You’ve Been Prescribed Oxygen. Great. Now How Do You Deal With It?

31 Dec You’ve Been Prescribed Oxygen. Great. Now How Do You Deal With It?

You’ve been prescribed oxygen, and your brain tells you that it’s good for you, but maybe your ego tells you that you hate the whole idea. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you cope with using oxygen.
Think about how your COPD has affected your life, and think about how oxygen will help minimize those effects. Using oxygen will help you catch your breath, have more energy, sleep better, and be more active. Most of all, if you have been prescribed oxygen, it will help you live longer.

Don’t think that you should avoid using your oxygen unless really necessary; it helps you best the more you use it. So, if your doctor has prescribed it, always use your oxygen when you sleep, and as many hours of the day as possible.

If you’re embarrassed to use your oxygen in public, remember what your mother told you, “No one is thinking about you as much as you’re thinking about yourself.” People really won’t care that you’re using oxygen.
Don’t obsess about becoming dependent on oxygen. When you use it, you feel better, you exercise better, you sleep better. It improves the quality of your life.
If you don’t have a portable oxygen supply, work with your oxygen supply company to get one. The freedom that portable oxygen gives you is important to your sense of well-being because it frees you to leave your home and do more.

Be aware that using oxygen may make your lips and nose get dry. Keep lip balm on hand to alleviate the dryness.