keeping oxygen on

numb

hubby keeps taking the tubing off and canola out of his nose. Very important to keep his O2 numbers up.

Any advice on how to keep it on him. He has been up for 1 hours straight and he has taken tubing off app. 20 times since then. 

I have it on as snug as possible.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

MPSunshine

Hiya, in addition to the hydration in the article Victoria shared-- it's a water canister that you add to the oxygenator that makes the oxygen more humid and easier to tolerate --- I have another little trick that worked with my dad (seems like ages ago!).

You know those canulas that poke into the nostrils? Well, try cutting them off so they don't poke into the nose. The things are plastic and cheap. The oxygen will still get into his body, which is what counts. If it doesn't work the hospice nurse can provide another one. For my dad, this little snip made the difference between him ripping the tubes off and leaving them in ---- even if it was a little bit longer. People's noses are surprisingly sensitive. You try it. You probably won't like the feeling of something in your nose, or rubbing on your cheek that you don't want.

Oh, here's another tip. I don't know if your hospice nurse taught you this, but there's a way to have the tubing so it's in the front so it doesn't pressure the cheeks so much. Makes it easier to tolerate.

Good luck!

numb

Thanks so much for the suggestions : )  Will give them a try.

mommyandme (m&m)

Hospice nurse told me if my LOs low on oxygen and/or not tolerating the cannula, simply turn on a fan to push air around which can also be very helpful.  Same advice when needing a CPap but no longer able to use it.

Olly_Bake

Dad takes his oxygen off as well. It’s kind of the reason I gave up on the idea of getting him fitted for a bi-pap or CPap machine. When he first came home, it was a constant battle and trying to explain why. But home health came on this last time instead of hospice and the nurse told me to add on a daily dose of Mucinex (guaifensin extended-release tablet) and Zyrtec. I don’t know but since doing so, I don’t have to stress as much when he takes the oxygen off.

We also do lung exercises now that he can follow along some. For example; when he is setting up and getting ready to eat, change, read, etc. he has to cough for us at least three times whether it produces phlegm or not. When he is getting his diaper changed and rolls to one side or the other, again he has to cough (a couple times when he rolls to the right and a couple times when he rolls to the left). He is also encouraged to lie on his side at times. I’ve also taken my oximeter and found exactly how low to go with his bed before it starts messing with the numbers.

Dad lost a lung due to a gun shot back when I was a baby which is why we have to work harder to help him keep the other lung clear. And not able to walk anymore due to broke hip this year.

MYSunshine, we have the water canister. I assumed it was helping with keeping moisture wherever it needed to be. But I got shocked last month when the optometrist told me dad’s eyes were crusted on the inside of the lid really bad due to oxygen. I told her no wonder he was always saying something was in his eyes but I could not see but just did an otc product for dry eyes. The doctor replaced that with Restasis (one drop twice daily). I am testing the snip on the canulas today and will see if the oxygen holds and if he pulls off less. Didn’t think of that one so thanks for passing on the tip to try.

MommyandMe, we also do a fan on low to push air around.

I searched around a while back online trying to see if there was any type of alarm for that. It just showed the oximeters like you see in the hospital that would alert you if the numbers got low. But then I was like, if he is pulling off the oxygen tubing what do you think he is going to do trying to wear a oximeter at all times. He was pulling those off in the hospital as well.