My oxygen and me
I was embarrassed to wear oxygen to church. I managed to do it and over time I was pretty comfortable. Then the senior pastor told me I didn't need that thing. I kept on going to church, but he makes me feel uncomfortable to be around. I need to use oxygen 24/7.
Be sure and wave at the pastor when he's on the wrong side of the pearly gates and you're not!😎🤣
He'll be with a bunch of other idiots trying to get in.
Seriously the 50th?! Nobody be turning cartwheels there.
Go and enjoy yourself.
Probably be another 50 years till you see them again.
CheersWell I went to my 50th and it was kind of a big nothing. I had my bf wheel me to the site of the dinner in my shiny new wheelchair and saw no one I knew, but never ran out of breath. Then we parked it away on the side and I walked to dinner and had fine not thrilling time without oxygen. I left kind of on the early side, slid by everyone back into my wheelchair and thought I'd eluded everyone's gaze at my condition until the next day when my old colleague from that time emailed to ask me what was wrong -- why I'd left early in a wheelchair. So there's no getting away with anything. I've been very up and very down SOB wise in the subsequent two weeks. Utterly mysterious. One day I can do almost anything with no SOB and the next I can't inhale at all. I think either I am having frequent flare ups, or my bronchitis just returns a bit and clogs up my bronchials. So weird.
I'm glad you went. I think you would have regretted it had you not went. I admire you for going.
Hi Diane, I felt the same way and still do. I hope soon it will pass as I need it all the time as well. I'm sorry about the Pastor, hopefully, he meant well, but has no idea what we are going through. It should pass and don't worry about what others think!! You need the oxygen and for your own health better use it! I am on oxygen 24/7 and don't worry about what others think. If you have real friends they don't care that you are doing what you need to so you can be around longer and if they aren't then you don't want them around anyhow. 
Hi Nancy, and thanks so much for lending your own support and encouragement here. Support from community members goes a long way with and for all of us!
Warm regards,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
What to do about this oxygen embarrassment. I have it too-- supposed to go to my college 50 reuinion but I am totally freaked out about wearing oxygen which is better than not breathing. What are your experiences in the outside world with wearing O2. I know I wasn't very understanding before I got sick and now I feel my own judgement.
I'm pretty comfortable wearing it out now. It took awhile. Most people don't care and most people are very understanding. Going to your 50th is a big deal. I think everyone will look different (older). I didn't go to mine. It took me awhile to wear the oxygen around my family 24/7. If you want to go then you should. Keep us posted. It might be a lot of fun.
I hear you, LROgal, and thanks for your post. I went to my high school's 50th anniversary reunion 5 years ago. I do not use supplemental oxygen but, was I ever surprised to see how we ALL got older!! Who ever expected that!! Some of us aged better than others but the overwhelming joy at seeing one another far outweighed any vanity that I or anyone else seemed to be concerned about.
Go - have a great time! My suggestion would be to use the oxygen at the party - it should help you to feel more comfortable during the party.
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)