Sunday, March 17, 2013

How's that O2 thing Working Out?


Physically, I feel somewhat better with O2 than without.  I think my blood sugars have been running about 10 points less than what they were usually.  I feel more robust.

The machine makes a momentary loud high pitched squeal when I turn it on.  Once one of the cats was in the room, and she ran and hid.  I don't wear ear plugs at night (like Mary does) and I'm right next to the machine when it goes off.

The machine is on my side of the bed and while it is running, Mary tells me that it sounds like there's another person in the room. With asthma.

If I wear the "cannula" which is the medical term for the hose (I think) that connects me to the concentrator, in the prescribed manner - that is draped over the ears and down in front where it joins under my jaw, my ears get open sores.

I have taken to putting it on over the top of my head so that the little plastic clasp that tightens it - tightens it around the back of my head.  The little prongs still go into my nose - but the hose goes up above my ears and is held tight at the back of my head.

Much less wear and tear on my ears.

The technician who did the sleep study was something of a jerk, but he gave me a piece of very good and helpful advice - get a humidifier.

So I got one and I turn it on (or Mary turns it on) before I go to bed and Mary turns it off when she gets up in the AM.

I only put distilled water in it so it won't gunk up with mineral deposits.  At least not so soon.
 
So two pieces of advice: there's more than one way to hang a cannula, and get a humidifier.

I find it interesting that the doctor who prescribed the O2 didn't tell me about that.