WreckingBall
New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>coltsfan715</b></i>
I would maybe make sure that he knows the damage that lack of O2 may be doing to the other organ systems in his body - i.e. his heart, kidneys, liver and so on. You may not necessarily FEEL different but if he is in need of O2 and goes without it temporarily even it could be doing damage he is not even aware is being done.
I will say when I was put on O2 I did NOT want to wear it either. I would take it with me to the store and wear it til I went to get out of the car then I would take it off and put it back on when I got back in the car. It wasn't until I found out that I had pulmonary hypertension and my transplant doc told me I need to be on O2 fulltime or I could end up needing a heart transplant along with a lung transplant that I wised up and started wearing the O2 all the time. I used to tell people that I wore it to PREVENT a heart problem. There was something about me wearing it to prevent a problem instead of my saying I am wearing it cause my lungs are for crap that made me feel better. Like it was MY CHOICE to wear not that I had too. Just a mental way of dealing with it that helped me is all.
As for the stares I used to get irritated or embarassed but what are you going to do. Now that I have been transplanted and I am still having to deal with wearing a mask in heavily crowded areas I just laugh about it mostly. There are times when I get irritated if people make rude comments but most of the time people will look at me and back up or walk in the other direction - I just think GOOD - stay away from me and keep your germs to yourself lol. Out of ignorance people assume things instead of just asking.
I do agree with Emily though if he is okay with the wheelchair - despite the stares it will bring maybe ask him if he would bring the O2 - if for no other reason than climbing the stairs. Then he could take it off if he really did not want to wear it. It may be worth a shot to bring it up and see what he says. I know for me climbing stairs without O2 before transplant was almost an impossibility but climbing them with O2 was pretty simple.
Take Care and I hope that things work out for the concert.
Take Care,
Linds</end quote>
I will definitely talk to him about your reasons for wearing oxygen (he is also hoping to get a transplant at some point). I never went into much detail with complications lack of oxygen in his blood will cause. I simply told him, you could drop dead, your heart, lungs, and body can only fight for so long and like any other muscle that is working to hard, they can stop. He has stood firm on his choice of not wearing out in public and I felt like I wanted to be a friend and not lecture him on a constant basis. So maybe I will wait a while, the concert isn't for a month or so and then try to talk to him about it again.
I would maybe make sure that he knows the damage that lack of O2 may be doing to the other organ systems in his body - i.e. his heart, kidneys, liver and so on. You may not necessarily FEEL different but if he is in need of O2 and goes without it temporarily even it could be doing damage he is not even aware is being done.
I will say when I was put on O2 I did NOT want to wear it either. I would take it with me to the store and wear it til I went to get out of the car then I would take it off and put it back on when I got back in the car. It wasn't until I found out that I had pulmonary hypertension and my transplant doc told me I need to be on O2 fulltime or I could end up needing a heart transplant along with a lung transplant that I wised up and started wearing the O2 all the time. I used to tell people that I wore it to PREVENT a heart problem. There was something about me wearing it to prevent a problem instead of my saying I am wearing it cause my lungs are for crap that made me feel better. Like it was MY CHOICE to wear not that I had too. Just a mental way of dealing with it that helped me is all.
As for the stares I used to get irritated or embarassed but what are you going to do. Now that I have been transplanted and I am still having to deal with wearing a mask in heavily crowded areas I just laugh about it mostly. There are times when I get irritated if people make rude comments but most of the time people will look at me and back up or walk in the other direction - I just think GOOD - stay away from me and keep your germs to yourself lol. Out of ignorance people assume things instead of just asking.
I do agree with Emily though if he is okay with the wheelchair - despite the stares it will bring maybe ask him if he would bring the O2 - if for no other reason than climbing the stairs. Then he could take it off if he really did not want to wear it. It may be worth a shot to bring it up and see what he says. I know for me climbing stairs without O2 before transplant was almost an impossibility but climbing them with O2 was pretty simple.
Take Care and I hope that things work out for the concert.
Take Care,
Linds</end quote>
I will definitely talk to him about your reasons for wearing oxygen (he is also hoping to get a transplant at some point). I never went into much detail with complications lack of oxygen in his blood will cause. I simply told him, you could drop dead, your heart, lungs, and body can only fight for so long and like any other muscle that is working to hard, they can stop. He has stood firm on his choice of not wearing out in public and I felt like I wanted to be a friend and not lecture him on a constant basis. So maybe I will wait a while, the concert isn't for a month or so and then try to talk to him about it again.