Three years ago I went out of town to meet some DS friends................TODAY........I would be scared to death to do that.................without my oxygen???????????? Oh No...........maybe I could...........but what IF i couldn't????

Camping.........................did that years ago....an loved it..........no longer have the stamina or energy to do it..................I so love campfires:):):) that smell is priceless:):)..................but somehow, I don't think it is good for us:(:(

Gwad...................tonight, I HATE this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope YOU can find sumptin YOU enjoy:):):)

I just got back from a road tip to Florida. I haven't used my concentrator in several months, but I carry it in the van with me just in case I have need of it. I set up my van with a power inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter so I don't need a separate portable O2 supply. While I was there I managed to get out on the beach and try out my new metal detector without any serious problems. I will be taking a shot at camping in Michigan this summer. I'm hoping the campfires don't force me to cut the trip short, but I'll never know until I try. Good luck expanding your horizon's.

I love you guys .............and you inspire me:):)..............................thank you:):)

Moe:

With a portable oxygen concertrator you can fly, travel (without oxygen bottles), and camp (if that is your thing). They run off a battery, or plug into a wall, or run off 12V (cigarette lighter). The one I think I am going to get weighs 5 lbs and has a really neat backpack. That gives me freedom of mobility, and that is important if you want to be active. You don't necessarily have to buy one. your O2 company may supply one for free if you are flying, or traveling.

I raced off-road motorcycles before my diagnosis. I am confident that I will at least be able to ride with this new O2 set-up.

Stay positive!!

Gary

Hey thanks! My problem with the motorcycles/4 wheelers is the diesel smell exhaust--I'm only on 02 at night. I really can't handle any fumes at all. I've come to adjust at home and at work....the problem riding the bikes is the smell...not sure how to overcome that...
Thanks Deb, Steven and Gary! Maybe I need to investigate personal/travel air purifiers!:)

My O2 company doesn't carry small portable concentrators. Just the big one that you set up.

I would love a small one to travel with!! I just had my company drop off the big one, when i went out of town last weekend. I told them i was staying another week, so that i could keep it there for this weekend. OOPS!! Little white lie...but that way it's already there, and i was only back home here for 3 days, b4 I go back again for 3 nights this weekend.

But, it would be a lot easier if i had a smaller one. I could sit out in the back yard, and not use up my portable tanks. We just got a fire pit...i'm hoping i'll be ok sitting near it, if i'm still on the oxygen this summer. I know i have to be careful with fire, but i never even thought about the smoke, ...just not used to thinking about that stuff, cause this is the 1st summer i will have this O2, unless i can get rid of it soon!!

Boo

Mamamoe, I was put on oxygen 24/7 about 5 years ago. Since then I have driven from my home in Tampa to Louisville KY and back at least 10 times, I did this by myself. I have driven to DC and back a couple of times, I also have been on 3 cruises. I don't fly, and the one time I was interested in going someplace that required flying my travel agent was not real successful in getting me a flight. As for camping, I figure staying in a Motel 6 is roughing it enough. When I travel I take my concentrator and my portable. My portable does not do continious flow, because if it did i would leave the concentrator home. Get some guidance from your doctor, and then take some baby steps. You can do what you want, when you want. Also I understand about fires, and the smoke from them so I would be passing on camping, and I think your wise to as well. But I really believe your capabile of doing a lot more than you think. It's something you and your doc should work together on. Take care, Bill

I use the Helios liquid oxygen unit. The small unit only goes up to Demand 4 and the Marathon tank goes to Demand 4 and continuas 6. What kind of portable unit is there for the higher O2 requirements?

i am very sencitive 2 odors,especially with the fibro.but with copd,smells are a double whammy ,big no no to my body.strong fumes as gasoline,oil,paint even down to the simple daily hyigene care.shampoos,soaps,perfumes,and the pretty girlie finger nail polish.what i find happens with me is just being exposed to these smells and many more has a great potential to cause pneumonia and copd flare up.i have to be extra careful,because the slightest things like getting too cold,and pneumonia will immediately grab on to me and refuses to let me go without being admitted into the hospital and the fight for my life begins.i am very happy and grateful for everyone who in spite of copd can still enjoy their hobbies.i have hobbies,fun things i can do,i just had to let the old ones go and discover new ones.i pray that each one of you will have the grace,and help of GOD so all your dreams and goals will become true realities.much love,hope and peace to all.mj.

I agree MJ....I am very overly sensitive to the smells and odors, almost everything, so I have to be careful. The people that I was close to initially did not understand it. They thought I was making it up that everything bothered me, including campfires and motorcycle gas....Thankfully, they have allowed themselves to be educated about this. Another person I know who really doesn't know that much about COPD but is supportive suggested I find if there were compromises to this and so I am searching.
Thanks everyone!

Well, most copd sites, and most doctors I have talked to, recommend you stay away from all strong fumes, smoke (including cigarette smoke, ) dust, ect, because they could cause a lung infection if inhaled.
When I was in Australia, I went on a boat trip to see the whales, and it was a desil boat. I went in the restroom and he started backing or turning the boat or something, and the desil backed into the vents and I had to get out fast. 3 days later I was in the hospital coughing up dark brown.black gook, which was that desil smoke in my lungs.
I had various infections after that, may not have still been the smoke, but from the damaged it caused.
So I would advise to stay away from all smoke. But you can still travel, you may have to change your method of traveling, but do not just sit home and think about it.
I was doing just that when I asked my doctor was I able to fly to Australia to see my daughter, and his answer was, yes , if you can afford it!!
I had to rent oxygen for the plane trip, but carried my portable for going around Australia and sleeping. That was just a personal choice to rent oxygen during the flight, because I did not want a malfunction with my portable, and be without O2.
So if the doctor ok's it, go for it. You may have to make a few changes, but it can be done.
Brenda

from just going for a car drive to camping in my little basic trailer with no a/c or built in generator (i don't build fires, but i like to go sit out in a lounge chair in the outdoors), to going to visit my kids, to big trips to California to see friends; i think this portable will free me up so much.
i've had the concentrator delivered to hotels when i knew where i'd be, but found when i go to my sons house, his work hours didn't work with lincare's delivery so i started just hauling my own tanks and concentrator everywhere i went.
a week away i haul alot of little tanks for in the car drive & for going places when i get to my destination. so this 1 - 10lb portable i am hoping is going to be able to replace about 100lbs+ of work from what i hauled before.
my dream is to go on a cruise. i'm at 5000 ft altitude & others have said getting to sea level on a cruise was heaven. (i had a little set back with this neck pain---still think caused from hauling all this stuff LOL)
moe= when i first got diagnosed i was scared to travel, afraid i'd run out of O2 (or energy), but one trip at a time and people who understand i move slower & get tired easier now has made me braver & braver to go places. even if it's just the 150+miles to go stay at my sons & see my kids and grandkids for a weekend, or a day trip to a park for a picnic; anything to get me out of the house and going stir crazy LOL.
once i made the 500 mile trip to calif alone 2 years ago---anything felt possible!!!

Living in Florida we have all kinds of pollen and it can get very severe at times.

My pulmonary Dr said don't go out unless you have to. So it has been about 8 months since I have been out. I even have my sister go to the grocery store for me. After a while the four walls all come together. :)

I am on oxygen 24/7 and have to have it to breathe. I have portable tanks but since i don't go out I don't use unless I take out the trash
God bless

Please don`t just sit there wondering, get out and try. This COPD is horrible but use what ever you can to help you regain your life. Of course we have to be carefull and do things differently but we CAN do things if we learn the art of adapting......conker your fear and go go go

DC,

I read that your Pulmonologist said " don't go out unless you have to"....But DC...you need to keep your sanity and get out of the house!! I know the dr said not to , but i've read so many places, that fresh air is so good for us!! Plus, you'll go nuts staying in like that, and get more depressed. I'm speaking from experience...Just getting out, even if it's to drive for a few minutes down to the store, get some milk, or gum, and drive back. Its so nice and refeshing to just jump in the car.

I don't know, just my 2 cents worth...I just hate to think of you stuck in the house all of the time. I felt so stuck and alone, when I couldn't drive...and stayed inside every day. I went nuts!! You know this, you read my sad posts! LOL!

Hang in there,

Boo