Well it's barely past noon and I'm already tired. My energy level is sitting there just above the E for empty. Doesn't take long or much either to drain it. I knew I stayed up too late last night. I'm normally a night person but I woke up early today. So, I'm not doing myself any good by not getting enough sleep. I require at least 8 full hours of sleep per night.

Tomorrow, I will tell you about my oxygen setup in my house, in my vehicle and the machine I have to use to breathe at night. Most people who use them use a version of the machine I use for Sleep Apnea or if they have a snoring problem when they sleep. They probably have a CPap. I have a BiPap. The BiPap forces air into my lungs when I inhale and then only allows me to exhale to the preset amount on the machine. It helps to continually keep air inside my lungs while still having the ability to breathe. I have a problem with too much CO2 building up when I sleep and I stop breathing. With the BiPap, I don't have this problem. Really, without it... well I don't want to imagine life without it. Grizzly!!!

So, until tomorrow... It's naptime.

***UPDATE***

It's now 2:16pm. I skipped the nap because my husband called and said he was off work early! I went ahead and made an early dinner for when he gets home. I'm terribly disorganized. My memory now is terrible but not abnormally bad. Just really annoying to me and sometimes my husband. I have lists everywhere it seems. However, I seem to forget where I leave my lists!!! Anyway, until tomorrow!

I am so happy I found some one that seems to have same problems as me I thought I was going crazy!
I have a lot of trouble breathing I get tired very easly I have been sleeping most of the dsy No energy etc.
I have ashma ,epmhazima sleep apnia you name it I have it Please get in touch with me I would love to hear from you extreamly depressed :(

I have recently been put on oxygen 24hrs a day.. Reading all the instructions, I find the most discourging is dont use lotions with petroleum base. My skin is so very dry I use lotion all over my body after my baths. and on arms ,hands and legs several time during the day. What lotions are good for my dry skin and are safe to use. I am 75 yrs old and need all the hellp I can get. Thank you.

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Hi Martha,
Thank you for writing. I can only tell you what I use and have no problem with ok? For lotion, I use Calgon's Tropical Dream 24 hour lotion for everyday use. If I need extra help in the winter months, I use Eucerin for the dry patches of skin (usually my hands). When using Eucerin, I pat off the excess on an old towel. The thing that is most concerning is not to use Vicks rub or Carmex on your lips so near to the oxygen.

I hope you are feeling good with the oxygen on. I know it's a big change. I'm here to help if I can.

Christine

I have sensitive skin and possibly am allergic to rubber! The back of my ears are really sore where the tubing rubs. I cannot use lanolin or antiseptic lotions or creams. I have ecezma creams, think they would be safe?


*****
Hello again Lindy,

The top portion of the back of my ears get sore sometimes. Canulas (at least the ones I use are not made of rubber/latex) Remember to clean the face portion of your canula with soap and water such as when you wash your face or take a shower. This will help deter infection. I've found using alcohol on my canula makes the canula stiff. Also, you should replace your canula often. I switch out my old canula (the face part) weekly. I've found that natural body oil makes the canula stiff also. Your DME company is suppose to provide you with supplies. So, ask for them.

The only thing that I've found that helps my sore ears, since I like staying away from applying any medication on them, is for me to slide the little plastic tube down. This is the part that makes the canula tighter along your face. This makes the canula hang loosely down my chest and it's a bit easier on my ears. Normally what makes my ears hurt is all the pulling of my 50ft canula around my house. That, and the fact that sometimes I tend to get clumsy and step on my own tubing which yanks the darn thing right off my face. That really hurts. I don't recommend that to anyone!

My entire house is electric and the oxygen sensor running 24 hours a day is pushsing the electric bill out of sight. Cann't seem to find anybody else having this type of problem but me. Even the hospital won't call back.:(

Sorry to bother you again but you have a lot of people with questions regarding there personal use of oxygen. There is an oxygen compatible product available that oxygen patients can use on the nairs of the nose and over the ears to keep the skin from breaking down from the cannula. If you respond to my message I would like to share some of my thirty five years worth of experiences regarding oxygen and respiratory products and services. Jim

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Well Jim, you seem like you know a good deal. Tell us more! =o)

Christine

The oxygen user with the high electric bill has probably been supplied with a very old oxygen concentrator or has bought an inexpensive concentrator from someplace. Oxygen concentrators on a national level typically cost about$45-$55 per month to run, higher in warmer climates because they generate a fair amount of heat from the compressor, therefore the patient is forced to push up the AC in order to keep the house cool. Just a comment, but the current drive among oxygen concentrator manufacturers is to build smaller lighter battery operated POC or Personal Oxygen Concentrators, very expensive but non the less very well accepted by patients on lower flows 2LPM or less. Have a good day!

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Hi Jim,

I have seen those little battery powered concentrators! I wish they had those for when I first started wearing oxygen at 17yrs old. Does it take a lot of electricity to recharge the battery packs?

christine