Impact of refusing night oxygen?

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J

Judysai422 Asked January 2019

Impact of refusing night oxygen?

My 92 YO mother with vascular dementia has a history of asthma, a recent diagnosis of COPD, anxiety, depression, and aortic stenosis. She is refusing to use oxygen at night as recently prescribed by pulmonary doc. Says the machine is too noisy. My dad, who lives with her in AL says the machine also keeps him awake.

Research reveals that low blood oxygen negatively affects all organs including the brain and heart, contributes to sleepiness, lack of energy, dizziness and cognitive decline, anxiety and depression.

I am not sure it is worth the fight to try to get her to use the oxygen, however, she fears having to go to a nursing home and I am concerned that as her COPD progresses, that will be her fate. Perhaps the oxygen will stave that off for a while.

Anyone have experience with this?

Lung Disease Refusing Care Vascular Dementia

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score 0 · Answer 1

My mother is 92 and is supposed to use oxygen at night. Sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't. If and when she can't breathe, I suppose she WILL use her oxygen. In any event, she's living life on her terms. If not using oxygen at night shortens her life, then she'll die on her terms, knowing full well what she's doing. There's only so much loved ones can do for their folks, you know?

Best of luck!

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Yep, I agree. But now at least they can make an informed decision. Frankly, my mom goes along with whatever my dad says, and since the machine bothered him, I was afraid she might refuse to use it because he complained.

(1)

score 2 · Answer 2

My brother has a CPap machine, I realize it is not the same, but he and his wife wear ear plugs to deal with the noise.

For your Mum, not using the O2 at night will shorten her life.

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Thanks! I
When I explained the implications to my dad, he got her to agree to use it. Time will tell.

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score 3 · Answer 3

For COPD patients, 95 is not normal, their pulsox typically runs lower than that. 95-100 is normal for someone with otherwise healthy lungs but not for COPD patients. Nighttime is NOT the right time for your mom to be without her oxygen. And in fact many patients start out using oxygen ONLY at night because at night during sleep oxygen levels drop.
Try putting the concentrator outside the room. My moms concentrator is down the hall from her room. I don’t think a silent concentrator exists but you may be able to get her one that isn’t quite as loud. Maybe a white noise machine would also help?

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Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately, moving it would create a trip hazard at night when she uses the bathroom according to my dad. But I will get in there and see if I can figure it out.
Anyone know what quieter units might be?

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score 0 · Answer 4

Most of the concentrators come with a long nasal cannula, you can try putting the "machine" outside the room,, that will quiet some of the noise. We do with FILs machine when we travel with him.

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score 0 · Answer 5

Those machines are noisy and I can see what they mean. Call her doctor and ask how important it is to have oxygen at night. Do you have a Pulse Ox meter. Good way to see where Moms oxygen level is after not using the oxygen. Ask the doctor what level you should start worrying. 95 is normal.

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Uunfortunately, the Pulse Ox meter was what identified the problem. Right now she only needs it at night. She way below 95 at night.

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Impact of refusing night oxygen?

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