COPD equiptment issues
I was diagnosed just over 3 yrs. ago with COPD, put on oxygen right away. Over the last three years I have had 3 regulators fail. Yes, FAIL!
Thankfully the first two were at home and since I have always had two I was ok till I got a replacement. However this last time yesterday, see story was scary to say the least.
10-25 …..I was going to a hotel to reserve a room for a friend. I picked up the small tank in the sleeve (red band) to check the oxygen level,, it was totally empty!! Strange as when I used it just the prior day I put a full tank in as there was just a small amount in the one I replaced. Anyway I put a new tank in and checked it. It registered full so I set it on conserve and went to truck. Put the tank in the passenger seat as always, and went to the hotel which is less than 15 min away. All this time it was on conserve 5 LPM. Checked it as I was about to go into hotel only to find it also was totally empty. ??? Lucky for me I also had my cart with two tanks (yellow band) on it. It was in the back seat so I was able to get it out and go into hotel and then put it in the front seat going back home as the tubing was not long enough to reach me in the front seat. Lost two tank-fulls of oxygen. The regulator on the small tank went bad … BUT when I got home I had to park in driveway, taking several minutes to remove tubing from nose, walk around truck, open door get tubing, and tanks out. Even though that in it’s self does not sound like a long time but when you need oxygen and can’t get it RIGHT now it seems longer than it really is…Then I put the tanks back in the back seat area and;
Solution was to remove existing tubing, add about 10 ft to the tank and put it back in the backseat. Added 2 swivels, 2 “y” connectors and 2 straight connectors.
I have to think, what would have happened if I did not have the other tanks with me?
Has anyone else had issues with their regulators?
Hi
what a scary experience! I'm glad you had the wherewithal to be prepared and had those tanks. I'm sure some of our community members will chime in with their experiences but I hear your frustration with the regulators. We should be able to trust that they are working properly especially when oxygen is so important! Have you spoken with the oxygen manufacturer to see if this is a common problem with this model or if they can send you a replacement? All the best, Sam S. (COPD.Net Team Member). 
Hi Tom -wow - what an experience!! Speaking with you over the last several months, I can see you are quite adept at using all the paraphernalia associated with respiratory therapy equipment. Having said that, there is no reason why the oxygen cylinders should be losing the (oxygen) gas, as you described via the regulators.
I know cylinders, in general, use regulators (and flow meters), as you well know, to monitor and dispense the gas. The regulator fittings can vary, depending on the size and type of the oxygen cylinder. In general, they are coded with safety fittings for high pressure cylinders: American Standard Safety System (ASSS), Diameter Index Safety System (DISS), and Pin Index Safety System (PISS). All of them have fittings for specifically sized cylinders and all have gaskets or o-rings of some kind. (You may already be aware of this!). Is it possible the regulators which you have experienced failings have had corrupted gaskets, o-rings? In my experience, this happens more than any of us would like to think possible.
If this is not the case, you may want to bring this important issue to the attention of the vendor who has provided you with the regulators themselves. Something does not seem right and you are the one who is having the harrowing experience.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)If you go out in the cold or leave a tank in a cold car you will lose the air. It has happened to me a couple times until I was finally told Not to do that!
Hi Nancy, and thanks for joining in the conversation here. I am sorry this is happening to you and appreciate you letting us know about this issue.
I will tell you that we have stored (and many facilities and organizations I am familiar with), store gaseous oxygen cylinders outdoors with no loss of gas at all. We even have storage of both large and small liquid oxygen systems outdoors with no untoward consequences).
I am not certain why this is happening with your oxygen cylinders.
I'm hopeful others will see your posted concern and chime in as well.
Perhaps you would want to take this up with your medical gas supplier! What do you think?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
Sam S. Yes, it was replaced the next day. This has not been mentioned before but I am a Viet Nam vet and the VA supplies all of our needs in a very timely manner and for that I am blessed.
, firstly, thank you for your service! I am glad that the VA is so responsive to your needs and that you received a replacement so quickly! All the best, Sam S. (COPD.net, Team Member).
I have had this happen quite often. I have a self fill at home and I can fill the tanks one day and am ready to go out and they register empty. Well then I don't go out. The company that I go through does not check the regulators, concentrator or refill machine. I dropped my tank a couple times and have fallen on it so the regulator handle is broke and I use a pliers to get it off the used tank. If I go for a replacement its a long walk to the building and then I will have no oxygen until they replace it with a new one. They only come out now if my Q tank is empty to replace or if my concentrator breaks down. I stayed over at my son's about an hour from my home before a Doctor's appointment 4 hour drive from there. I had all my tanks and ran out of oxygen. I had to drive back home an hour without oxygen. I called the company I go through they could do nothing. My son called the Hospital there and they couldn't do anything. What are you suppose to do if you run out and are away from home? Sorry but I am not familiar with self fill. However if they don't check your equipment then maybe it is time to change providers... This company is what is paid for by my insurance. Refill is a machine I have to fill my own oxygen tanks. Sorry I was just ventig that's all.
