Traveling with Oxygen

[JARNJ3]

My Mom (age 72) has recently been hospitalized due to major shortness of breath.

She had her heart checked out - its fine. Her lungs showed some sort of infiltrates - but not enough to explain the shortness of breath when she so much as even "moves."

She's also had\has severe anemia - but her blood levels stayed constant while in the hospital. The doctors are at a loss as to why her oxygen levels plummet when she so much as stands up and walks 3 feet.

The doctors have now informed her that she'll probably need to use oxygen from now on.

Long story short - does anyone know what we would have to do if Mom is well enough to travel with us to WDW in August? How do we transport the oxygen? Do the airlines have their own she can use?

She'll be on an ECV that we'll rent so it will be delivered to the resort itself - so she won't have to do much walking...... but she may still need to be on the oxygen while in the parks.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks.

 

[LauraVV]

For now, you have to use airline oxygen. Not all airlines have oxygen. You'll need a doctor note saying she's safe to fly and give a required liter flow. You'll want to call both the airline and your DME company. DME can arrange oxygen delivery at the gate and at your hotel. The airline can arrange for in-flight oxygen.

There's a charge for oxygen per leg of flight so it tends to be a lot cheaper to take a direct flight. If she is safe without oxygen on the flight your DME company can just deliver the oxygen to the hotel. We have noticed that oxygen levels tend to fall during flights.

We stayed at the Poly this year. From our experience, you need to ask the hotel staff to deliver the oxygen to your room. We use intermittent oxygen and, while DME company delivered the oxygen, we never got it. Thankfully, we were OK.

Has she had her renal function tested? Does she have a smoking history? Retain carbon dioxide? Had a sleep study?

 

[JARNJ3]

Has she had her renal function tested? Does she have a smoking history? Retain carbon dioxide? Had a sleep study?

Thank you so much for the information!

I believe she had her renal function tested - she was just in the hospital for TWO WEEKS (the ER originally diagnosed her with congestive heart failure - but the cardiologist insists its NOT the heart).

She smoked - but quit about 35 years ago.

I don't know about the carbon dioxide - which doctor should I ask that? Pulmonary? Cardiologist? Blood doctor?

She had a sleep study about 5 years ago - the Pulmonary doctor just ordered a new one for her once she leaves the rehab facility. The doctor also recommended Pulmonary Therapy after she leaves rehab too. The brochure said it was mainly for COPD and other breathing disorders......

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, Page 3 has some links about oxygen and page 15 deals with air travel.

One thing to do is work with your current oxygen supplier. They will make all the arrangements for you to get oxygen in Orlando, both tanks and a concentrator (if needed). This will be seamless to you and they will work directly with your insurance.

Also, if it is necessary to have more than one bottle available while in the parks the first aid station at each park will store your spare tank(s) at no charge.

Also, when renting an ECV, we would suggest renting offsite (see pages 2 and 4 or 5 of the FAQ) and tell them you need an oxygen tank holder and one will be on the ECV when it is delivered.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[JARNJ3]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, Page 3 has some links about oxygen and page 15 deals with air travel.

One thing to do is work with your current oxygen supplier. They will make all the arrangements for you to get oxygen in Orlando, both tanks and a concentrator (if needed). This will be seamless to you and they will work directly with your insurance.

Also, if it is necessary to have more than one bottle available while in the parks the first aid station at each park will store your spare tank(s) at no charge.

Also, when renting an ECV, we would suggest renting offsite (see pages 2 and 4 or 5 of the FAQ) and tell them you need an oxygen tank holder and one will be on the ECV when it is delivered.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

Thank you so much - this has been so helpful!

We don't even have an oxygen supplier yet - Mom went straight to rehab facility from the hospital - but I am so thankful I know this ahead of time - now I'll be able to ask them the right questions!

We always rent the ECV offsite - as Mom would never be able to make it from the bus drop off to the park entrance. I will ask them about the oxygen holder.....

She's had the oxygen on since entering the hospital (24\7 - except when the cpap is on) - but I don't know whether that will be the same once she's released.

We'll have questions such as - if she can take it off sometimes when resting or if she wants to go on an attraction - or whether the need will be greater. I hope this will all play out as she recovers.

I forgot to mention - she's a diabetic too. So many things to deal with......