Posted by jeff glickman on April 09, 1999 at 20:03:56:
In Reply to: Re: O2 Masks posted by Brandon on April 09, 1999 at 13:53:10:
Both my HMO doc (who I saw yesterday) and the Pain Management
Center doc (who I saw within the past couple hours) are
*adamant* that I have the proper mask in order to truly
be breathing 100% Pure O2.
Brandon, knowing what I know, I would be highly suspicious
of a neuro who implies that your doohicky "non-mask" and
*any* kind of breathing mask give the same result. I was
already using a "simple mask" and was told my both docs,
independent of one another, that without a "reservoir/bag
mask", one is not actually breathing the 100% O2.
As far as your ability to acquire one, or purchase one,
I don't think you necessarily need a presciption; just a
place somewhere nearby that deals with medical equipment.
Tell'em you're replacing your old mask because it's
disintegrating from oral vapors and nasal efflux. Surely,
they'll understand that!
If you like, I'll look around here to see if masks are
available. When you use your nasal doohickey, are you at
all aware that when you breath through your nose that
you are also getting ambient air as well as O2 from the
tank? Also, if you're using what I *think* you're using,
you don't even breath the tank O2 through your mouth at
all. If that's accurate, you need to take the nasal
dookhickey and introduce your soon-to-be ex-neuro's
butt to it. Then go out and get *any* mask, which sure
would beat a nasal unit that precludes you breathing
pure O2 through your mouth AND your nose, as needed.
That's my opinion anyway; I could be wrong.