This being banned is getting a bit boring. [Needs medical O2 to travel]

[sinophile888]

In 2014, I was banned from cruising for 2 years and from visiting America. The cruising ban was lifted after a year but not visiting America. And now I have been temporarily banned by Qantas.

Qantas Special Handling emailed and then rang me a day after my last flight (MEL to PER) to inform me that I cannot fly again without supplemental oxygen. I think the best of my three options is a portable oxygen concentrator; one I have seen on the internet which weighs about 2.2kg.

Has anyone on this forum had any experience with flying with a portable oxygen concentrator?

 

[Denali]

What happened for Qantas to contact you with this restriction? Good luck!

 

[drron]

They are effective.Have had several patients using them on flights.

 

[Pushka]

In 2014, I was banned from cruising for 2 years and from visiting America. The cruising ban was lifted after a year but not visiting America. And now I have been temporarily banned by Qantas.

Qantas Special Handling emailed and then rang me a day after my last flight (MEL to PER) to inform me that I cannot fly again without supplemental oxygen. I think the best of my three options is a portable oxygen concentrator; one I have seen on the internet which weighs about 2.2kg.

Has anyone on this forum had any experience with flying with a portable oxygen concentrator?

That’s not pleasant. Who was banning you? Insurance companies not willing to insure? I think that was the QM trip from memory.

 

[Quickstatus]

Has anyone on this forum had any experience with flying with a portable oxygen concentrator?

No me personally. However they are quite good . Most able to deliver around 90% O2 concentration. (It draws air in and separates out the oxygen). The issue is battery life whixh can be extended in “pulse”mode. Some aircraft have plug in power for medical equipment

With extra batteries, it’s still less that most people’s carry-on.

Did you have an issue on board for QF SH to come back at you?

I’m sure you have read this:
Medical Oxygen on Qantas Services | Specific Needs | Qantas

The max allowed O2 cylinder size is C which holds 490L O2 = about 4 hours @ 2L/min And about 3.4kg when full

 

[sinophile888]

I often have difficulties on flights when cruising at high altitudes. This time it was different in that my blood oxygen level could not be maintained unless I was on oxygen. I went into a semi-conscious state for most of the flight, needing three canisters of oxygen. I could hear some people talking around me sometimes, but couldn’t open my eyes, speak or move. My husband was not happy with the situation. I usually try to fly on QF9/10 between PER and MEL as those flights always use a B787.

This is why QF SH contacted me very soon after the flight. I need a High Altitude Simulation Test to determine what level of oxygen support is required and will be denied boarding unless I have made special arrangements.

For the rest of this year, I had 7 flights booked for myself plus another 7 for my travelling companion of choice. I have cancelled 2 flights for me in April as it doesn’t give me enough time to get everything in place. QF kindly reimbursed all the flight and points cost. The next booking is July for our granddaughter’s 1st birthday. Not an occasion I want to miss. I am going to try to change those flights to QF9/10.

I am waiting to see what the cardiologist and respiratory specialist says before I cancel any more flights or cruises. Luckily, we did 7 cruises last year, plus 4 trips to Melbourne to see the baby.

My husband’s solution is only to cruise in and out of Fremantle.

 

[LadyC]

That sounds like a very scary situation. I hope you can work out what oxygen support you need so you can continue travelling.

 

[Quickstatus]

What’s your SpO2 on room air at ground level?

I think QF SH is absolutely doing the right thing.

Respiratory medicine specialists will be able to sort out for you.

QF9/10 (specifically B787) may not be enough. Your O2 requirements need to be characterised and a proper aviation plan put in place which would include the required flow rate of oxygen.

Without oxygen QF9/10 may be marginally Ok (without knowing details) but what if there is a decompression. Your “time to hypoxia” will be a lot quicker than other passengers in a decompression.

 

[sinophile888]

Currently at 98%. But half way through the flight, I came to for a while and my reading was 96%. I took off the mask and quickly plummeted to 82%, so put the mask back on and drifted off again.

 

[Quickstatus]

???
82% should not cause a deterioration in consciousness. Maybe some euphoria but not what you are describing.

What brand is your pulse odometer?

 

[sinophile888]

It is just a cheap one from eBay. But I checked it against the hospital reading when I had very frequent cardioversions a while back. Do you have a recommended pulse odometer?
I was also a bit loaded with water. Just before my cruise, my GP said I had got too dry and my creatinine level was too high, so to cut back on the diuretic dose. I must have cut back too much as when I saw her the day after the flight she estimated I was carrying 5l excess water. I went back to a moderate dose and lost 5.2 kg in a few days. I assume this contributed to the problem.

 

[Quickstatus]

Cheap eBay pulse oximeters are only accurate when SpO2 is in normal range - 94-96%

The lower the true SpO2 the more inaccurate the measured SpO2 when elcheapos are used.

Accurate SpO2 gear have a 3-4 figure price tag.
Don’t rely on yours. Get an altitude assessment . Unfortunately in your case I suspect it may not be representative of your gas exchange at the time of a flight and will be highly dependent on the cardiovascular state at the time (which can be quite variable as you already discovered)

 

[Quickstatus]

Approximate SpO2 with altitude

10000ft = 90%
15000ft = 83%
20000ft = 76%

While there is wide variability, SpO2 below 70% is often associated with significant cognitive deterioration and the beginnings of loss of consciousness.

Add in exertion and SpO2 drops further.
That’s why even after arriving at 10000ft after a decompression, cabin crew might still use O2 supplementation.

 

[sinophile888]

QF9/10 (specifically B787) may not be enough. Your O2 requirements need to be characterised and a proper aviation plan put in place which would include the required flow rate of oxygen.

I realise that I cannot make any decisions until I have all the relevant information. And no matter on which aircraft I travel, QF will want the necessary provisions in place.

I have even been a bit teary thinking about not seeing my granddaughter every month as I have been doing. It also puts overseas travel in serious doubt. I have a music cruise booked for November 2019 which leaves and returns to Sydney so that eliminates the QF9/10 flights unless I add MEL -> SYD -> MEL. I also want to fly PER -> HKG in February 2020, but the time to book the flight with points is now.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sorry to hear,. It’s always hard when the means to connect to the world is cut off abruptly.

Just get the HAST done, and depending on that a portable O2 concentrator with some batteries is likely to get you back travelling again. Fingers and toes crossed.

HAST = high altitude simulation test. I think they simulate high altitude by getting the subject to breathe the concentration of oxygen at altitude (less than 21%) and then measuring via blood tests the oxygen level (more accurate than SpO2). I vaguely recall 8000 feet and 15% O2 but I could be wrong.

 

[Deleted member]

I admire your determination to travel regardless of any impairment. Maybe trains are a long / longer distance (within Australia) option? But I guess you have already considered that !

 

[drron]

Just one worry.if you drifted off to sleep when you put the mask back on it may be a build up of CO2 that is a problem as well.So blood gasses should be done on and off O2.
However if this is the case the O2 concentrator is safer than the use of O2 alone though I have had one patient that got CO2 narcosis with a concentrator.
Also may be relevant as people with higher pCO2 levels are at greater risk of AF.

 

[love_the_life]

I realise that I cannot make any decisions until I have all the relevant information. And no matter on which aircraft I travel, QF will want the necessary provisions in place.

I have even been a bit teary thinking about not seeing my granddaughter every month as I have been doing. It also puts overseas travel in serious doubt. I have a music cruise booked for November 2019 which leaves and returns to Sydney so that eliminates the QF9/10 flights unless I add MEL -> SYD -> MEL. I also want to fly PER -> HKG in February 2020, but the time to book the flight with points is now.

Is it possible for you to pay for flights for your daughter and granddaughter to visit you rather than you visit them?

 

[JohnK]

I have even been a bit teary thinking about not seeing my granddaughter every month as I have been doing.

Sorry to hear you're having issues.

This is one of the most difficult things for my mother as she doesn't get to see granddaughter as often. Wish there was a way to make that happen more often.

 

[sinophile888]

Is it possible for you to pay for flights for your daughter and granddaughter to visit you rather than you visit them?

They have all been over twice, with another visit in May and hopefully also, November.