28
OXYGEN THERAPY ESSENTIAL GUIDE
OXYGENTHERAPY
ESSENTIAL GUIDE
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
This Essential Guide is about oxygen therapy. It explains:
what oxygen therapy is
what to expect at your oxygen therapy assessment
thedifferentkindsofoxygentherapyequipment
whosuppliesandchecksyouroxygen therapy equipment
whatyouneedtoknowaboutusingoxygenawayfromhome.
www.chss.org.uk
Oxygen and your bodyOxygenisagasfoundintheairyoubreathe.Itisneededbyyourbodyformanydifferentthings.Theseinclude:
buildingnewcells
digestingfood
helpingyourbrainwork
supporting your immune system
musclemovement.
A long-term chest condition, such as chronic obstructivepulmonarydisease(COPD)orbronchiectasis,makesithardertobreathe.Thismeansthatyourbodyisnotgettingtheoxygenitneeds.
Thiscanleadtoaconditioncalledhypoxia.Symptomsofhypoxiaincludebreathlessness,poorconcentration,irritability,tirednessorfatigueandswollenankles.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
What is oxygen therapy? Oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that helpsyoutogettheextraoxygenyouneed.
Ifyouarelivingwithalong-termchestconditionthataffectsyouroxygenlevels,oxygentherapymayhelp.Itcanhelptoimprove your symptoms and increase your energylevels,yourlevelofactivityandyourlifeexpectancy.
Youwillneedanoxygenassessmenttofindoutifoxygentherapyisrightforyou.
Oxygentherapywillnotberightforyouifyouroxygenlevelsarenormal,evenifyouarebreathless.Extraoxygenwhenyoudon’tneeditcandamageyourlungsandmakeyourbreathlessnessworse.
www.chss.org.uk
Referral for an oxygen assessmentYoucanbereferredforanoxygenassessmentbyyourdoctor,nurseorrespiratoryteam.
Tofindoutifyouneedanoxygenassessment,theywillaskyouaboutyour symptoms and may do a ‘pulse oximetry’test.
Thistestmeasureshowmuchoxygenisinyourbloodusingasmalldevicecalleda‘pulseoximeter’thatattachestoyourfingerorearlobe.Youmayalsobeaskedtodoashortexerciseorwalkingtest.
Dependingonyoursymptomsandtestresults,youmaybereferredforafulloxygenassessment.Thisisneededtohelpdecideifoxygentherapyisrightforyou.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Your oxygen assessment
Oxygenassessmentswillbecarriedoutbyaspeciallytrainedrespiratorynurseordoctor.
Theyusuallytakeplaceinhospitaloratacommunityclinic.Theycanalsotakeplaceinyourhomeifyoursymptomsareverybad.
Fortheassessment,differenttestswillbedone.Thesewillincludebloodtestsandasimplelungfunctiontestcalleda‘spirometrytest’.Thismeasureshowmuchairyoubreatheoutinonebreath.Youmayalsobeaskedtodoasimpleexerciseorwalkingtest.
Dependingonyourresults,youmaybeaskedtoreturntotheclinicafewweekslatertoseeifyouroxygenlevelshavechangedoverthistime.
www.chss.org.uk
What happens next? Iftheassessmentshowsthatoxygentherapyisrightforyou,thenextstepistofindouthowmuchoxygenyouneed.Todothis,youwillbegivenasmalldoseofoxygenforatleast30minutes.Yourbloodoxygenlevelwillthenbecheckedusingapulseoximeter.
Thisprocesswillberepeatedwithbiggerdosesofoxygeneachtimeuntiltherightdoseisfoundforyou.
Your doctor or nurse will then talktoyouaboutyouroptionsandwhathappensnext.
Itmayhelptotakealistofquestionswithyoutohelpyouremembereverythingyouwouldliketoknowaboutoxygentherapyandhowitmightaffectyou.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Starting oxygen therapy Oxygenisamedicineandneedstobeorderedforyoubyahealthcareprofessional,usuallyyourhospitaldoctororrespiratorynurse.
Dependingonyourconditionandhowmuchoxygen you need, you will need to use either a nasalcannulaorafacemasktobreatheintheoxygen.
Anasalcannulaismadeoflightweighttubingwithtwo‘prongs’thatrestjustinsideyournose.
Afacemaskcoversyournoseandmouthandiskeptinplacebyplasticstrapsthatgoaroundyourhead.
Youshouldonlyusethefacemaskornasalcannulaprovidedtoyoubyyourhomeoxygensupplierorrespiratoryteam.
www.chss.org.uk
Review of your oxygen therapy Once you start oxygen therapy, you will have regularreviewstocheckthat:
theoxygenlevelsinyourbodyareOK
youareusingyouroxygencorrectlyandforenough time each day
youstillneedtouseoxygenifyour
symptomshaveimproved.
Ifyouhaveachestinfectionoranexacerbation(flare-up),youroxygenwillbereviewedandyourequipmentmayneedtobeadjusted.Dependingonyoursymptoms,youmayneedtogointohospital.
Tellyourdoctororrespiratoryteamifyouhave a change in your symptoms or any new symptoms,ifyoucan’tthinkstraightoryoufeelmoretiredorsleepierthanusual.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Your oxygen supplier InScotland,oxygenissuppliedbyacompanycalledDolbyVivisol.
DolbyVivisolareresponsibleforthedelivery,setup,servicing,maintenance,regularchecksandrepairofyouroxygentherapyequipment.
YouwillbegivenaDolbyVivisolPatientInformationPackanddetailedinformationon:
your oxygen equipment, how to use it and howtolookafterit
safetywhenusingandstoringyouroxygenequipment
whattodoifthereisaproblemwithyouroxygen equipment
tellingyourinsuranceproviderabouttheuseofoxygeninyourhomeorinyourcar.
www.chss.org.uk
Home risk assessmentBeforestartingoxygentherapy,DolbyVivisolwillcarryoutariskassessmentinyourhometomakesureitissafeforyoutouseandstoreoxygenequipment.
It is also a good idea to let the Scottish Fire andRescueServiceknowifyouareusingoxygeninyourhome.
InScotland,anyonecanarrangeafreefiresafetycheckandfreesmokealarmfitting.
ContacttheScottishFireandRescueServicetoarrangeafiresafetycheckbycompletingtheonlineformontheirwebsite, www.firescotland.gov.uk, calling 0800 0731 999 or texting “FIRE” to 80800.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Your oxygen equipment What oxygen equipment you need will dependon:
your health condition your symptoms how active you are discussions with your healthcare professionalaboutwhattypeofequipmentisbestforyou.
Examplesofoxygenequipmentinclude:
oxygen cylinders liquid oxygen oxygenconcentrators.
Yourequipmentwillbeadjustedtocontrolhowmuchoxygenyoubreathein.Thisiscalledtheflowrate.Neverchangetheflowrate unless your doctor or respiratory team tellsyoutodoso.
www.chss.org.uk
Oxygen cylinder
Ifyouneedoxygenforonlyshortperiodsoftimeyouwillbeprovidedwithanoxygencylinder.
An oxygen cylinder contains compressedoxygen.YourDolbyVivisolengineerwillshowyouhowtouse your oxygen cylinder with a nasal cannulaorfacemask.
Liquid oxygen
When oxygen is cooled to very cold temperatures,itturnsintoliquid.Liquidoxygentakesuplessspaceandcanbestoredandmovedaroundmoreeasily.
Youmaybegivenliquidoxygenifyouneedalotofoxygenathomeand/oralotofportableoxygen.Liquidoxygenisstoredinatankinyourhome.Itwillcomewitharefillableportableliquidoxygenunitthatyourefillfromthestoragetank.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Oxygen concentrator Ifyouneedoxygenforlongperiodsoftheday,youmaybegivenanoxygenconcentrator.
Thisisamachinethatplugsintoanelectricalsocket.Itfiltersoutoxygenfromtheairandpassesitthroughatubetobreatheinthroughanasalcannulaorfacemask.
Theconcentratorwillcomewithalonglengthoftubingsoyoucanmovearoundyourhomewhileyouuseit.
IfyouhavealungconditionlikeCOPD,oxygentherapyisoftenneededfor15hoursadayormore.Mostpeopleuseitovernightandatquiettimesthroughthedaytomakeupthistime.
www.chss.org.uk
Ifyouareusinganoxygenconcentrator,youwillalsobegivenanoxygencylinderasaback-up.Usethisifyouhaveanyproblemswithyouroxygenconcentratororifyouhaveapowercut.
Ifthereisaproblemwithyouroxygenconcentratororifyouhaveapowercut,useyouroxygencylinderandletDolbyVivisolknowrightaway.
You should also let your electricity supplier knowifyouareusinganoxygenconcentratorsoyoucanbeaddedtothe‘PriorityServicesRegister’.Beingontheregistermeansyoushouldbegivensupporttocoveryourelectricity needs during a planned power cut orinanemergency.
DolbyVivisolwillrefundyoutheelectricitycostsofrunningyouroxygenconcentrator.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Using oxygen safely Oxygencanbeafirehazardandspecialcareisneededwhenusingandstoringoxygen.However,itcanbeusedsafelybyfollowingtheadvicegiventoyouinyourDolbyVivisolPatientInformationPack.Itisimportantthatyoureadthisinformationcarefully.
Itisnormaltofeelabitworriedaboutusingyouroxygenequipmentsafelywhenyoufirststartoxygentherapy.Itisalsocommontohavealotofquestions.
TalktoyourDolbyVivisol engineeraboutanyquestionsorconcernsyoumighthave.
www.chss.org.uk
Safety tips Smokingaroundoxygenisverydangerous.Neversmokearoundoxygenorletotherssmokenearyou.Thisincludessmokinge-cigarettes.
When using oxygen, always stay at least 3 metres(10feet)awayfrom:
sparkingobjects,suchasgascookersnakedflames,suchasalighterorcandleextremeheat,suchasdirectsunlight.
Donotuseoilorgreaseonanypartofyouroxygenequipment.
Onlyusewater-basedcreamsandmoisturisers–oil-basedmoisturiserssuchaspetroleumjelly(e.g.Vaseline)shouldnotbeused.
Nevermakeanyadjustmentstoyouroxygenequipmentunlesstoldtobyyourdoctororrespiratoryteam.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Smoking Thecarbonmonoxideincigarettesmokepreventsoxygentherapyfromworkingeffectively.Ifyouoranyoneinyourhouseholdsmoke–includingsmokinge-cigarettes–youmaynotbeallowedtostartoxygentherapy.
Oxygencanbeafirerisk.Ifoxygentherapyhasbeenrecommendedandyoucontinuetosmoke,ariskassessmentandmedicalreviewwillbecarriedouttodecideifyouareallowedtostartoxygentherapy.
Stoppingsmokingisoneofthebestthingsyoucandoforyourhealthandtopreventfurtherdamagetoyourlungs.
Thereislotsoffreesupportavailabletohelpyoustopsmoking.Askyourdoctor,nurseorpharmacistforinformationorcallQuit Your Way Scotland on 0800 848 484.
www.chss.org.uk
Skin care Oxygentherapycandryoutyourskin,especiallyyourmouth,noseandlips.Tohelp,trytotakelotsofsipsofwater.
Ifyourearsbecomesorewherethetubingsits,youcanaskforoxygentubing protectors.
It can also help to use a moisturiser (sometimescalledanemollient)onyourface.
Be aware, however, that many moisturisers containpetroleumorparaffin.Thismeansthattheycancatchfireandarenotsafetouse.
Checktheingredientslistandavoidmoisturisers that include petroleum jelly, petrolatum,whitepetrolatum,softparaffin,paraffinwaxorsimilaringredients.
Instead, use a water-based moisturiser.Waterwillusuallybethefirstingredientontheingredientslist.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Being active Mostpeopleonoxygentherapycanhaveanactivelifestyle.Ifyouneedoxygentogetoutandabout,thiswillbeconsideredaspartofyouroxygentherapyassessment.
Todoanyexercise,youmayneedextraoxygen.Thisisbecauseyourbodyusesmoreoxygenwhenyouexercise.
Speaktoyourdoctoraboutwhat sortofexerciseoractivitiesarerightforyou.
You may also need an exercise assessment to findouthowmuchyouareabletodo.
As exercise assessment is usually done usingatreadmillorastationarybike.Theassessmentwillcheckyouroxygenlevelsandhowwellyourheartisworking.
www.chss.org.uk
Public transport ItisusuallyOKtotakeoxygenonpublictransport,butitisbesttocheckwiththebusortraincompanyfirst.
Inmostcases,asingleportableoxygencylinderorunitforpersonaluseisallowed.
Whenyouareonpublictransport,makesureyour oxygen equipment is secure and will notmovearound.Remembertoturnoffyourequipmentwhenyouarenotusingit.
Youmayalsobegivenanoxygen alert card.Thisgivesdetailsofhowmuchoxygenyouneedintheeventofanemergency.Alwayskeepthecardwithyouwhenyouareout.Athome,thecardshouldbekeptwherepeoplecanseeit.Forexample,onthefridgedoorornearthetelephone.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
UK travelBeforeyoubookanytravel,speaktoyourdoctororrespiratoryteamaboutyourneeds.
YourDolbyVivisolPatientInformationPackalsoprovidesmoredetailedinformationabouttravellingwithoxygen.Thisincludesinformationontravellingonpublicorprivatetransport,stayingawayfromhomeintheUKandtravellingabroad.
ForUKtravel,DolbyVivisolcandeliveroxygenfreeofchargetowhereveryouarestaying.Youmustcheckthatyou are allowed to store and use oxygen where you are staying and thattheywilltakedeliveryofit.
RequestsshouldbesenttoDolbyVivisolforholidaysandoxygendeliveryatleast3weeksbeforeyoutravel.
www.chss.org.uk
Overseas travelIfyouwanttotravelabroad,yourdoctororspecialistnursecantellyouifyouneeda‘fitnesstofly’test.
OxygensuppliedintheUKcannotbetakenabroad.Itisuptoyoutoarrangeoxygenforyourjourneyandatyourdestination.Whatyou need to do to arrange oxygen and how much this will cost will depend on your airline andwhereyouaregoing.DolbyVivisolcangiveyoumoreinformationonthis.
TheUKDepartmentofHealthandSocialCarecangiveyoumoreinformationonusingoxygenabroad(tel. 0207 210 4850).Specialisttravelagenciesarealsoavailablethatcanmakearrangementsforyou.
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
FlyingIfyouneedoxygenonaflight,checktheairline’spolicybeforemakinganybookings.
Mostairlineswillprovideyouwithoxygenifyouneedit.However,eachairlinehasitsownrulesaboutusingoxygenwhenyouflyandifyouhavetopayforit.Youcanalsoaskyourairlineiftheywillletyoucarryyourownoxygenontheplane.
Remembertocheckwithyourairlineaboutwhether you will need to use your own oxygenintheairportandwhentransferringbetweenflights.
ChestHeart&StrokeScotland’sEssentialGuideon‘Airtravelandholidays’hasmoreinformationontravellingwithalong-termhealthcondition.
www.chss.org.uk
Travel insuranceIfyouaregoingaway,youmust have proper travelinsurance.
Travelinsuranceshouldbearrangedatthetimeofbookingincaseyourtripneedstobecancelled.
Youmayneedtolookaroundforacompanythatwillinsureyou.Yourtravelagentmaybeabletodothisforyou.
DolbyVivisolhasitsownholidayservicecalledVivitravelthatarrangesprivately-fundedUKandoverseasholidays.
Vivitravel holiday serviceTel:03301230305Email:[email protected]
Call our Advice Line FREE on 0808 801 0899
Home and driving insurance
You should tell your home insuranceproviderifyouareusingoxygenathome.
Thisshouldnotaffectthecostofyourinsurancebutitwillmakesureyouarecoveredifyoueverneedtomakeaclaim.
You should tell your driving insurance providerifyouaretransporting oxygen equipment in yourvehicle.
YoudonotneedtotelltheDrivingandVehicleLicensingAgency(DVLA)abouta long-term chest condition* unless you experiencebaddizziness,faintingorlossofconsciousness.
*Notethatpulmonaryhypertension(PH)isconsidereda heartcondition.IfyouhavePH,youneedtotelltheDVLA.
www.chss.org.uk
Dolby Vivisol contact detailsPatient contact centre and helpline Fororders,enquiriesandinformationonusingoxygenawayfromhomeandabroad.Tel:0800833531Email:[email protected]
Electricity refund enquiriesTel:08000113422Email:[email protected]
Oxygen away from home within the UK Writeoremailwithatleast3weeks’notice.Includetheaddress,datesandconfirmationofpermissiontouseanddeliveroxygenequipmentatyourdestination.Email:[email protected]:CustomerServices,DolbyVivisol,NorthSuite,LomondCourt,CastleBusinessPark,Stirling,FK94TU
OurpublicationsareavailableforfreetoanyoneinScotlandwhoneedsthem.Gotowww.chss.org.uk/publicationsforallourresources,includingotherEssentialGuidesinthisseries.
Forfree,confidentialadviceandsupportfromour Advice Line nurses,call:08088010899(Mon-Fri9.30am-4pm),text:NURSEto66777oremail:[email protected].
Across Scotland, over one million people – that’soneinfiveofus–arelivingwiththeeffectsofachest,heartorstrokecondition.Weareheretohelpeveryonewhoneedsus.Butweneedyoursupporttodothis.Gotowww.chss.org.uk/supportustofindouthowyoucanhelpmorepeopleinScotland.
Scottish Charity (no SC018761)
NO LIFE HALF LIVED
E22 PublishedApril2020NextplannedreviewApril2023
If you would like this resource in an alternative format, please contact our Advice Line nurses.
A038
