It has been some time since I have flown and I wasn't on O2 then. I'm only on O2 at bed time. My O2 is always in the mid to high nineties during the day. I would like to go on a trip by plane and would like to know if I would have to be tested for altitude? I talked to my Pulmo's nurse and she said the ones that need O2 are the ones on O2 24/7.She also said I wouldn't need it since I use it at night. Any thoughts on this?
Re: Flying / O2
Posted by CarolCa on 12/27/2014, 1:42 am, in reply to "Flying / O2"
She is totally wrong and I hope you will mention it to your doctor because what she told you could be dangerous. What your saturation is at sea level and what it is in the air is not the same. Your sats can drop very quickly as it is like being on a mountain of 8 to 10 thousand feet. Even though I was just on nighttime my doctor said I would need it and I did. It can help prevent blood clots,too as the heart doesn't have to work as hard. That said if you are taking a very short trip like an hour you probably won't have a problem as they don't mess with the cabin pressure that much. You can get tested or just ask your pulmo. I hope his nurse gets the word.
Re: Flying / O2
Posted by Brenda / WV on 12/27/2014, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: Flying / O2"
What kind of machine is used to test a person for flying. The trip I'm going on is about 5 hours flying time.
Re: Flying / O2
Posted by Helen-CO on 12/27/2014, 12:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Flying / O2"
Posted by Brenda / WV on 12/27/2014, 2:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Flying / O2"
Thanks so much for your info.
Re: Flying / O2
Posted by starion on 1/2/2015, 11:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Flying / O2"
Hi, Brenda! I agree that many folks who need O2--IN ANY AMOUNT--would benefit from having it when flying. I do NOT need O2 at all at sea level but do use it at a pulse setting of about 2 when flying. It keeps my heart rate lower and allows me comfortable flights. Portable oxygen concentrators can be rented from many oxygen suppliers, like whomever is supplying your O2 for night time use.
None of my docs have ever offered me the HAST. I found out myself that my body was having a hard time keeping my saturation rates at or above 90% when I was using my fingertip pulse oximeter while flying and told my docs. They agreed that it would be better for me to have a portable oxygen concentrator and use my pulse oximeter to keep my oxygen saturation rates at or above 90% for my entire flight.
Airlines generally require you to have enough batteries with you (fully charged) to last your entire flight + 50% cushion, just in case there is a re-routing or something. I generally carry more than the airline recommends. The portable concentrator, batteries and your medications do NOT count as part of your luggage and can be brought on the plane without a luggage charge on all US carriers.