Traveling Tales Airline Oxygen Barbara Bennett flew to Las Vegas on Delta Air- lines recently and paid $400 to use airline oxygen roundtrip. A few minutes before boarding her return flight to Tampa, she was told there was no oxygen available after all and the airline supplied a room, breakfast and concentrator rental until the…
Sharing the Health With my COPD, I am no longer able to tolerate the smells that go along with getting a permanent for my hair. I didn’t want to give up getting perms and know others may be in the same situation. There is a perm solution called ISO that is free of fumes. Your…
Ask Mark Many readers have asked Mark about the publicized Buteyko method of breathing that is advertised to bring relief to those with asthma and other lung problems. Mark warns: Buteyko may hold potential benefit for those with “acute asthma”, but it has no place in treat- ment or management of COPD – Chronic Obstructive…
Dear Dr. Bauer, I often feel chills and shiver when I don’t have a cold or infection. Could this be due to the fact that I am on oxygen therapy? JMB, Orlando FL Many patients on home oxygen ask me if there are any long-term side effects to oxygen therapy and what the proper flow…
Images of Romance Valentine’s Day brings up images of romance. Have you been afraid to be intimate with your loved one because you may become short of breath? Your idea of being sexually attractive does not include having a cannula on your face? No fear, we are going to give you lessons! We like how…
Tax Tips Tax time is right around the corner. If you are an oxygen user, you may be able to take the cost of the elec- tricity used to operate your concentrator as a medical deduction. Check with whoever prepares your annual income tax return if you can, or would, benefit from taking this deduction.…
Butt Out! If your New Year’s resolution is to snuff out cigarettes, there is help and support out there for you. The Amer- ican Lung Association has conducted their Freedom From Smoking program for many years for those interested in quitting. They have now made it easier to attend at no cost! The organization has…
Feelings In January 2004, I was diagnosed with lung cancer and told I could not have surgery because of my COPD. After going through pulmonary rehabilitation, I did have the surgery and chemotherapy and am now cancer free. I am on oxygen 24/7 now, but I still play my clarinet, saxophone and flute. I play…
Fibrosis File Teresa Geiger from the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) (www.coalitionforpf.org, 1-888-222- 8541) tells us about exciting research news that has taken place recently. The CPF and the American Thoracic Society have jointly funded a $100,000, two-year research award to Andrew M. Tager, M.D. from Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Tager will be investigating the…
Copay Help Help with Medicare Prescription Copays Under Medicare Part D, after spending a pre-determined amount in total medication costs (usually $2,400), you may be required to cover the full cost of your medications until coverage begins again. In all plans, after you have spent $3,850 in out-of-pocket costs, you can receive catastrophic coverage in…