'm going to change the 25 ft cord I plug into each room once a month. You never have to change the wide clear tubing between rooms. Yes, this would outsmart your granddaughters! It is really great! My one bit of advice is to use extra tape to attach the units to the wall. You can also use the screws they provide. Great!
Russel J Fabre
For those who like to tinker. I purchased Colder PLCD22004 and PLCD17004 valved quick disconnect fittings and 100 feet of ATP vinyl flex PVC tubing and routed the hose from my machine in the basement through the false ceiling into my rooms upstairs. Each room has a female quick disconnect installed in the closets through the walls. The hose I move around with has two 7 foot sections with a swivel connection with a male quick disconnect. When I want to move to another room, I just unplug and move to the next room and plug in again. Took me months to accomplish because of my limitations! I have a 75 foot by 100 foot shop that I plumbed the same way. Outside I changed a golf cart to accommodate two E tanks valved together to extend my time outdoors. I was diagnosed with IPF 5 years ago and require supplemental oxygen at 8 lpm 24/7. I have my bad days but will work through them like everyone else on this page does. I value my independence and get frustrated with this body, but thanks to stabilizing help of my wife I manage!
Kim Fredrickson
Russel, you are so amazing with your amazing solutions! I love your creativity, skills and passion to live the best life possible. Thanks for sharing!!!
Peggy
I think I saw 3 Liquid Oxygen containers in your home , I didn't think they would let you have that much in your home ,because of the fire hazard.This is a great idea ,maybe they will perfect it with a better set up Thanks for sharing
Kim Fredrickson
Hi Peggy, Thanks so much for your comment. I am grateful they will let me have 3 LOX tanks. I need that much to get through the week. I hope this new system is a blessing to you :)
Deborah Herndon
What is tve cost and where do you purchase?
Kim Fredrickson
Hi Deborah, I included a link in the column to purchase. You can ciick it to order. The cost is $370.
David Collard
Kim - thanks for your ideas and solutions to moving oxygen around the home. How and why did you select liquid oxygen over oxygen gas? and at what rate are the settings. I am assuming that it is set a constant rate of 2.5 or do you have it at a higher rate.
A further question relates to filling canisters for use out side the home. My current oxygen system generates oxygen which is directed into a 50 ft tube for through out the house and it also has a device which will fill canisters that I can take with me outside for usage at 2.5 for about 2 hours. Can you do the same with liquid oxygen?
Kim Fredrickson
Hi David! Great questions. I used gas O2 and a POC when out and about for 2 years. As I worsened, and needed more O2 I switched to liquid because it can give much higher levels of O2, especially when leaving home. My old POC (portable oxygen concentrator) only went up to 6 pulse -- which is more like 3.5 continual flow. My liquid portable strollers go up to 15 lpm. Currently I use 8 lpm while sitting and 10 lpm while walking. I fill the portable strollers from the big tanks you saw in the video. I have a lot more O2 videos on my website -- hope they are a help. http://kimfredrickson.com/videos-pulmonary-fibrosis/
George Clayton
Hi Kim
When you first posted this I was intrigued but thought it was pricey. So much today is full of empty or exaggerated promises and so I was hesitant. Well I finally decided with all the future challenges I am facing I realized IF it works it would be worth the investment.
Thank you !!!
This is worth it. It performs as advertised and effectively distributes o2 throughout the house. In stead of my wife Dee and I tripping over the long hose and having to drag it around, I now effortlessly disconnect, move to another room and "Jack In"!
The installation is straight forward and easy, just a bit of pre-planning & moving slowly gets the job done.
Thanks for all you do for us!
Jen Holden
Kim,
Is this is stuff still working well for you? I'm a social work case manager and have several clients who could benefit from this system to avoid entanglement risks with tubing on the floor.
Jen Holden
Sorry, meant to say "Is this system..."
Kim Fredrickson
Yes it really does! Once I started hooking up 3 tanks (which should be 3 x 6 liters =18) it affected how much it put out - more like 15-717 liters per min.
I’m on a really high flow so this shouldn’t affect those on a lower flow.
How wonderful you are advocating for their needs!
Mark
Can you hook the system up to a bipap machine at night to sleep. Because you need oxygen 24/7?
Amy
Hi Kim, this is wonderful. I’m hoping to build an ADA home for my grandparents and wanted to include a system like this for my grandfather to move around easily without my grandmother tripping on his tubes. She suffers from macular degeneration and her eyesight has gotten so bad that now she cannot see the clear tubes and trips on them. The tubes everywhere are dangerous for both of them. This system is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!!
Lisa Dettmer
Russel J Fabre, Is the setup you’ve done just the items you listed or is it coupled with this Station Master system? I would like more info from you on yours as I am trying to set my mom up with less of a trip hazard. The Station Master system has 3 connects but we could use more. Please let me know your thoughts and what you did for your home. Thank you!