cbrcynthia

[cynthiard]

When you go on an airline, does your oxygen level drop???  I'm new to the use of Oxygen and I really don't want to take on a trip if I do not have too.  What is consider so low you have to go on oxygen....
Thanks
Cynhiia

[Sunny602]

I used to be on oxygen and did travel with it. I did have to increase my O2 settings from 2LPM to 4LPM during flight. From what my doctor told me, flying in a pressurized cabin at 30,000 ft was the equivalent of being 5,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. I have known people that did not require O2 at sea level but at higher elevations they required it, so yes, flying can lower your sats. I would talk to your doctor about your impending trip to see what he recommends. There are things that you must go through before flying with O2. For one, you cannot take your own O2 tanks with you unless you have one of those portable O2 concentrators that were recently approved for flying. If you don't have one, then you have to arrange for the airline to provide you with theirs with a cost. I believe you also have to have a doctor's note telling them how much O2 your are on and that you are fit enough to travel. Do this well in advance if your doctor recommends that you travel with O2. Chances are, if you are on O2 24/7 already then you will need it during your flight, perhaps at a higher setting. Hope this helps...Sunny

[maggiemag]

Historically, those who need O2 at night also need it for flying.  If you are on it 24/7 or most of the time, then you will certainly need it.  It can be a big pain in the rear, but mostly you just have to plan ahead.  Most but not all of the airlines will allow a portable concentrator to be brought on, with the proper paperwork as Sunny said.  Your O2 provider may actually loan a travel concentrator out to their clients, or you may be able to rent one from another provider.  I just recently rented the only continuous flow travel concentrator and it was still cheaper than the $100/leg most airlines charge for them to provide the tanks for you.  A couple of years ago I actually switched providers in order to get a free travel concentrator.  I am not able to use the pulse flow ones, though, which narrows it down to just the one, the Sequal Eclipse.  I just bought my own this past week, and now will not have to pay more than the $25 fee to arrange the paperwork.  If it is just a short hop of a flight, you may not need it, but personally I wouldn't take the chance.  You might not even notice a problem til your sat drops into the 70"s which is way too low.