Sunday, April 04, 2010 Marylee Wilk asks

Q: I need help in convincing my mother to use her oxygen tanks!

my mother is 85 with one lung , asthma and copd. She had lost her lung more than 25 years ago to lung cancer. She also has had a couple of heart attacks. She is good about using her inhalers and nebulizer but she has oxygen at home and has a small tank she is SUPPOSED to be using when she out and about, but she fights me and her doctor about using it. My guess is that she in stage 3. Any suggestions in helping me convince her to use the oxygen and to see a respiratory therapist (which she also fights us on). I think its her fighting spirit that keeps her going, so I do not want to ruin that in any way! Thank you

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Answers (2)
Kathi MacNaughton, Health Pro
4/16/10 4:30am

Marylee... People sometimes feel embarrassed about using oxygen in public, because it can make noise, is cumbersome and invites questions and perhaps pity (or scorn). It could also be that your mom doesn't feel she needs it. Is she experiencing shortness of breath when out and about? I suspect that if she is, it isn't too severe or she would probably invite relief. It's no fun to gasp for breath.

 

As far as respiratory therapy, perhaps you can strike a deal with her just for a consult and then tell her the final decision is up to  her, once she hears what the therapist has to say and sees what s/he can do. Or get the doctor to tell her to go; at her age, she's likely to view the doctor as an authority figure to be listened to.

 

Good luck!

Kathi

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4/15/10 11:34pm

I had a problem using my portable oxygen out because it's so heavy !! Could that be why ? Also,I was unsure about going to rehab.After all I'm a stage 3 too (I think)so what good would it do ? Well,I couldn't believe the difference in how I felt !And I also have issues with my hips being bone on bone so I couldn't even do ALL the exercises.But my rehab person was a dream and helped immensely.Just the fact that I was taught how to breathe and go up and down stairs helped.Now with my exercises I hope to live a little longer.Hope this helps.

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By Marylee Wilk— Last Modified: 12/27/10, First Published: 04/04/10