OK! Ok! So I use a wheelchair….

Living On Oxygen for Life

That’s right! I occasionally use a wheelchair. I’m not ashamed of it either. In fact, it’s my “free ride” when there’s a lot of walking to do. I held out for a long time before I started using one. It wasn’t until my road trip to Las Vegas that my husband and I decided to purchase a wheelchair for me to use. That was 3 years ago. It would have been way too much walking for me in Las Vegas (and yes, there’s liquid oxygen in Las Vegas). Now that I have less energy and more shortness of breath when walking short distances, I’m starting to use it for doctor appointments that are in hospitals. My husband pushes the wheelchair and hangs my liquid oxygen portable tank off the handlebars behind me. I bought it from Amazon.com for a pretty good price. I had to buy a separate seat cushion though. My number one requirement for my wheelchair is that it had to have feet rest and removable legs to allow the chair to fold easily. We keep it in my vehicle.

The wheelchair is one of those things that I had to cave into using. I didn’t want to have to use it until I just couldn’t walk far anymore. I needed the exercise, true. However, I was starting to make myself sick from pushing myself too hard. You wouldn’t believe how much more fun life is when I’m not so tired from walking all over the place! And people are soooo kind by getting out of the way when they see a wheelchair. Especially if they hear someone yell, “Go faster honey!! Weeeee…..!” (you’re picturing that now, aren’t you?)

I try hard to make life fun, interesting and exciting. I tend to not be shy. So, when people ask me something about oxygen, I answer. Be sure to follow my blog by signing up for email notification at the right of your screen.

Wearing Oxygen for the First Time in Public

Living on Oxygen for Life

Here I was thinking to myself as I walked out into the public for the first time wearing my oxygen. I was scared. I was a nervous wreck and I thought my life of carefree fun was over.

I knew all the right things to tell myself. “Who cares what other people think? You don’t know these people and they don’t know you. So why do you care what they think about you wearing oxygen? So, what. Right?” But I did care. I’m human.

So, what did I do? I jumped right out there with both feet. My best friend and I went out. She told me that if she caught anyone staring at me that she would beat them up. She was so serious that it made me laugh. She decided that she was going to be my champion. (no actual beatings ocurred!!)

People do stare. It’s human nature to be curious. When I catch them staring, I just smile at them and it throws them off. I guess people don’t expect me to be so… I don’t know.. Friendly? Outgoing? or Willing to talk about “What’s wrong with me.” However, a smile works every time.

You see, there’s nothing wrong with needing to use oxygen. It’s just your body telling you that it needs a little extra help. With that help of oxygen, you might just find that you can do more, be more active and live longer.

Life on Oxygen

Hello, my name is Christine. I use oxygen 24/7 and I am now 54 years old. I didn’t always have to use oxygen. It all began when I was 17 years old. It was a monumental change in my life. Since I was just a teenager at the time, it hit me hard. I’m hoping with this blog that people who also use oxygen can see that life isn’t over just because you need oxygen. I think the hardest part for me was accepting that I’ll never live without it again. Once I jumped over that hurdle, life began to change. For the good.

So with this blog… and for all those who are interested in knowing how I live with oxygen needs, I’ll post what I know in hopes that it will help others. Spouses & families too! I am married and what I’ve gone through since I was 19 years old, he’s gone through too with me.

Each comment posted is reviewed for spam prior to possible posting. If you want to follow this blog, please sign up for email notification for each post I make. Look to the top of the right column of the blog to sign up.

[I update my age every year on this post]