How long can my oxygen concentrator work for overnight sleeping?

Hi Breathless22,

I assume that at home you use a small portable concentrator (the Inogen) for all the time you're awake, but have a larger stationary concentrator for nighttime use. Is that correct?

So, if that's the case, there are few factors to consider. First, is your Inogen concentrator a pulse dose or continuous flow? That may matter if you also have any issues with sleep apnea. Obviously, in order to trigger the flow if it's a pulse dose, you must be taking steady breaths continuously. Second, are you on the same flow rate day and night? If you use a higher flow at night, you must be sure your portable concentrator is able to provide that flow.

I would make a few calls to be sure. Inogen has a customer support center that can answer questions about your particular model(s). Also, just contact your doctor and ask their opinion - they have all your specific information and can tell you definitely if there are any issues.

I hope you have a great trip!

Lyn (moderator)

Hi Breathless22!

It looks like Lyn has provided a pretty thorough answer to your question, however, I just wanted to add a link to an article series you may find helpful on traveling with oxygen! You can find the series here, https://copd.net/living/on-oxygen-on-the-go-part-1-the-burden-of-portable-oxygen/ I've also found another article on the Do's and Don'ts of traveling with oxygen that you may find useful as well, https://copd.net/living/traveling-with-oxygen/

If you get a chance to look at these articles, let us know what you think!

Best, Casey (COPD.net Team)