Where to add oxygen to BIPAP

My doctor ordered 2L of O2 to be added to my BIPAP. Long story short I have the connector and tubing and concentrator to do this but am not sure if the connector should go between my mask and tubing or between my machine's humidifier and tubing.
Also how long can the O2 connector cord be? I like having the concentrator in the living room not my bedroom so it doesn't make so much noise.

Hi Chris,
There are a couple things to consider. It's recommended to have a one way "check" valve to be sure O2 doesn't flow back into the machine when the machine is off. If you can be very careful to always start the machine first...that may not be needed. I use an older Remstar humidifier which has a built-in check valve.

To keep the tubing hassles to a minimum, it's easiest to mount the Oxygen adapter at the humidifier end of the hose...thus keeping it away from the mask.

I believe that's the most common way to set things up.
Jamis

See: http://www.ehow.com/how_5635625_connect ... chine.html

and

The main tubing attached to the different systems can be up to 15 meters/50 feet long to allow for mobility. The length of the tubing should only be as long as necessary in order to be mobile, for example long enough to get from one end of the house to the other. Having excess tubing may become a hazard to yourself and others. Long tubing also increases chances of knotting and cutting off the flow of oxygen. The tubes should be changed every 6-12 months. The tubing must be the right dimension. The inner diameter should be at least 5 mm to ensure the resistance is minimal.
http://www.thoracic.org/clinical/copd-g ... herapy.php

Tonight I will be doing the 02 also. She hooked it up for me and the connector is between my machine (humidifier) and the hose. I asked her about turning on the machine first and cutting the oxygen off first and she said it didn't matter because the oxygen would dissapate within a few minutes. But I plan to shut the oxygen off first.
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ChrisT wrote:My doctor ordered 2L of O2 to be added to my BIPAP. Long story short I have the connector and tubing and concentrator to do this but am not sure if the connector should go between my mask and tubing or between my machine's humidifier and tubing.
Also how long can the O2 connector cord be? I like having the concentrator in the living room not my bedroom so it doesn't make so much noise.

Macewa wrote: Tonight I will be doing the 02 also. She hooked it up for me and the connector is between my machine (humidifier) and the hose. I asked her about turning on the machine first and cutting the oxygen off first and she said it didn't matter because the oxygen would dissapate within a few minutes. But I plan to shut the oxygen off first.

Hi macewa...I see you are in NM like me. Hi altitudes can be an issue. Most (or many) ASV users on the Forum are in Colorado...I'm at 6,000' asl down in Silver City.

The issue of O2 feeding into the machine is safety and I suspect the worry is not truly valid. But I was thinking that perhaps the O2 could shorten the life of electrical switches in the machine. So I try to keep O2 from flowing into the machine...even if it's insignificant. I doubt very seriously that my machine will blow up on me or catch on fire!
J

Jamiswolf, So Well, Macewa....thanks for the quick replies. I am glad to have the information. I am not sure if my machine has a built in valve but I think it might. I will for sure disconnect the oxygen before turning off the machine in the morning...and also will turn on the machine before the oxygen is turned on just to make sure. Thanks for the information on the length of tubing as well. I live remotely in far Northern CA in the mountains and am kind of winging some of this. Good to have all your experience and thanks!

Mine is added at a "tee" where the hose attaches to the humidifier outlet from the BiPAP. I use a 25 foot tube for the oxygen, and have the concentrator in a large walk-in closet for noise isolation (it has HVAC outlet so it's not really much like a closet). I lay out the tubing each night as part of the bed-time routine, and take it up in the morning, and I'm the only one who has to even cross it during the night. The concentrator only is run at night starting a few minutes before I mask up. Been doing this for over two years, and no problems.

ChrisT wrote:Jamiswolf, So Well, Macewa....thanks for the quick replies. I am glad to have the information. I am not sure if my machine has a built in valve but I think it might. I will for sure disconnect the oxygen before turning off the machine in the morning...and also will turn on the machine before the oxygen is turned on just to make sure. Thanks for the information on the length of tubing as well. I live remotely in far Northern CA in the mountains and am kind of winging some of this. Good to have all your experience and thanks!

Heck ya...hook it up and let it rip. O2 eases desats and can actually reduce the occurance of centrals. Made a major difference in my treatment and how I feel during the day.
Jamis

Jamis,

I think you are right about this. I tried it for two nights...not sure if I had it hooked up optimally but know now from your posts how to do it....and noted better sleep right away...and some subtle daytime stamina improvement. I do have both obstructive and central and those hypopneas that creep up on BIPAP. Last overnight oximetry showed decreased sats down to 80 and under 90 plus bradycardia down to 41. Hope for better on the replay on 2L bled into the BIPAP.

Also liked the description of the concentrator in the closet. I have it in another room...thus a longer line...but may opt to put it closer in a room with the door closed as there is room under not to pinch the cord.

This forum is phenomenal. Thanks for the quick replies!

Very cool ChrisT,
And you didn't hear this from me...but if you need to crank up the O2 a bit, well do it (unless you have severe copd). O2 toxicity doesn't occur until near 100% saturation. I'm running 3L right now. Just monitor things closely and it sounds like you are.
Sleep tight...
J

Oh my, I'm in SC area also. LOL

I did not have a hook up for the oxygen on my BiPap, the DME had to give me one. As far as the concentrator goes, the noise has never bothered me as I don't really find it noisy. My problem is that I only have one outlet in my bedroom so will have to plug it in the kitchen outlet. Better go check and make sure it's long enough.

MAJOR QUESTION: Do you all think it would be safe to plug my BiPap and Concentrator into a surge protector strip outlet?

jamiswolf wrote:

Macewa wrote: Tonight I will be doing the 02 also. She hooked it up for me and the connector is between my machine (humidifier) and the hose. I asked her about turning on the machine first and cutting the oxygen off first and she said it didn't matter because the oxygen would dissapate within a few minutes. But I plan to shut the oxygen off first.

Hi macewa...I see you are in NM like me. Hi altitudes can be an issue. Most (or many) ASV users on the Forum are in Colorado...I'm at 6,000' asl down in Silver City.

The issue of O2 feeding into the machine is safety and I suspect the worry is not truly valid. But I was thinking that perhaps the O2 could shorten the life of electrical switches in the machine. So I try to keep O2 from flowing into the machine...even if it's insignificant. I doubt very seriously that my machine will blow up on me or catch on fire!
J

Macewa wrote: MAJOR QUESTION: Do you all think it would be safe to plug my BiPap and Concentrator into a strip outlet?

O2 concentrators operate in the 250 to 300 watt range. And cpap machines...even less so, I don't think you need to worry having both plugged into the same strip outlet. Check to see the data on the outlet to be safe.

So should we start our own little support group?
Jamis

I have my concentrator in the next room. My husband drilled a small hole in the shared wall at the baseboard and we run the 02 tubing thru that hole, along the wall behind the vanity to my VPAP Auto.

My 02 adapter attaches at the humidifier/hose joint. I don't worry about the little time the concentrator is running and my VPAP Auto turned off. When I wake, I turn my VPAP off, remove my mask, walk to the 'puter room, turn on the 'puter, switch the conctrator 02 tubing to daytime tubing and trot off to the bathroom to start my daily "libations".

Macewa,

My Bipap runs 60 watts which draws about 1/2 an amp in current. If the concentrator is 250-300 watts at 120 volts it would draw less then 3 amps. Most good strips are rated for 10 amps so it sounds like plugging both into one strip would not be a problem.

Thanks for mentioning this. I don't have my concentrator on a strip and we have power outages and surges so I need to do this too! Just goes to show you 4-5 heads are better then one....

Check your manuals. I've read that we should NOT put our CPAPs (or concentrators) on a surge bar. I'm not sure which it was we aren't supposed to use a surge bar for but I'm pretty sure it is our CPAPs. Its in the manual.