The Joys of Nasal Canulae

There is nothing like walking around with a plastic tube up your nose to generate looks from others. For the most part adults are very circumspect. Kids how ever just stare - and then ask their Dad or their Mum "what's that man got up his nose?"

I'm finding that there are four basic problems with oxygen tubes

The neck jerk - when the tube gets wrapped around something like the gear shift or the handbrake in the car just as you are trying to get out. This a close cousin to the ear jerk so well known to IPod users. If I am really lucky and happening to be wearing my Ipod and my oxygen I can get experience both phenomena simultaneously.

The cat effect - ours loves to play with the tube - and if I am on the 50 foot tube in another room I can be completely unaware of the potential damage being inflicted.

The "Oh migod I didn't mean to stand on it" effect - the tubes are clear plastic and often lie on the floor - you have to aware of some unsuspecting visitor standing on the tube while you slowly go a nice shade of blue. I'm thinking of decorating the tube with Dandy Lion stickers.

The smell - the plastic has a distinct odour that eventually wears off - just about the time you have to replace it. It's like having that new car smell without the cost of buying a new car.

Of course, the tudes are just a means to an end - getting oxygen into me to supplement the poor job being done by my lungs. Getting the right oxygen supply system set up to deliver the right amount for home use, for the office and for travelling about has been a very interesting exercise in shopping around for the right supplier for my needs. The Ontario government's Home Oxygen Program is very good - but it still requires the patient to choose from among the many vendors that are covered by the program.

I have changed twice and am now on my third supplier. I think the combination of oxygen concentrator, liquid oxygen and compressed oxygen tanks I am on now will work. However it takes planning to work out what I'm going to be doing, where I will be, how much exertion will be required and how much oxygen I will need and then loading up the car etc. with all the bits and pieces to make sure I don't run out. I'm sure once I have a routine established it will become easier.