Help! Travel and o2 concentrator

[sproatd]

I require oxygen with my Cpap. My insurance company rents an oxygen concentrator for me for almost $200 per month. The concentrator is noisy. We had to use a longer hose, put it in another room and close both doors in order to sleep. We like to travel and I haven’t taken the concentrator with me. I wouldn’t be able to use it in a motel room because of noise and can’t use it while staying with someone else for the same reason. Also if we go camping there is no electricity to run it. Which brings me to another issue. It's not uncommon to have blackouts here in the winter months.

I asked my DME what they could do for me. They told me to bring the concentrator with me or I can purchase another oxygen system to use when I travel. That would run me between 2 to 4 thousand dollars and I may still have noise issues. I know they’re making out on the rental of the noisy monster living in the spare bedroom, which is okay because we all have to make a living, but there must be another option for me when traveling. I don’t have that kind of money lying around and I do have decent insurance.

As I’m writing this I realize it’s kind of odd that my insurance is renting the o2 concentrator but they purchased my S9 right up front.

My doctor isn’t a specialist (I live on an island in Alaska) so if there is something I can suggest for him to order for me I’m sure he would do it. Any suggestions at all will be appreciated.

Thanks for your help
Denise S.
Kodiak, AK

[STL Mark]

Try renting one for the trip. This is the first company that I pulled up with Google but I'm sure many others exist. If you find a model of concentrator that you really like, you can consider buying it new/used.

http://www.portableoxygenconcentrators. ... NTALS.html

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&o ... el+rentals

[basicinstinct911]

Check machines at other providers. I'm sure you will find someone who has a quiet one and then switch your rx to them if they can't make you happy. You are renting so hopefully you can just switch over unless your insurance company says you have to use them.

[sproatd]

I'm wondering what it would take to get a portable oxygen tank at my destination. My DME is in Anchorage and I'll be spending six days in the Anchorage area over Christmas. I wouldn't have to bring it on the airplane. My DME won't give me any indication if this is possible. They just want me to purchase another oxygen concentrator. I guess I need to make an appointment with my doctor and try requesting a new Rx for something like this for travel. If necessary I'm sure I can change DME's
Thanks for the help.
Denise S.

[sproatd]

After spending way too much time in front of my computer monitor instead of sleeping I discovered oxygen concentrators that have cylinder filling systems with them. This sounds like it might be a good alternative. I can fill the tanks during the day and sleep without any noise from the concentrator. Now all I have to do is convince my doctor and the insurance company that this is a good idea for me.

Talking to someone else always help to clarify things. Thanks for letting me go on about this.

Denise S.
Kodiak, AK

[REF]

This last August we went on vacation, our DME gave us a small portable o2 Concentrator to use. Sorry I don't remember who the manufacturer was but it had it's own small cart and 2 batteries with it.
We also have at home 2 tanks of o2 for use if the power goes out.

[momofthree]

When you were set up with the oxygen concentrator they should have given you some oxygen tanks at that time also. Our DME set us up with the concentrator (DeVilbiss 525 with a Pediatric Flow Regulator and humidifier) and a few oxygen tanks to use if there is an issue with the concentrator of if we get a power outage. (We get outages quite frequently). They do not charge the insurance extra for the tanks, it is just a common courtesy that they have them here.

I have had to switch DMEs and I am not sure how hard that would be in Alaska, but make sure that you have someone that is willing to listen to you. It makes a world of difference. I have seen the machines that can fill the O2 tanks also and in your case that sounds like a good idea. Make sure that you explain your need to your doctor and DME so that they understand what you are looking for.

Wish I could help you more but we have only had the oxygen for a month and a half and it is all new to us. The machine noise is very difficult to get used to and I am not sure what we are going to do about camping this summer either. This year we had to go to a facility that had electric to run the oximeter at night, it worked, but we are primitive campers and did not care for the large campground and campers all around us!

Best wishes!

L. Mother of three angels, one of whom forgets to breathe.

[Slinky]

It sounds like you do not have the best of DME providers - or your insurance is pretty tight.

Medicare is my primary and UAW BC/BS is my secondary. As such my 02 concentrator is on a 3 or 5 year rental (I forget) but ownership never reverts to the patient as w/CPAP. Go figure.

My DME has provided me w/3 different provisions when I've traveled. (I've not flown, only by car). Once when there was no room in the car for anything else they provided me w/8 B tanks and made arrangments w/a provider at my destination to deliver a concentrator to my motel room and be on standby for emergencies or if I needed more tanks.

Another time they provided me w/a 3L concentrator that we sat on the back seat in a seat belt whilst traveling. We don't stay at the highest class motels, often a Motel 6 or Red Roof, EconoLodge. I've been able to fit the 3L concentrator under the sink which has always been set off pretty much from the beds. I carry a square of carpet w/me as one motel had a tile floor under the sink. They also provided B tanks for me to take along as well.

One of the times w/the 3L concentrator, it died. I called and my provider made provision w/a local provider at my destination to deliver a concentrator to used whilst there.

And my favorite!!! The SeQual 2!!! It sounds much like what REF mentioned. That works GREAT, and it is considerably quieter than the DeVilbiss 5L I had and the Invacare Platinum XL they are providing now. I did have to give them a $500 check which is returned when I return the SeQual 2 plus I had to pay $50 to rent for the week which was not refundable. I'm toying w/the idea of buying one and have found the SeQual 3 as low as $2899 w/the standard pack, i.e. battery, charger, cart, accessory case, etc. I've also seen the same package as high as $5999. The Sequal 3s are the newest so you may be able to find a new, unused SeQual 2 at a reduced price. The SeQual 2 and 3 can be used in continuous mode for the PAP and in pulse for battery use. It can be used in continuous mode on battery but, of course, the battery doesn't last long.

Oh, I forgot!!! The SeQual 2 can operate in continuous mode and/or be recharged via your car's cigarette lighter.

You might want to take part in the EFFORTS e-mail emphysema support group to see what others are using and the good and not so good points of each. Emphysema Foundation For Our Right To Survive.

[sproatd]

I talked with my DME again yesterday. They always tell me to bring my current concentrator with me when traveling. They are adamant that there is no other solution for me. They say that the one I have is about as quiet as they get. They say that a concentrator with a refilling station would only get me 5 hours of o2. My concentrator is set at 2ml and I only use it with my Cpap while asleep. I suggested two tanks and switching them out. They tell me that I would have to spend all day refilling them. They say that portable tanks are for people who are active need them 24/7. I'm not athletic but I'm not inactive either.

I may be wrong but I have a hard time believing that all this is true. There are people who use oxygen 24 hours a day and I'm pretty sure their cylinders last them throughout the night. I recall when my dad was on oxygen before he died. It seems like he only had to change cylinders every 2 to 3 days.

Even if I could sleep with the concentrator in the room with me I don't know how I would cart the big beast around along with my regular luggage. With airport restrictions I would have to carry all of it with me at the same time since we can no longer leave our vehicle at the curbside while checking in.

I'm going to continue looking for a solution. I'm going to Anchorage, where my DME is located, on the 22nd for 5 days. I'm going on vacation for 2 weeks in February and going to visit family in California in April for at least 1 week. It sounds like some of you have really helpful DME's to work with. I've never been offered tanks or to have anything waiting for me at my destination.

I currently am using Respironics' Everflo concentrator, with 50 foot hose, 2 rooms away with both doors closed. My insurance is Tricare Prime Remote. The remote part means that I have no out of pocket. It's usually pretty decent insurance once you get it figured out.

Wish me luck. I'll let you all know if I get this worked out.

Thanks,
Denise S.

[Slinky]

Both the DeVilbiss 5L and this Invacare Platinum XL 5L are noisy. But NOT the kind of noisy you are describing. Or else you are super sensitive to sound! My concentrators were/are both less than 25 feet from the head of my bed but in another room and we never closed the doors to either room. The sound from either of them has never bothered me.

Have you tried calling TriCare Prime Remote, your insurance, and asking them what local DME providers they are contracted with? Hopefully you will have the option of more than just this office of sheisters you are working with now. If you do have other options explain to your insurance the problem you are having and if there are any problems w/your switching to one of your other provider options. Since you never get to own the concentrator I don't think that there would be - but - better safe than sorry.

Hoping you have other options be sure to "shop" them and ask what provisions they could and would make for you when traveling, especially when traveling by air.

I was/am on Medicare but when my first DME provider turned out to be such a sheister but it was past the first few months of the 13 month capped rental I completed the rental w/them - but - I started my 02 supplies from another local DME provider and also got my CPAP replacement supplies from the new provider.

[basicinstinct911]

just go check other providers out and see what they have. They should be more than happy to give you a demonstration so you can see for yourself. A tank will not last you very long. A typical e tank at 2 liters last about 4-5 hours.