Input re Purchase of oxygen machine.

[xelasnave]

What do you call them?
A machine that gives a patient oxygen. My brother in law needs one and I had a look it seems you can buy one...any guidance or experience will be gratefully received...frankly I would not mind one standing by myself...like if you had a heart attack it may save calling the ambulance...plus there is neat stuff you can do with oxygen...but I would like to see him with one..he has worn out lungs.
Alex

[DarkArts]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

...like if you had a heart attack it may save calling the ambulance...

No, always call an ambulance. It doesn't matter how oxygen-rich the atmosphere is if your heart is not beating!

Anyhow, there are a few brands. My father had one in his terminal decline. It worked, but was a bit noisy. His was on loan/rent - I can't remember the fees. He used bottled oxygen attached to his wheelchair when I needed to take him somewhere.

These machines use room air, but concentrate the oxygen - the setting is variable - to provide enriched oxygenated air to the patient.

Dad used to complain that the face mask (a fairly simple design) was uncomfortable and would slide it off when he was tired. If you get one for your brother-in-law, see if there are more comfortable face masks around.

[iborg (Philip)]

Hi Alex


I think it would be an oxygen concentrator that you may be interested in.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Portable...r=453881905301


Not sure I would buy one from ebay, unless I was able to measure the oxygen concentration coming out.


Consider contacting the District Nursing service, they may have recommendations for you.





Another option is an oxygen generator, but, I think this would produce toohigh a level of oxygen for continuous use. See this link https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-hum...ygen-kill-you/


Philip

[brisen (Brian)]

One of these won’t help if you have acute coronary syndrome - the medical term for a ‘heart attack’. Your best chance of survival is to call an ambulance and prompt paramedic care initially and they will make a determination on the best course of treatment - high flow oxygen is no longer recommended and in fact the evidence does indicate that this could cause poorer outcomes for the patient. I often question how many people we potentially harmed with oxygen when the had ACS and our clinical guidelines insisted on giving them as much oxygen as we could when I was working on road.

There are a range of oxygen concentrators available to buy or rent - there are also medical subsidy schemes to off set the costs so well worth looking into this aspect as well. It could be worth getting advice from a GP or respiratory specialist who is familiar with his case as not all may be a suitable choice.

Brian

[xelasnave]

Thanks for all your help. Sensible take.
I am thinking just to set up an electrolis unit generating hydrogen and oxygen , fill some drink bottles so he can have a sniff.
Alex

[iborg (Philip)]

Hi Alex


I suspect a home built electrolysis unit is a bad idea. You need to vent the hydrogen so that it can't collect in a high area, and I am reasonably sure it has a wide range of concentration were it is genuinely explosive - blow the roof off style.


Also, acid is usually used in the electrolysis solution, and you have to be confident of scrubbing that out before breathing the gas in. If you don't, then I suspect you would rapidly have even more trouble breathing!


Philip

[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

What do you call them?
A machine that gives a patient oxygen. My brother in law needs one and I had a look it seems you can buy one...any guidance or experience will be gratefully received...frankly I would not mind one standing by myself...like if you had a heart attack it may save calling the ambulance...plus there is neat stuff you can do with oxygen...but I would like to see him with one..he has worn out lungs.
Alex

UK NHS Free, not Aus ???

.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by iborg

Hi Alex


I suspect a home built electrolysis unit is a bad idea. You need to vent the hydrogen so that it can't collect in a high area, and I am reasonably sure it has a wide range of concentration were it is genuinely explosive - blow the roof off style.


Also, acid is usually used in the electrolysis solution, and you have to be confident of scrubbing that out before breathing the gas in. If you don't, then I suspect you would rapidly have even more trouble breathing!


Philip

I have produced hydrogen and it is very explosive. I produced some with soada and Al in a beer bottle with core and a jet..burnt for while but blew up did t bust the bottle but the cork hit that roof hard and the glass tube shattered and came down on me.like snow.
Scrubbing is not a problem.. baking soda solution and charcoal I bet would do it...I have been planning a unit before I thought of what to do with the oxygen..the hydrogen..see how much you can get from a couple of panels maybe enought to run your gas stove.
Alex

Originally Posted by Ukastronomer

UK NHS Free, not Aus ???

.

Yes but getting one is not easy as they control them rather tightly it seems..they won't issue one to my brother in law until he gets worse..I just think it would be good to have it there for a day that he will need it waiting for the ambulance probably. And honestly with the fires I would not mind one ...there were days where it got hard to breathe there was so much smoke..and it was all over.

Alex

[glend (Glen)]

Alex, some of these devices can only be purchased with doctor approval, so your brother in law should consult his medical staff to see if his condition warrants a device. Secondly, there is tank oxygen and there is medical grade oxygen, he would need medical grade if he is approved. I agree with the statement in previous posts regarding the dangers of pure oxygen, particularly blood saturation effects on CO2 Levels. CO2 blood level actually triggers the body's autonomic breathing activity.
Re concentrator, they require power, and you have to notify your power company if you have a concentrator.
Finally, never be shy about calling an ambulance if your in a life threatening situation, but I know not everyone lives near enough to an ambulance station, nor can be assured of adequate response times to make a difference. I learned alot about this when I had my heart attack in 2018.
And Alex regarding your interest in air for fire fighting, or survival, there are numerous bottled air solutions th at would probably meet your needs (not pure oxygen, just regular air supply). There are also some very useful smoke hood devices available in ebay that can buy you precious time in evacuating through dangerous smoke.

[Nikolas (Nik)]

Oxygen bottles are used for emphysema patients, unless your Brother in law has it it will be hard to get one. Also nothing can assist with a heart attack except proper first aid. the O2 will do nothing if the person is not breathing. Always call an Ambulance.

[Outcast (Carlton)]

Alex,

I'll just throw my somewhat 'uneducated' 2 cents worth in here as a word of caution.

My father suffered from chronic emphysema due to a number of contributing factors. We nearly lost him in 2000 & his prognosis was not good however, he managed to keep on trudging on for another 17 years before a chest infection & some other complicating factors proved too much for his severly compromised respiratory system.

His specialist deliberately kept him off supplemental oxygen because, over time it can cause dependancy & actually worsen the condition. Towards his last few years, he probably should have gone on supplemental oxygen as he began to suffer quite severely from hypoxia but, he & his specialist maintained that it was his staying off supplemental oxygen that actually prolonged his life.

I would be very wary of getting your Brother in law onto any form of supplemental breathing device (be it oxygen or normal air) on the basis of my father's experience & specialist advice; whilst your brother in law may indeed be struggling in a respiratory sense, going on some form of supplemental breathing apparatus may actually be detrimental to his condition at this stage.

Cheers

[xelasnave]

I am terrible.
But I am always honest with myself...I had completed forgotten about my brother in law.
Thanks all the advice....so you all agree that I should make up a few bottles of oxygen for him.
The reality now that I have been able to review rational input from the wonderful people here who would know I want to be somehow helpful...mmm so thinking now.
Do what I do best..be supportive...simply ask what the doctor says do I can decide if he is right.
The problem, being he is dieing, won't go away...I wonder if in the future they will be able to 3d print lungs...hang on can't te replace the lungs with a unit to mix in oxygen...forget the strain of breathing...electric pumps, little tanks of oxygen, mixing chamber controlled by your smart phone.
It's such a shame to see someone go down hill...
Alex

[JohnF (John)]

Are you aware of a CPAP machine that pumps air under pressure into a face mask for those with Sleep Apnea ??

I have been told that 6 drops of Eucalyptus Oil in a spoonful of Honey will help improve emphysema.



Cant hurt.


No more smoking.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by JohnF

Are you aware of a CPAP machine that pumps air under pressure into a face mask for those with Sleep Apnea ??

No but I will look into that..thanks John.
Please let me know if you saw my message (PM).
Alex

[JohnF (John)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

No but I will look into that..thanks John.
Please let me know if you saw my message (PM).
Alex

Yes got your message thanks. Been busy so had no time to reply or scratch my nose. Only on internet Two days a week normally at moment, Tuesday and Thursday.