-
Staying overnight for medical treatment—-I use oxygen 24/7—-
What kind of portable device can my oxygen provider give me for the trip and use overnight? Last time they gave me the Oxlife Independence Concepts 2 Oxy Concentrator. During the night it started beeping continuously with a message that there was a problem with the air purity. I couldn’t get the beeping to stop and wound up shutting it off to get some sleep. I prayed to God that I would wake up in the morning and, luckily, I did. I have to do this trip again in July and am worried that the same thing might happen. I need to know that I will have an oxygen device that will work. What should I do?
-
8 Replies
-
I use Inogen Oxygen Concentrator. The only thing is that I have the G5 and I find it heavy for me to carry around. So, I may have to request a smaller one.
-
Hello Millie,
Just wanted to respond to your travel concerns.
If your concentrator was pulse release, that’s why your unit was beeping. I used the larger portable they had available years ago and wasn’t told that I COULD NOT use pulse overnight! That’s why I am STILL waiting on a concentrator that has continuous flow for high liter candidates.
The other alternative is to call your oxygen provider and ask if they have a partner company in the area you are traveling, so you can have your needed oxygen supply available to pick up once you get there ARE have delivered to the address where you are staying!!
I love traveling too, hope this is helpful and if you find something more convenient PLEASE SHARE ‼️‼️‼️
-
Hi Marilyn:
No, my portable concentrator was not pulse. It was provided by my oxygen provider specfically for overnight use. It was a plug-in unit as well as pulse but I used it overnight as plug-in with continuous flow as I cannot sleep with pulse. It beeped because it malfunctioned. The message was about the air not being pure. They assured me that when I have to go again for medical treatment and stay overnight in a hotel in July, they will give me a unit that works. I pray that they are right this time.
-
-
Glad to see that the problem was with just this unit and not all of its ilk. I’d hate to see our folks afraid to try to function normally because of one device’s problems (but we need to be aware of the possibility).
I had a unique(for me) experience this week. My night-time continuous flow POC kept alarming. It had gone off occasionally before, but the lighted display time was only for a second, followed by 5 beeps, then 5 beeps. Not enough time to open my eyes and read. Then it became more frequent….but unless you’re watching, you can’t tead the display. Finally, this week it became so frequent, i stared at the display until i saw it said “Low”
At 4:00 inthe morning without sleep, i just turned it off.
In the am, i called my supplier. When the tech called back, he finally decided it was the end of the suction hose on my humidifier. He suggested i cut it off with scissors. At the time of his call, we were on the way to a dr appt for my wife two hours away. He said he would ship a new water bottle.
That night, i went to bed, turned my machine on, and things were fine for about 45 minutes. Alarm! Then okay for about 10 minutes. Alarm!
I took the humidifier outof the circuit. No problems in the last two days. My nosei is dryer than a popcorn f***, but i can sleep!
-
Well, your problem was very similar to mine. We need our sleep. I use 2 litres at night so don’t have a problem with dryness in the nose yet. Maybe you need a new concentrator. I’d have it looked at. I have to get my at home unit changed periodically. I’ve contacted the American Lung Association trying to find out if there is a portable concentrator, continuous flow and lightweight, that I can use while travelling for my next medical appointment in July. There has to be something. .
-
-
I have used the Inogen One portable for years now. It’s the G3 model. It’s heavy because of the battery. It has been reliable and beeps only when I forget and do mouth breathing to warn me.
Mark
-
I just took my mom on a trip to Princeton from NOLA. We brought her portable, also a G5. It IS too heavy. But for nighttime, I rented a full size device. It was delivered the day before we arrived and they picked it up later.
-
Hi @Millie,
The type of concentrator you’ll likely be best matched with depends on your oxygen needs both during exertion and at rest. I echo a lot of the sentiments below that many POCs that provide sufficient oxygen levels on a continuous flow are heavy and hard to carry around. I use the Respironics SimplyGo machine and it has a little cart so I can wheel it around as needed. Not sure if this is helpful? Can your pulmonologist advise a machine that would be good for you, even if you just rented it for your trip. Good luck and let us know what you find.
Charlene.
Log in to reply.