Oxygen concentrators with CPAP machines
My doctor recommended that I connect my oxygen concentrator to my CPAP machine in order to get oxygen during the night. There was no way for anyone to sleep with that set-up. It was a constant compression noise. Has anyone else had this problem? Did we do something wrong? The doctor offered no explanation or fixes.
Hi dwoodard - thanks for your post and your question - it's a very good one!
For some folks on CPAP / BiPAP therapy, supplemental oxygen may be prescribed to maintain an adequate oxygen saturation level during a night of sleep. This is very common - you are not alone!
However, the doctor should be prescribing how much oxygen is necessary for each particular patient. Some folks do well with various liter flows that will be unique for each patient's particular level of disease. It sounds (to me), from what you've shared, that this is your situation - using CPAP therapy with supplemental oxygen.
If that is the case, the doctor should be advising you of the correct liter flow. Once that is established, choosing the source of oxygen is the next logical step.
Oxygen concentrators are good, since one never has to be concerned with running out of oxygen on the overnight. The downside, of course, is the noise generated by the concentrator. If this is an issue for you, the better source choice for you will be an oxygen cylinder. We can discuss oxygen cylinders further if that is what is recommended in your case.
You may want to continue this conversation with your prescribing physician. The doctor and/or his staff should be able to address your very real and very practical concerns regarding this issue.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)I just spent almost 3 hours, most of that on hold or being disconnected, trying to figure out how to get a cylinder. They finally told me they need my doctor to send in the order. So I have now left a message with his office and I'm waiting to see if they call back or send in the order. I have come up against so many roadblocks with the office not sending g in test referrals and going back and forth with them for months. I'm tired of being frustrated. I think I need a nap! LOL. Thanks so much for your advice. It definitely helped me know what I needed to do..
Hi again, dwoodard, and thanks for your reply and further explanation - I appreciate it. I am so sorry to hear of the delay and unnecessary obstacles being thrown your way in getting this done.
Generally speaking, the doctor should be writing a prescription for the oxygen liter flow AND for you to be able to use an oxygen cylinder to do this. This is especially so if you have decided that you do not want to use the oxygen concentrator at night, because of the noise. It's unfair to you (as a patient), to be spending months trying to get something as simple as this accomplished through your own prescribing physician's office. If the doctor is showing this much disinterest in your case, and lacks the compassion and understanding to provide the level of care you need, you may want to consider seeking out another physician who is better suited to your condition, your requirements, and your good health. This is NOT too much to ask from one's doctor!
I got a real chuckle out of your 'nap' remark - I enjoy (and need) a nap now and then, too!
Please keep in touch as I would like to help in any way that I can to help you to secure the right source equipment for using oxygen with the CPAP machine.
Enjoy the weekend!!
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
Ugh, don't you just hate that? My favorite offices to call are the ones that hold your place and then automatically call you back when it's your turn. At least that way you can enjoy some of your day... I can relate to the difficulty of adjusting to the noise, especially when you are accustomed to silence. For me, I found that using a white noise app on my phone, or a white noise video, is a good way to slowly acclimate to noise. Of course, a cylinder is a great option as well. Best of luck, hang in there! -Melissa, copd.net team
if it's the noise from concentrator than l'm afraid it's like living next to the train tracks, you get used to it. Not like we have a choice. A nice quiet cylinder might see like the solution and your O2 flow is low it can sort of work. Problem is you have to have constant flow, no conserving regulator. To last the night it likely will require an E cylinder. That's 7 of those big tanks a week.
Ear plugs might well be worth a try. The best ones are quit comfortable.
