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Our veteran clinicians share their tips for success for oxygen therapy

ASK APRIA

Today's Clinician

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Lacey Penn

Lacey, who lives in North Carolina, has been a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 13 years and has worked in a variety of settings including a level 1 trauma center and the ICU (among others). Her favorite part of working at Apria is getting to help patients in their homes and building a relationship with them that's more personal than you get to develop at the hospital. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her two children at the lake.

Q. Is it possible to rent a portable oxygen concentrator if I have to travel?

 

A. Yes, you can. We have Apria's Great Escapes Travel Program, specifically designed to help patients who need to travel with oxygen therapy and they can assist you with all of your travel needs. Make sure you are proactive and call them several months in advance of your trip so that they will have time to accommodate you the best way that they can.

You can visit their website for more information or call them directly at 844.235.2738.

For more information: Traveling with Oxygen Therapy

Q. My doctor just prescribed me oxygen therapy and I already use CPAP for sleep. Is it possible to use both at the same time? How would you do that? 

 

A.  Yes, you can use these two together. You will need an adapter that will connect to your CPAP machine, and then your CPAP tubing will connect to that adapter. Once that adapter is inline, you can hook your 50 ft. oxygen tubing from your concentrator to this adapter which will add oxygen to your CPAP therapy. 

If you need to connect oxygen therapy to CPAP therapy and don't have the adapter, ask your local branch for an oxygen adapter and they will be able to provide you with one.

Q. My oxygen therapy and cannula makes the outside of my nose and just inside my nose really dry. Why am I not supposed to use Vaseline? What am I supposed to use instead?    

 

A. You're right that you can't use Vaseline, or any petroleum jelly-based product. The reason is that petroleum products are a fire hazard as they are combustible when they are around oxygen.  

To help with dryness, you can add humidity to your oxygen concentrator by using a humidifier bottle (your local branch can get these for you).

Another option is to use a water-based lubricant. There are several different brands and over-the-counter products available on the market, one good example is the Ayr Saline Nasal Gel.

For more information: Prevent Dryness from Oxygen Therapy

Q. When I am taking my oxygen, I will still get breathless if I get up and move around, should I increase the oxygen flow?   

 

A. You should never change your oxygen flow without consulting with your provider, as that oxygen flow rate is your prescribed amount from your physician. 

Them first thing you should do is focus on your breathing when you are up and moving around. This means breathing through your nose and out through your mouth. If that doesn't help with your feelings of breathlessness, you may need to ask your provider about a 6-minute walk test to ensure your current prescription is the correct amount of oxygen for activity.

For more information: Breathing Exercises to Help with Breathlessness

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