Tips to Make Using Oxygen Tubing a Little Easier

Kim Fredrickson avatar

by Kim Fredrickson |

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Just breathe, passionate help for the PF journey

Using supplemental oxygen is a mixed bag. It is wonderful because it gives us the oxygen we need to keep our body healthy and to stay alive. It is hard due to many reasons I shared in a previous column, including dealing with the tubing.

I’ve discovered a few tricks over the last 3½ years of using supplemental oxygen that make wrestling with the tubing a little easier. It’s my pleasure to share them with you.

New tubing

I always love taking out a new roll of oxygen tubing. It is fresh and new, with no kinks … yet. The downside is that it is hard to get the coils out of the tubing, which makes it a tripping hazard. Here’s a trick I learned to make it stay flat.

  • Take the tubing out of the plastic bag and put it in a mesh laundry bag (the kind you use to wash delicate items in your washer).
  • Put the bag and 3-4 towels in your dryer, and set the heat at low.
  • Run the dryer for 10 minutes and take out the laundry bag.
  • Remove the tubing from the bag. It will be a little warm.
  • Take the tubing and stretch it out. You can do this with another person or by yourself. Make sure you don’t let either end touch the floor, to avoid germs.

 

Share your opinion and join the discussion about oxygen in our Pulmonary Fibrosis News forums!

 

I made a video to show you how to do this. It works great. The tubing will lie flat on the ground, and no more tripping!

Oxygen connectors

(Photo by Kim Fredrickson)

Most oxygen companies provide you with a solid plastic connector that joins your tubing to your cannula. This does the job, but it doesn’t help with the tubing getting easily tangled. Ask your oxygen provider if it has swivel connectors instead. If it doesn’t, you can buy them online. The kind I use is $5 for two. They help the tubing not get so tangled. I show you what they look like in the tubing video.

‘Y’ connectors

(Photo by Kim Fredrickson)

As your oxygen needs increase, you may need to connect two tanks or concentrators to give you the amount of oxygen you need. In the video, I show you how I hook two liquid oxygen tanks together to dispense 8 liters per minute of oxygen. Each of my tanks only delivers 6 LPM, so by hooking them together, I can go as high as 12 LPM. The connectors I use are $12 for five.

I hope these tips help to make using oxygen tubing a little easier.

I’d love to hear from you

What tips have helped you to make using supplemental oxygen a little easier? We have so much we can learn from one another.

Please leave a comment below, and share with those who could benefit via email or on social media. We’re in this together!

***

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.

Comments

Candice Cabral avatar

Candice Cabral

We found high flow tubing greatly helped. It’s not as narrow and was suggested by the respiratory therapist. (Ours was green.)

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

You're so right Candice. That has been helpful to me too!

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Brenda P. Smith avatar

Brenda P. Smith

Kim, I tried this yesterday and was amazed!! The tubing actually lay flat without stretching, but I did anyway and put new swivels on!!! Thank you so very much for your video!!!!

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CHERYL HOLDHEIDE avatar

CHERYL HOLDHEIDE

Why doe my green tubing turn brown?

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Jacob Mandelblum avatar

Jacob Mandelblum

Noticed how the tubing, specially the nostril's part gets hard..????
Is itdue to the oxygen action on the plastic the tubing is made of...????

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Mary Mastin avatar

Mary Mastin

I've tried heating the oxygen tubing in the dryer. Read about it in Pulmonary Papers. It works!

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Thanks Mary!

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Dorita moorman avatar

Dorita moorman

Mine didn't work

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Marcella Arnold avatar

Marcella Arnold

Mine only lasts about 24-36 hours and starts kinking again. I am on 8 liters and use a 40 ft green tube with the plastic tube connector for extra water in tube. It kinks up so badly at times I am not getting any air flow to my nose.I am ready to just give up because even staying in recliner not moving and it still kinks

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Sherri Norton avatar

Sherri Norton

HI! I've been on oxygen for over 2 years. The absolute BEST thing I have discovered is OxyView glasses (oxyview.com). The tubing connects to the frame and there are small nasal pieces that deliver the oxygen to your nose. Most people have to look twice and finally ask if I'm on oxygen. You get the frames online, then have an optometrist make and install your prescription lenses.
I also use a hydration style backpack for the smaller tanks... so easy to shop now. Hope y'all try this!

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Isabel Mickle x avatar

Isabel Mickle x

Sherri Norton. How many liters are you on when you use the backpack. I’m on 6 so it limits me to a lot of things

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Julie Lindgren avatar

Julie Lindgren

I am looking for a way not to cut into ears! I find the gray tube they provide does not work! Any suggestions?

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Joyce avatar

Joyce

I use the grey tubes, however, have to tape them together right to the ends. This of course is done when on the tubing. Now I put them on but Pull them right up to the nose piece. Then I just move them back a bit so they are actually between the nose and the top of the ears. I also find that this does not make any indents in the cheek area. Hope this helps. I never had problems .. but when I would walk around and step on the tubing then it would tighten causing discomfort. This helps for me.

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Peggie West avatar

Peggie West

Sherri, Thank you for sharing the info regarding the Oxyview glasses. I had read information about these glasses months ago but didn't know anyone who had tried them. I'm excited to hear that you are using and would recommend these glasses and I intend to look at the website to order today! Please explain your reference to a hydration style backpack. Thanks again

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Catherine Mills avatar

Catherine Mills

Go to Walmart, biking aisle. Bell makes a water bladder inside a small back pack. Just take out the bladder, and insert a C cylinder O2 tank.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Sherri! I've heard they are wonderful. I checked them out, and was sorry to see they are only for 1 - 5 lpm flow. Wish I'd found them when I was on a lower flow of oxygen. So glad they are a blessing to you.

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Richard avatar

Richard

Sherri, i have been looking for a hydration back pack for my LM6 oxygen tank. So i can continue with golf. Where did u find hydration backpack? Tia. Richard

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Ann Mary avatar

Ann Mary

I got mine from a spring goods store. Dicks or EMS? There are many.

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Isabel Mickle x avatar

Isabel Mickle x

Thank you so much for making the video clip about the tubing and the connectors. I had no idea about the swivel connectors. I will have to check those out.
One huge problem I have we live on one floor home so we have this crazy long cord which keeps getting tangled under my feet. I wish there was a way that the hose would retract like the cord on a vacuum cleaner.
What you do for PF warriors is wonderful. When I was first diagnosed they said 6 months. Well made it up to 3 years. They said I had excellent results on my meds. Ok so now we think 3-5. Some rough times but passed that. This March 2018 it will be 15 years. My health has declined to be expected but I do what I can, pray for comfort, understanding and to help others with this awful disease. A large part of my life is I live for my grandkids. They cheer me on the phone on bad days and just give me energy and a boost when they come over. Kids 13-2 years gives me a whole range of things to be there for, to watch and to cheer on.
You keep what your doing as you are beating the odds. Congrats on being cancer free and beating the odds with this too. I’ll keep you in my prayers. Take care and god bless.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Dear Isabel, Thanks so much for your encouragement. Yahoo for beating the odds! Yahoo! So glad your grandkids are such a joy...so much to live for :) Just said a prayer for you too.

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Ray Hastings avatar

Ray Hastings

my wife and i have a 2year old grandson that we take care of several days a week. he is a hand full bu helps us by helping to keep us moving around . he is really smart and has learned about having my O2 in my NOSE. he can turn on my and if I ur off the o2 machine he will stick 5wo ifingrs into his nose to remind me to hook up my hose to the o2.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

What a wonderful story, and an adorable grandson. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!

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Karen Mayeaux Hill avatar

Karen Mayeaux Hill

My daddy is on oxygen 24=7. I am trying to figure out what I can put on hallway wall to jeep keep straight

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Russel J Fabre avatar

Russel J Fabre

Great tips! I plumbed my house with discreet plugs in each room, but I have found using several 7 foot sections connected with swivel connections works well for me. I leave some sections in each room to I can lengthen or shorten my hoses as needed. Some days I just don't feel like plugging in and out when I go into the rooms, so I just make-up one big line and connect it into the middle room. But, pull that big line around with me during the day reminds me why I took the time to plumb the house in the first place.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Thanks Russel, I love that you've come up with lots of options for dispensing oxygen. Thanks for sharing.

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Tonya avatar

Tonya

What do you mean by plumbed the house?

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Rose Marks avatar

Rose Marks

Where can you buy swivel connections?

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Rose,
I got mine on amazon Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Oxygen-Tubing-Swivel-Connector-1220/dp/B00J5QZDHK/

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Frank J Bush avatar

Frank J Bush

Russel what did you use to plumb your house. Did you put a shutoff at each connection?

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Don avatar

Don

Interesting Thanks

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

You're so welcome!

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Mike Chunn avatar

Mike Chunn

Great tip to get the tubing to lie flat. How long do you use your tubing before changing? Thanks so much for your posts.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Mike,
I've been told to change the tubing every 3 months, and cannula's once a week. Take Care.

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Nuzzi avatar

Nuzzi

years now. Just went to the Veterans and they gave me the concentrator, POC, small tanks and a larger one the I can use to go grocery shoping. Thanks to the Va. It makes it easier for me. I am out an about every day. I have IPF, I do not take any med for this. Tried one and it did not agree with me. Enjoy every day to the fullest.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Nuzzi,

So glad the VA has provided you everything you need. I'm so glad you are able to stay so active. Excellent!

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Rick Ballmer avatar

Rick Ballmer

I would like to ask (Sherri Norton) 2/13/18 4:37pm If she had a picture of the Hydration Style Backpack she was talking about. Thank you.

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Peggie West avatar

Peggie West

Kim, thank you so much for these helpful comments and videos you provide. We had not thought to put the tubing in the dryer but will certainly try that. Also the connector hints are great. My experience, when first needing oxygen about 3 years ago, was that it came with very little information on how to use, or any helpful hints. I would highly recommend that anyone new to oxygen use read you comments on this IPF page. You make it very easy to understand and you are a user of oxygen so you know from experience what you are talking about. Thank you so much for filling a void in this medical to patience learning curve. Blessings to you. You inspire me to be better.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Peggie,
Thanks so much for your encouragement. I'm so happy to know my column and videos are a help to you! That's what I was hoping! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.

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Gail Pfeifer avatar

Gail Pfeifer

i have been putting my tubing in the dryer for a year but can only do it with help. what are your suggestions on how to do it myself as i live alone. your video shows 2 people but the title says do it alone.

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Marj Pedigo avatar

Marj Pedigo

I have PF as well as stage IV lung cancer and am now on 7L of O2 and crank it up for exertion. My problem is getting out of the house now - wasn't an issue when I was on 2-4 liters. Tanks don't last long enough, so what are other people doing to get out of the house and stay mobile and social?

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Marj,
Wow, you are dealing with so much at one time. I'm on 8 lpm, so I know what you mean. I have liquid oxygen. The containers or "strollers" go up to 15 lpm. It can be hard to get, since many providers don't want to provide it. See if your doctor will write a prescription for it, and advocate for you with the provider. The strollers last longer than tanks. It does get so hard to go out as our oxygen needs increase. Thanks for sharing.

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Karen Johns avatar

Karen Johns

https://www.google.com/search?q=hydration+style+backpack&rlz=1C1BLWB_enUS607US607&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6mvvnjqfbAhWr34MKHVggAugQsAQIhwI&biw=1024&bih=637

Pics of the hydration style backpacks.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Thanks so much for sharing Karen.

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Glenda Rouland avatar

Glenda Rouland

The Better Breathers back pack works perfect for tanks. Get on amazon

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Karen Johns avatar

Karen Johns

Kim, I am new to all of this and fresh out of the denial stage, still learning about the condition and what it takes to live and breath each day. You spoke of strollers, which I don't need yet, but does medicare cover it?

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Karen,
So sorry for all the adjustments you are going through. It is tough. If you can get your oxygen provider to approve liquid oxygen, medicare will pay for it and for the strollers. Fight for it! Best to you, Kim

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Norman Lee avatar

Norman Lee

Marj.
Liquid oxygen will get you up to 15 lpm.
Hard to get liquid O2.. Your pulmonary doctor will have to send script to your O2 supplier for 15 litters.
I have 100 lb. Tank in garage. 2 small portables fill from it. Each will last 3-4 hours. Check out . Good luck.

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Susan Hunt avatar

Susan Hunt

Thanks for all the information you provide. I have had IPF for 2 and 1/2 years. I'm taking Ofev and I've noticed my hair thinning recently. I would like to know if anyone taking Ofev is having the same problem.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Susan! Good Question! So sorry you're dealing with this. I'm not on Ofev, but am on cellcept. I have experienced the same thing, and I really hate it. We're dealing with so much and hair loss too! Ugh. Hopefully those on Ofev will respond as well. Blessings, Kim

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Jewell avatar

Jewell

I have COPD and am on oxygen. A longtime beautician told me oxygen caused hair loss. Mine is certainly thinning.

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Grace avatar

Grace

Hi Jewel. I had not heard that. I lost my hair with my first round of treatment for lung cancer (I also have COPD) almost 4 years ago. I have been on oxygen pretty muc since. My hair has come back thin and is hardly growing. I guess the oxygen not helping lol. I am on my second round of opdiva (immunotherapy). I guess my question is does anyone know if getting a perm would harm my hair?

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Arlene J Carney avatar

Arlene J Carney

My daughter gives me a perm every spring. I have had COPD for the last 4 or 5 years..my hair has thinned but the perm makes it manageable.

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snowcone avatar

snowcone

Oxygen can cause more graying or silvering in the hair but does not cause loss. The loss is caused by less blood supply in the head. In which case if you lay your head off the edge to hang down and massage the scalp for about 5 minutes every night your hair will start to grow back, if the hair root is still alive. Try to get your skin to move and loosen to let more blood flow through.

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Harvey avatar

Harvey

I was diagnosed with IPF December 2016. I was given Esbriet. Probably March 2017, in June it caused severe photo-sensitivity. I was then started on OFEv with the same result. Changed doctors and after lots of testing my diagnosis was changed to NSIP..non specific interstitial pneumonia. We have tried a couple meds. with little result. I'm back to 30mg prednisone daily. Like most it is becoming increasingly harder to get out much. 5 lpm resting , 10 lpm with exertion.

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Thomas E Headings avatar

Thomas E Headings

Hey Harvey's
I can relate I also have been diagnosed with nsip have they ever tried cellcept for you I've been on it for 2 years with pretty good results.hope this helps.

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Debi Chavez avatar

Debi Chavez

Hi Kim,
My name is Debi Chavez today is June 29,2018. I just read this article about tubing & it was really helpful. I've been on oxygen for almost 4 years (since November 2014) I have IPF & I am on 2-3 liters. I'm looking forward to reading some more from you & others.

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Wanda avatar

Wanda

My husband has IPF. He puts tubing behind his head and secures it to his shoulder with the tubing (just below first joint from cannula) enclosed in large safely pin clipped to his shirt at shoulder.Makes sleeping easier with no loss of Oxygen.

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Charmaine Nygaard avatar

Charmaine Nygaard

Hi Kim,
I have an airline flight on Delta Airlines and saw something about Delta offering oxygen to passengers in need. Could you send me the link. I have sent two days just getting portable tanks to my house. Thanks so much! You are amazing . Charmaine

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Charmaine,
I'm not aware that any airline provides oxygen, except perhaps from USA and Europe (and visa versa), so I don't have any links to share. Appreciate your encouragement.

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Gail Ketner avatar

Gail Ketner

Hi Kim, it’s been several years since I have had to fly in a airplane but when I did the company that supplied my oxygen to me gave me a portable oxygen machine to use on the plane. I was told that all portable tanks had to be approved by the airline company. The company even gave me a letter to the airline stating there machines were approved by any airline company. It worked just great and I didn’t have any trouble at all with it. I also used it during the day and night while I was gone. Please check with the company you get your oxygen from.

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A World Traveler avatar

A World Traveler

I am a retired Flight Attendant (for some reason I don't think passengers would want to see me dragging my o2 hose behind the beverage cart while working, so had to retire ?) ....
??Yes, we have onboard o2 available for passengers who need it during emergencies ... BUT if you need supplemental o2 you must purchase it from the airline BEFORE your travel day. It is one of the medium size bottles and belongs to the airline. You have to pay an extravagant amount to rent one from us, and it MUST be from us or it can't fly (air pressurization for tanks is modified for flying altitudes). If you change airlines (i.e. Airline #1 from home airport to hub to catch a connector flight on a different airline, the o2 tanks from A#1 can't transfer over to Airline #2 .... We know it doesn't make sense, but it's the FAAs rules, not the individual airlines')??
SO .... The BEST solution (in my opinion) is to talk to your o2 Supplier tell them you will bet traveling & would like to get a "concentrator" machine. Borrow/Rent a Portable Oxygen Concentrator. Most planes now have an electrical outlet at Some/Most/All seats, so if the flight goes long you can plug your machine in. All Major Brands that I'm aware of are "approved for airline use".

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Kim menzel avatar

Kim menzel

For my oxygenator I put hardware store j hooks under cabinets along walls ect,where ever I have to go in home. You have to teach yourself to unhook and rebook the line as you go. No more tripping over tubing on floor!

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

What a great idea!!!!

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Frieda Barefield avatar

Frieda Barefield

Thanks for the hint to warm new tubing in the dryer to get rid of coils. This works great and solved an annoying problem. I was diagnosed with PF after a lung biopsy in July and need all the practical hints and tips available. I appreciate your providing this resource.

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Marcella Arnold avatar

Marcella Arnold

how long is yo I r tubing?. I use a 40ft green tube & this lasts 24-36 hours max and my hose kinks worse to point I get no air flow to cannula. Even just sitting doesn't stop it from kinking. I have anxiety attacks over this. Would shorter lengths connected with swivel connectors be better option ?

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Janet Gamel avatar

Janet Gamel

I have COPD and use a 7ft soft chord with a swivel attached to a 25ft green chord. I tuck my chord into my pants circling under my belly and coming out of my pants just slightly to the back on the left of my waist. This keeps the chord behind me when I walk around, no more tripping. Also I step (and tell others too) on my chord when ever it is laying across in front of me. That way no one trips.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Janet, what a wonderful solution! Thanks for sharing it.

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Carol avatar

Carol

Can't Picture that. Are you actually threading it in and out of your pants?

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Dan Egan avatar

Dan Egan

Hi,
Thanks all for great info.
I am looking for info on retractable home medical oxygen reels. Can you help? I am in Australia.
Thanks,
Dan

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Dan,
I know of this product available on amazon. Not sure if it is available in Australia. Hope this helps :)
https://www.amazon.com/Tidy-Tubing-15-Retractable-Oxygen/dp/B01M4JPCOS

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Tim avatar

Tim

Dan - please visit my website at o2remote.com. We ship to Australia!

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Debbie avatar

Debbie

In response to a backpack for the portable oxygen concentrator—I ordered mesh backpacks Amazon that have worked great. That way POC can get air to process. They are durable as they typically are used for books.

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Linda Bissett avatar

Linda Bissett

Hi,Thank you for posting this. It helped the green hose by at least 98%. I call my husband's oxygen supply company and they had the swivel connections and so I ordered them from the supply company. May help if someone doesn't have enough money to order online.
Linda

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Linda,
Very helpful! Thanks for sharing this very helpful information with us :)

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Terry_D avatar

Terry_D

Thank you soo much for the dryer tip! I'm caring for my sis, and in addition to havin end stage COPD, she is physically incapacitated to a great degree. She uses a rollator, and I watch her feet intensely when she has new tubing. This tip will save me so much aggravation.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Terry,
So glad this tip will make things a little easier! What a blessing you are to your sister!

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Jeanine Teetz avatar

Jeanine Teetz

WOW! Never thought about the dryer. Will try. Also didn't know about swivels but will ask. Have had COPD for 20+ yrs but refused to quit smoking. Finally did but now it's end stage. Dr. said I'm doing well since retiring on disability but harder to function. Have a small ranch home but tubing still annoys me. BTW: Finally bought a portable concentrator 2 yrs ago so I could continue working. Had to pay outrageous amount cuz insurance said I had a regular,full size one at home. Ask your doctor to write script for strictly portable one.

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Kim Fredrickson avatar

Kim Fredrickson

Hi Jeanine,
So glad my tip was of help. Congrats on quitting smoking. That is very hard to do. Thanks for your advice about getting a portable POC. Thanks for sharing your wisdom! ~ ~ Kim Fredrickson, Author of "Pulmonary Fibrosis Journey: A Counselor and Fellow Patient Walks with You."

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Tim Lucas avatar

Tim Lucas

There is a relatively new remote control oxygen tube reel that you might be interested in. The website for information is o2remote.com It is a very simple and affordable solution to this very real and dangerous problem!

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Lowell Whipp avatar

Lowell Whipp

I’ve been trying to find a y connector with one female and two male connections. Has anyone seen one like that? I’ve searched the net with no luck

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Elizabeth ladutko avatar

Elizabeth ladutko

Please put me on mailing list. Thanks

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Jessica Hammerbacher avatar

Jessica Hammerbacher

My husband just recently was put on oxygen for bilateral pulmonary embolisms in his lungs. I’m trying to find a solution for the irritation where the nose piece rubs the middle of his nose between his nostrils.
For his ears I’ve found this very thin foam wrap that’s meant for ankles or wrist injuries. I’ve taken a small length of it, and it comes in all sorts of colors, and wrapped it around the tubing that goes over his ears and used a tiny bit of hot glue to hold it in place and it’s been amazing. Those foam tubes with the slits pop off too easily.
Also, I am wondering if there’s some sort of tubing cover for the lengthy tube that goes from the machine/tanks to the nose piece. We have cats and a puppy that like to attack it and are putting holes in it. I wish there were one of those braided cord covers like youncan get on some cell phone charger cords. Also to help with the kinks in the line. Anyone know anything like this?

For the nose irritation I’m attempting to make a solution where I’ve cut the nose piece in two, cut it to where it goes up the nose, blocked the open holes with hot glue and an trying to create some sort of half hoop connector that would not touch the nose at all.
Desperate for some solutions for him.

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Kevin avatar

Kevin

Would like to be added to the list my only problem is my cannula get stiff in hard

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Catherine Mills avatar

Catherine Mills

Go to Walmart, biking aisle. Bell makes a water bladder inside a small back pack. Just take out the bladder, and insert a C cylinder O2 tank.

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Stacie Kelly avatar

Stacie Kelly

Does anyone know if or how the “soft” cannula prongs can be re-softened once they start to become hard and lose their suppleness?

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Angus avatar

Angus

Thank you for having such a wonderfully informative website! Life is so difficult. The other day I was noticing that I was vacuuming with a cordless vacuum and I'm the one that's hooked up cord! Your advice about the dryer as excellent I shall try this today. I have COPD and I am so sorry about how people with cystic fibrosis are suffering as well as COPD it is not an easy life is it but we have to do everything we can to obtain and retain the utmost of quality to our lives. I find it the minute I stopped or don't brush my teeth or don't floss or don't shower that it just starts to go downhill even quicker so it's important to just keep it going despite all of the problems that were having. just thought I'd throw it out there and it sounds like so many people here on this site have it together. it has been a great comfort to read all of the replies and the original website about the tubing so thank you thank you thank you!

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Jen White avatar

Jen White

Hi we moved the concentrater to the lowest level in our home. It now goes up 2 small sets of stairs. Since then we keep getting moisture in the tube. This never happened before. Could it be from oxygen flowing upward? We did not add any extra tubing to do this it's 50 ft.

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Michael B avatar

Michael B

Thank you for the tips! I personally do not wear an oxygen tube but I care for my father who was recently put on oxygen due to COPD and heart related issues. As a “newbie” I suppose, I have a few questions. Are there any premium cannula hoses you can recommend? My dad complains if comfort and I would spend whatever it takes to make this more comfortable for him.

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Mrry Wat avatar

Mrry Wat

When bringing tubing out from the oxygenerator, find a small, straight stick, (length: 6" +/-; circumference: similar in size to the tube) and tape the stick to the tubing just exiting the machine. This will keep the tubing from becoming crimped from its own weight and therefore needing replaced more often.

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Bipooarmuppets avatar

Bipooarmuppets

I've used cut straws placed around the tubing for this same thing.

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mary avatar

mary

Hi,
Wonderful column! I am wondering if they make a swivel connector that connects the tube directly to the Easyflo concentrator?
Thank you,
mary

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Judy Moreno avatar

Judy Moreno

Thank you so much for the information. This is my first time on oxygen and it can be challenging but your advice is very helpful.

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Christina Galloway avatar

Christina Galloway

Looking for an easier solution for my mother in law to transfer from her day use nose cannula to her night use Trilogy (cpap) machine on her large oxygen compressor. It’s difficult for her to pull nose cannula tubing from concentrator and put in tubing for Trilogy (cpap) machine. Mainly just do to lack of strength. Does anyone know of a way to keep both hooked up to concentrator with some type of valve to transfer the oxygen to nose cannula during the day and Trilogy (cpap) at night?

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Dian avatar

Dian

I just received the new o2 cannula with one side oxygen delivery. It is called uni-flo 2. It took about a day to get it all figured out, but well worth the effort. If your interested you can look up Uni-Flo 2 or go to UPODS.com. It eases the wear on your ears, and makes a big difference in nose irritation. Sleeping now has taken on a whole new meaning..ts wonderful.

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martha likens avatar

martha likens

Thanks for dryer info. Sis has escopd and has fell several times due to tangling. am going to try tomorrow!

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Susan Scharf avatar

Susan Scharf

Once the tubing gets kinked is there any way to unkink it? I beg my Mom's aides to be careful, not fold it but wind it around their arm (like you were winding up your water hose) but I'm always finding it ... whatever. Can I put it in the dryer as the video showed to soften and straighten it out?
Is there tubing that recoils into itself or something? My Mom is always tripping over the tubing or we're flinging it over the chair as she walks by.
Thanks!

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Joycewade40 Wade avatar

Joycewade40 Wade

Do the prongs on the tubing go up your nose or down?

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Gail Pfeifer avatar

Gail Pfeifer

Would you have any ideas as to how a single person can stretch out the tubing after putting it in the dryer..

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Bipolarmuppets avatar

Bipolarmuppets

I've been on 24/7 oxygen for almost a year now. I have have tried many things in the way of tuning management. I have found on Amazon.com these things called cable clips! The tubing fits perfectly inside them and I've been able to pull my tubing off the floor and up onto the ceiling and walls. My condenser is so loud I have to keep it in another room on the other side of the house. Pulling the tubing from that room to my common areas via the ceiling has been incredibly helpful.

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Dawn Lawson avatar

Dawn Lawson

Love the drier for the 02 tube. I used to wrap 1/4" split braided cable around my tube to keep it from kinking and tangling and catching. It tries to escape -- you have to duct tape it every few feet. I now have a thicker Life2000 Tube. I love it -- I have 24% lung function and I now get a full breath all the time. The split braided cable doesn't work on the thicker tube. Do you know of a wire I can run through it? Thanks!

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Mary LeRose avatar

Mary LeRose

all airlines can provide oxygen for you if you ask for it and need it. Just call customer serive and they will explain to you how it works and what needs to be done. I am a retired flight attenandant and we has oxygen on board all the time

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DEB KRAUSE avatar

DEB KRAUSE

I have a hard time with glasses, mask, and oxygen behind ears. I started holing tubing under ear and putting tape to hold it in place on both sides of face. Eliminated 1 annoying object rubbing on ears

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Cassie Rizzo avatar

Cassie Rizzo

My husband is a mechanical design engineer and he designed a piece to prevent oxygen tubing from kinking on the oxygen concentrators and it works! Look at it on Etsy. We also designed some clips to hold up the extra tubing and a connector lock for the longer hoses to prevent them from coming apart. I use them everyday! Shop is called Peanut’s Plastics. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1410642408/

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JoAnne Vaughn avatar

JoAnne Vaughn

Thank you so much for this great tip! My husband has COPD and he is constantly struggling with the curly tubing. This worked great - he is thrilled. As am I and our two dogs, haha! Thanks!!!

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Doris Charnock avatar

Doris Charnock

The oxygen tubing behind my ear have damaged my hearing aids. The hearing aid is suppose to be next to my head. Now the hearing aids have moved to the edge of my ears. I need something like what my CPAC machine has. I do not want the tubing to go over my ears. It is very difficult to find information. I will have to get the hearing aids replaced or repaired.

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