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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2004 >> The most aggravating damn thing
        
(Message started by: jadedgazer on Jan 14^th, 2004, 11:47am)

Title: The most aggravating damn thing
Post by jadedgazer on Jan 14^th, 2004, 11:47am

Yesterday was sooo frustrating! I generally have two O2 masks here on hand. On one of them, the blasted strap broke, not just the strap but the plastic part where it hooks to the mask itself. The other one the valve stopped working properly. Arrgh! I was having a bad day yesterday and needed my O2!

I get my O2 delivered out of OK City (4 hours away) via the VA, they supply the masks to me and everything. I called and NP, they are shipping me some more masks via UPS...the hitch...it will take 2-3 days for them to get here!!!!

Ok, so I called around town to the medical supplies. There are 5 of them here...3 didn't have them or know what the hell we were talking about. 2 had them but wouldn't let me have them because I didn't have a copy of my script. WTF! I have all the paperwork from the VA and the company that supplies me with the O2 but that wasn't good enough for them. What the hell is that all about??????? These people even know us, they are fricking advertisers of ours. (we own a small newspaper here) I was so mad, and hurting so bad.

So, hubby called the hospital, thought what the hell right? He told them the situation and that I was a Vet and that they were UPSing me some more masks. They said no problem, let us see what we can do for her in the interim. They found us one there at the hospital and called us back in less that 15 minutes and told us it would be at the cashiers desk, but we have to charge you a dollar for it...we apologize for having to charge you for it. I was amazed that they were that great about it, they didn't even ask for any verification of a script or anything, didn't make a huge deal out of it. Just helped me out. I was so thankful!

Just thought I would share this in case anyone else found themselves in a similar situation.

Title: Re: The most aggravating damn thing
Post by aprilbee on Jan 14^th, 2004, 11:51am

Wow the medical community actually HELPING! I'm so glad you are getting relief now! Us Okies here we like to take things nice and slow!! ;) :D

Good luck sweetie! Huge Oklahoma vibes coming your way!

Title: Re: The most aggravating damn thing
Post by Bob P on Jan 14^th, 2004, 12:29pm

I cut the strap off my masks and put duct tape over the exhalation valves anyway.

Just press the mask against your face and suck, then lift the mask a little away from your face and exhale. Repeat.

Title: Re: The most aggravating damn thing
Post by Prense on Jan 14^th, 2004, 7:56pm

Glad you got hooked up!

As Bob said, many of us take the strap off...safety concerns preclude using the strap, and it gets in the way if you are not using it.

Either way, great story... ;;D

Chris

Title: Re: The most aggravating damn thing
Post by Rick_K on Jan 14^th, 2004, 9:55pm

on 01/14/04 at 11:51:14, aprilbee wrote:

Wow the medical community actually HELPING!

Three cheers for your hospital, they actually helped, what a concept ;;D

I also don't use the strap, just get ride of it, sure don't want to fall asleep with the mask on and then the tank runs dry...

Looking forward to seeing everybody at the end of February.

Lots of PF vibes are coming your way.

Rick

Title: Re: The most aggravating damn thing
Post by ClusterChuck on Jan 14^th, 2004, 10:13pm

I agree with what others say. Don't use the strap, get rid of it. It is safer that way.

As far as the valves go, I could do without them, if I had to. I had a mask that the vavles stopped working, and this is the way I dealt with it:

I hold the mask to my face, using my right hand. When I inhale, I put my thumb over the holes on the right side (has no "flapper" on it) and my forefinger on the holes w/flapper on the left side.

When I exhale, I take the mask away from my face, and then with my left hand I take my foreinger and place it over the hole w/flapper on the inside of the mask to let the bag fill up. By the time I have filled the bag, I am done exhaling, and I start all over again.

I have found, that by doing this it does two positive things. One, it forces my attention off the pain and onto something else (a must, in my mind), and two, it forces me to regulate my breathing.

Whether you use this method, normally, or not, try to remember it (not an easy task for us dope-o-maxed out brains) so the next time your valves don't work, this will get you thru your hit.

Glad you got your problem resolved.

Chuck