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Post by skate4life on Mar 7, 2015 12:23:36 GMT -5
Oxygen Cannulas and Oxygen Tubing.
Issues related to how often to change, how to clean, kinking, etc. 1. Cannulas - usually your O2 provider with tell you how often to change your cannula. Most will say every 2 weeks and the tubing every 6 months. In reality, a lot of people do not change their cannulas that often choosing to clean them as needed (more on that later.) Or they wait until the prongs get discolored (dark yellow,) stiff/hard, and cause discomfort. One of the issues with new cannulas is the smell when removed from their packaging. Some people are more sensitive than others. The smell is due to the chemicals used in the manufacturing and is part of the 'curing' process. Think carpets, shower curtains, sealant around tubs/counters/windows. Most times, taking them out of their packaging and hanging them somewhere to 'air' 1-3 days will remove the smell. Do the airing long before you need them in case there are other issues. You can also put them in the freezer overnight as is done for musty old books. It is not unheard of to get a 'bad batch.' Besides the 'off gassing' smell, it could be the result of storage and transportation. I once had a batch that smelled like diesel fuel. Yuk. Maybe the delivery truck left his backdoor open  If the cannulas provided just don't work then there are internet sites that have a variety of shapes, sizes, and non-plastic (silicon.) If you have been sick then by all means change them as necessary! If you use a humidifier on your stationary O2 system, keep a check for any mold in cannula and tubing. Cleaning suggestions also vary. You can use pipe cleaners (double over the thin craft ones) to clean inside the prongs. Take extras into the shower with you to give them a good wash and rinse. Hang to dry for regular ones as the continuous O2 flow will push the water out. For pulse flow delivery cannulas they should be allowed to dry completely. Using a nebulizer for a few minutes will help push the water out. Many people use a vinegar and water solution for cleaning. Hope these hints help. If you have different methods that work for you, please share them with us all!! 1 part vinegar/2 part water in a squeeze bottle (like a travel size or an ear syringe) to push through all parts of the cannula. You can drape the end over a vinegar/water bowl (attach with a clothes pin) and let it soak for an hour or so, flush with warm water, hang to dry. Same cleaning as you do for your nebulizer parts. You 'might' have a vinegar taste initially but it goes away and as one person said 'I'd rather be pickled than poisoned.' If you continue to have a problem with your provider's cannulas, there are a number of internet sites to order ones from different companies. Oxygen tubing for concentrator etc. - the biggest issue with tubing is the curling and kinking. Again there are a couple of ways of dealing with this and it also may be that the one your provider supplies is just lousy. Rather than use 50 ft., try to get 2-25 ft. ones and put a SWIVEL connector between the two and one at the end near your cannula if possible. A swivel connector should easily spin when it senses torque from the curling. The tubing frequently needs stretching. REMOVE all connectors before any stretching method. Remember the old 'Chinese' finger trick as a kid that you put a tubing on a finger and pull which narrows the tube on the finger so tight you can't get it off?? One method is to put it around some secure stationary item and pull. You can use a door by doubling the tubing, pass it through the door frame on the door hinge side, put a mouse pad of folded terry washcloth between the door and tubing and then pull to stretch. Another way is to preheat your oven to 175/200 degrees, wrap tubing in a hand towel, place in oven for 15 minutes, stretch, cool completely before putting connectors back in place. A 50 ft. hose will stretch about 10-12 inches. If the tubing repeatedly kinks and/or twists, ask your provider for a NO KINK tubing. If after a number of months your hose starts twisting and untwisting does not solve it right away, it may be time for a new hose. I've also had hoses that curl initially for 3+ weeks requiring frequent untwisting then suddenly no more problems for many months. I wonder if part of the issue is my tubing is on hardwood floors and tile and the cooler temps cause the curling until the floors warm up.... Again there are internet sites for NO KINK tubing (many like the Salter brand for the swivels and no-kink) that are sold via various venders.
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Post by John on Mar 7, 2015 19:02:19 GMT -5
Thank You skate for the very helpful information thumbsupde1
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Post by aero63 on Mar 9, 2015 13:16:02 GMT -5
Hi
If you use a humidifier bottle, then you know that that condensation can built up. I remove the hose from concentrator and attach it to my nebulizer machine. The other end I place in a plastic container to catch the condensation. Stretch out the hose and let it run until all condensation is out of the hose...also works for drying out cannula.
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Post by David on Mar 10, 2015 20:36:49 GMT -5
I use the silicon cannulas (thanks Al) and I have 50 foot silicon oxygen tubing. It lays well on the floor.
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Post by John on Mar 16, 2015 19:04:40 GMT -5
That's what I have David thumbsupde1
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Post by judi on Mar 18, 2015 15:44:01 GMT -5
I got some high flow cannulas and am getting airway irritation from the outgassing. The tubing on them is green and I don't know why it would be an issue as I use the green 25' all the time but they didn't seem to air out. I am trying the freezer trick and I hope it works. judi |
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Post by skate4life on Mar 18, 2015 17:42:57 GMT -5
Judi - if that doesn't work, try the vinegar flush. If that fails, contact the supplier for advice. Ask for a replacement (no cost.)
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Post by judi on Mar 28, 2015 0:52:02 GMT -5
Thanks, the freezer did not work so will try vinegar. The 2 I ordered myself bother me but found out my DME had some so tried one of theirs and it does too. The latter smelled like it had been deodorized or something but after I used it got the same chemical smell as the first ones. I may have to get some clear ones, some places have them.
I have one with a 4' tube which is really too short and unusable because I have to warm up the O2 at such a high flow so maybe I will try boiling that one and if it doesn't melt do the others. :-D
judi
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Post by skate4life on Mar 28, 2015 9:42:03 GMT -5
Judi - sorry to hear you continue to have a problem. keep us posted on what other remedies you tried and their results.
I don't understand what you mean by "unusable because I have to warm up the O2 at such a high flow so maybe I will try boiling that one and if it doesn't melt do the others. :-D" Could you elaborate please?
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Post by judi on Mar 28, 2015 19:15:38 GMT -5
Well...  The metal tubes on LOX portables are designed to radiate some of the cold from the LOX into the air and warm up the O2 a little before we breathe it. The high flow ones look a little different in that they have 'warming spines' on some of the tubes to help transfer more cold away, I guess the high flow rate goes so fast it doesn't warm as easily. After the spines frost up it doesn't work as well and the O2 is pretty cold so sometimes I run the cannula down through my collar under my shirt and put a loop down my pant leg to generate a little more heat. The 4' tube is not long enough to do that. I can get away without doing it when I am shopping or something where I can go slow and turn it down to 6 L but if I am going on my walks at 8 L it gets pretty cold. Yes, I look weird. judi |
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Post by shelley on Mar 31, 2015 8:37:11 GMT -5
David and John, what cannulas are you using and where do you get them from? Many thanks
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Post by David on Mar 31, 2015 10:49:55 GMT -5
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Post by John on Apr 1, 2015 6:37:36 GMT -5
David I had stated earlier that my hose was this one It is not this one . but my supplier said it would stay soft and it does . I stand corrected . th_thbug
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Post by judi on May 8, 2015 23:14:51 GMT -5
I finally just had to wear the green cannula hose until it aired out. I'm not looking forward to doing that every time I change it. :-(
judi
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Post by John on May 9, 2015 6:14:55 GMT -5
Shelly ; I get my supplies from my oxygen supplier . I just call in and he brings what I need when he comes to fill my big tank .
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Post by David on May 9, 2015 10:05:55 GMT -5
I forgot to mention my cannula hose last for a year or more. I also have 50 feet of silicon tubing that lays flat on the floor. It's limber and does not curl. No smell.
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If the cannulas provided just don't work then there are internet sites that have a variety of shapes, sizes, and non-plastic (silicon.)
The metal tubes on LOX portables are designed to radiate some of the cold from the LOX into the air and warm up the O2 a little before we breathe it. The high flow ones look a little different in that they have 'warming spines' on some of the tubes to help transfer more cold away, I guess the high flow rate goes so fast it doesn't warm as easily. After the spines frost up it doesn't work as well and the O2 is pretty cold so sometimes I run the cannula down through my collar under my shirt and put a loop down my pant leg to generate a little more heat. The 4' tube is not long enough to do that. I can get away without doing it when I am shopping or something where I can go slow and turn it down to 6 L but if I am going on my walks at 8 L it gets pretty cold. Yes, I look weird. 