CPAP with O2

[Philfan]

I've been told I will require a CPAP with oxygen (using a O2 concentrater). Are any members using a concentrater and what has been your experience with the CPAP/concentrater? Your comments are appreciated.

[another_guest]

I am a newbie to CPAP but have been on O2 at night for several years.

If I can be of help pm me -- maybe I can help - maybe not but at least we can try to support each other as we deal with this.

[Goofproof]

I was using O2 at 2 units at night on my CPAP. the same rate as daytime.
It is just fed into a adapter on the output of your humidifier.

I never made any sense to me as the air stream would be highly diluted by the increased flow of CPAP air, a good portion of which never reaches the lungs.

I think most Doctor,s failed physics. But what do I know, I never took physics, I just watched water run downhill.

[another_guest]

I tend to agree with this so I increased my O2 and when I told doc yesterday he didn't disagree with what I had done but he also didn't tell me to up it to max of concentrator either.

Seems that if 30 l/m are leaking out (just a guestimate) then whatever O2 is being fed is diluted a lot more than I would like but increasing the O2 flow to 4 l/m from 2 l/m should add a few more % O2 in the system.

[Guest]

I tend to agree with this so I increased my O2 and when I told doc yesterday he didn't disagree with what I had done but he also didn't tell me to up it to max of concentrator either.

Seems that if 30 l/m are leaking out (just a guestimate) then whatever O2 is being fed is diluted a lot more than I would like but increasing the O2 flow to 4 l/m from 2 l/m should add a few more % O2 in the system.

My Dr. just gave me a look like I was crazy, I gave it back to him. They have control over our lives and they havn't a clue. If they were Auto Mechanics they would starve to death. Lucky people sometimes heal themselves, cars don't, very often.

[tomjax]

I too have wondered about this and have even written and called a couple of O2 suppliers.
Invacare says O2 concentrators cannot be used with PAP.

The physics is beyond me. There is no way the 02 going into the adaptor will not be blown back into the concentrator instead of adding 02.

if the pressure is great enough to add )2, then the pressure wiill not be accurate.

[rvbcave]

I too have wondered about this and have even written and called a couple of O2 suppliers.
Invacare says O2 concentrators cannot be used with PAP.

The physics is beyond me. There is no way the 02 going into the adaptor will not be blown back into the concentrator instead of adding 02.

if the pressure is great enough to add )2, then the pressure wiill not be accurate.

You have a fine point. I had to explain this to a few General practicioners. I mix various mixtures of gas for my extended range and cave diving. Most of what I deal with is regarding O2 under pressure or ppO2. Emergency treatment of decompression sickness if one is not near a chamber is O2 continuously flowing through a fill face mask. Even without the stream of air from the cpap you still loose a LOT of O2. The ONLY way to get 100% O2 in your lungs is to breathe it directly from a demand valve regulator. (SCUBA regulator for example)

Since you guys mention it I have an idea. I am going to get out my oxygen analyzer and put it in line with my cpap hose and flow O2 through it at different settings, i.e. 11 cm, 12cm, etc. This will give an actual percentage of O2 that the user is getting. Might be a fun experiment!

Merry Christmas,
Robby

[Goofproof]

Deleted due to nothing I said was in the post anymore. Jim

[Guest]

Absolutely this will give us a standard. I don't use O2 with CPAP so why don't some of you folks that do email me your CPAP settings and O2 flow rates.

rvbrown@robbybrown.org

Robby

[terry123]

My husband had a sleep study done in January and he told me they put oxygen on along with the cpap. While we were waiting for results of his sleep study(about 2 weeks or so) I went ahead and put him on my backup machine which is an Auto Respironics M Series with A Flex. The next day after using it he said he couldn't believe how much better he felt and has continued feeling better, but using a recording oximeter, his Oxygen was still not up to par, even tho it was better than before cpap. Yesterday we finally got an oxygen concentrater set at 4L. Last night the oximeter reading was the first time he has shown great results, so even tho it may be diluted, there is certainly enough there to make a big difference. He had one short desaturation last night rather than the 20 -30 he usually has. Now we just have to get used to the noise. With 2 cpap machines and an oxygen concentrater in the bedroom, it seemed pretty noisy to me, but at least we are breathing better.

[Goofproof]

My husband had a sleep study done in January and he told me they put oxygen on along with the cpap. While we were waiting for results of his sleep study(about 2 weeks or so) I went ahead and put him on my backup machine which is an Auto Respironics M Series with A Flex. The next day after using it he said he couldn't believe how much better he felt and has continued feeling better, but using a recording oximeter, his Oxygen was still not up to par, even tho it was better than before cpap. Yesterday we finally got an oxygen concentrater set at 4L. Last night the oximeter reading was the first time he has shown great results, so even tho it may be diluted, there is certainly enough there to make a big difference. He had one short desaturation last night rather than the 20 -30 he usually has. Now we just have to get used to the noise. With 2 cpap machines and an oxygen concentrater in the bedroom, it seemed pretty noisy to me, but at least we are breathing better.

You can move the O2 pump to another room without any effect as long as you don;t add a extra hose. Besides helping on the noise, it keeps the room cooler. Jim

[rippersmom]

My husband had a sleep study done in January and he told me they put oxygen on along with the cpap. While we were waiting for results of his sleep study(about 2 weeks or so) I went ahead and put him on my backup machine which is an Auto Respironics M Series with A Flex. The next day after using it he said he couldn't believe how much better he felt and has continued feeling better, but using a recording oximeter, his Oxygen was still not up to par, even tho it was better than before cpap. Yesterday we finally got an oxygen concentrater set at 4L. Last night the oximeter reading was the first time he has shown great results, so even tho it may be diluted, there is certainly enough there to make a big difference. He had one short desaturation last night rather than the 20 -30 he usually has. Now we just have to get used to the noise. With 2 cpap machines and an oxygen concentrater in the bedroom, it seemed pretty noisy to me, but at least we are breathing better.

You can move the O2 pump to another room without any effect as long as you don;t add a extra hose. Besides helping on the noise, it keeps the room cooler. Jim

HI,

I have one of those noisy concentrators, and it is in the master bathroom with the hose running along the floor in front of the vanity, out the door, around behind the dresser and then attached to my Elite II on my night stand. 50 feet is the maximum distance to run the hose, according to my DME. I am using about 28 feet, and the flow is good. I pull the bathroom door shut and the noise is not nearly as irritating. Now, whether it is actually doing me any good...not sure, but I'm using it every night.

Dr. who wrote the summary statement for my sleep study said IF I quit smoking I probably wouldn't need the O2. Hmmm I need to take RG's advice and do an overnight oximeter reading to know for sure. As for the smoking....price is going up...$6.00 more per carton in March. Luv those legislators. Too darned much $$ to burn up, so cold turkey it is. Chantix was a big flop for me....however, I DID NOT SMOKE while I was puking my guts out. It works for lots of folks, but not for me. <sigh>

sleep well
Nancy in AZ

[Bigburd]

I was using O2 at 2 units at night on my CPAP. the same rate as daytime.
It is just fed into a adapter on the output of your humidifier.

I never made any sense to me as the air stream would be highly diluted by the increased flow of CPAP air, a good portion of which never reaches the lungs.

I think most Doctor,s failed physics. But what do I know, I never took physics, I just watched water run downhill.

I agree, if fed into the main stream it becomes diluted. I used this set-up, concentrator / cpap, for a year. My DME provider set it up. Cost me and my insurance approx. $700 a month. Then the light went on. Told them to take the concentrator back, had to fight to get my doctor to agree to send it back or I would be black marked and would never be able to get a concentrator again. Have had no problems, have not looked back. If you absoultely need O2 feed it in to the nose the regular way. It may still be diluted from the stream but not as much.

[rippersmom]

I agree, if fed into the main stream it becomes diluted. I used this set-up, concentrator / cpap, for a year. My DME provider set it up. Cost me and my insurance approx. $700 a month. Then the light went on. Told them to take the concentrator back, had to fight to get my doctor to agree to send it back or I would be black marked and would never be able to get a concentrator again. Have had no problems, have not looked back. If you absoultely need O2 feed it in to the nose the regular way. It may still be diluted from the stream but not as much.

[/quote]

Very good point. I originally had the O2 tubing connected to the port on my mask, because the DME didn't have the adapter with him for the connection to the humidifier. I was at the beginning of my CPAP adventure, felt like crap, and didn't really think about the flow or dilution, just did what I was told. When the adapter arrived in the mail, I changed the set up to hook to the humidifier. Now you've got me thinkin'......hmmmm.....brain is slowly beginning to work again....

I'm changing the connection from the adapter to the mask port today to see what, if any, difference it makes.
Thanks for the insight.

Nancy in AZ

[kest874]

I was on o2 with straight cpap for a little under a year until recently. I found that being on the o2 made me more tired. Aftering seeing my sleep doc a week or 2 ago he said to stop the o2 and see what happens.

I was wasn't sure what would happen so I took a leap of faith..... I'm not using the o2 any more and purchased an SPO 7500 to check my o2 at night.... My lowest desat over 2 nights was 90.

So I'm confident that I do not require the o2 now. I'm also feeling so much better since stopping it. No on can tell me why being on the o2 at 2.5lpm was making me feel so crappy.

I also diagree with:

The physics is beyond me. There is no way the 02 going into the adaptor will not be blown back into the concentrator instead of adding 02.

The 02 line is connected close to the outlet of the machine, with air blowing past it will cause a low pressure area at the outlet of the o2 line basically pulling the o2 into the hose.