Working with the Oxygen Concentrator

The Concentrator! It condenses or concentrate air oxygen in a pure oxygen flow from 0.25 liters to up to 5.5 liter flow. The green light means it is functioning correctly. This model has a bubbler which adds humidity and makes a difference for patients on oxygen 24/7. When patients switch from a concentrator to an oxygen tank, they feel an immediate sensation of dryness in the flow. Think about being on supplemental oxygen for a year or more and what a difference cool vs dry oxygen might mean. The significance of the oxygen flow dial located to the left of the bubbler cannot be understated. On home recover I started out at 5 liters and ranged down to 1.5 liters. I didn’t really receive any instructions on how to wean of oxygen. I thought I would be independent in one week. It is now my third week. I erroneously thought the faster I wean myself off supplemental oxygen I would be also getting better. My goal was it maintain a 90 percent oximeter oxygen level at rest. If I could do that at 3 liters then I could go to 2.5 liters. The problem was when I was active my oximeter oxygen levels would drop to the high 60s and low 70s and I would go into oxygen stress and my heart rates would hit 120. Enter the pulmonologists. My new goal is the perform simple activities like eating, bushing teeth, showering, and other simple rituals we all take for granted without oxygen distress. Once I do that then we can drop the concentrator flow. I guess I too am now officially a long hauler.