Traveling on portable concentrator

[sweetness8t5]

So I called my DME and asked them for a portable o2 concentrator(ECLIPSE) and they're saying we don't supply them because they are unreliable and we ALWAYS have problems with them.

Oh, and I said because I want to go on an overnight trip to Baltimore to the aquarium there and then they want to tell me don't go there because of the humidity, she won't be able to breathe. Are you kidding me!? She's on a trach plus she's always dry, and we know she's not dehydrated because we give her MOOOORE than her amount of water she's suppose to get and her dietitian was ok with it.

I feel like a PRISONER!!!!!!! Even when we want to do something, everybody else is telling me how to live my life with my daughter... this is absolutely ridiculous!!!!!!!!! *^@#(*#&$*)#%$*&#_*&@)(#^!@*&#

I can only hear no for so long before I do whatever I want to do with MY daughter.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I feel like throwing in the towel in every sense of the word. This is STUPID!

[Jacob's Mom]

Can you get a doctor to write an order for one? In that case, your DME co would have no choice but to supply you with one. And they are a business and you can take your's elsewhere.

I would have kindly told them to mind their own business about where you choose to take your daughter. Their job is to supply you with equipment and supplies so that your daughter doesn't have to live in a hospital.

[rosi's mom]

They are not to tell you where you can and can't go. We took Rosi to Baltimore in the beginning of October last year. It was beautiful. She didn't have any issues with the humidity. It was a bit difficult with all the equipment and trying to schedule things just right for her schedule, but it was well worth it.
Do talk to your doctor to get a script. You should be able to take your daughter where you want to. Go and enjoy your trip.

[Niff]

I agree with getting an order. And when you hand it to them, tell them to shove any unwanted advice up their *butt* because it's none of their business.

We took our daughter to a couple different aquariums and she loved it.

[kadiera]

In our experience, getting portable concentrators can be a real pain. Our DME doesn't have them, and recommmended renting one from a company that specializes in travel, but then, we're also not supposed to take any of their equipment out of state without warning them first.

They can't tell you where you can and can't go. They don't know your kid the way you do. So...at the very least, tell them you're going out of town and ask what their plan is for that (ours had no plan really, which is the sucky part of having a smalll local DME). Then use that to get your doctor to write whatever orders you need.

[sweetness8t5]

But are the Eclipse portable o2 concentrators unreliable? They were so adamant to make sure I could not get one. They kept using my child's safety as their first concern, like it isn't mine.

So they told me but you have o2 tanks that will do the trick and we'll refill them if you run out(since their based in baltimore). So I told them, well, what if I want to go to NYC and take my daughter to central park? They just told me that they would get me an o2 supplier in NYC... I think they're just ridiculous!

But I'll get a script, so they have no choice and I can find out for my self.

Thanks for the advice!!!!!!

[kadiera]

Originally Posted by sweetness8t5

But are the Eclipse portable o2 concentrators unreliable? They were so adamant to make sure I could not get one. They kept using my child's safety as their first concern, like it isn't mine.

So they told me but you have o2 tanks that will do the trick and we'll refill them if you run out(since their based in baltimore). So I told them, well, what if I want to go to NYC and take my daughter to central park? They just told me that they would get me an o2 supplier in NYC... I think they're just ridiculous!

But I'll get a script, so they have no choice and I can find out for my self.

Thanks for the advice!!!!!!

We've never had a problem with ours, and there's easily 1000+ hours on it. I've heard both good and bad from sales reps, but couldn't find anyone who actually uses one that had problems. We actually met a guy in the airport last January coming home who had the eclipse3 and said he's been all over the place with it.

I would take spare tanks along if possible, but we didn't have a choice when we flew - our DME would not find anyone for us; we had to find someone to supply oxygen when we got there, and they wanted $400 to show up. *shrugs*

If you're just going for the weekend, and driving, can you figure up how many tanks you'd need? I know our DME would have a cow if I told them I was running on tanks all weekend, but then we've had several fights with them over how many tanks and what size and how often they'll deliver

[slpwoman]

Our first DME company told us there was no portable concentrator etc
Our fabulous new company gives us the eclipse we take it 8 hour trip and it is very reliable