oxygen therapycall our advie line free on 0808 801 0899 what is oxygen therapy? oxygen therapy is a...

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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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]


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

oxygen therapycall our advie line free on 0808 801 0899 what is oxygen therapy? oxygen therapy is a...

Documents