Tonight we are going out! We’ll be meeting up with some of my husband’s co-workers, none of whom I’ve met before. We’re also going somewhere that I’ve never been before. One thing that we are concerned about when we go somewhere new is whether or not there is smoking allowed indoors. Being around smokers determines how long our outing lasts. Some places have really good ventilation and I can tollerate being in the building. There are places like dance clubs where the cigarette smoke clings to the air and makes it really hard for me to breathe.
Before we go out, we make sure the oxygen resourvir in the back of my vehicle has oxygen in it. This is really important because I use this tank to get us to wherever we are going and then on the ride home. Plus, any refills if necessary. The portable is used when outside my vehicle because it will only last me 2 hours. Timing is everything! We always have a watch and a cellphone with us. We both carry car keys in case the others’ gets locked in the vehicle. Believe me, I’ve done it!
The minute I step out of the vehicle and put on my oxygen from the portable tank, I ask what time it is. From that point, I know to get back to the vehicle within two hours. If I’m sitting down, such as at a movie theater, I can turn down my oxygen for a while to 4 liters/min and that will make my oxygen last about 3 hours. This gives me time to see a movie. Though, seeing King Kong was tough because the movie was very long.
My husband does a lot. He drops me off at the door, goes to get the car so I don’t have to walk far if he couldn’t find a handicap parking spot, he carries my portable, and he walks the speed that I walk. Sometimes I have to pull him back to me because he walks like he’s in a marathon and he forgets that I’m not quite that fast. He’s 6ft tall where I’m only 5′2″.
The handicap placard is the best thing since sliced bread for those who need it. I chose the placard (the thing hanging off the rearview mirror designating for the handicap) because I wanted to be able to take it from vehicle to vehicle. I don’t always drive and with a placard, I can take it from my vehicle and use it in someone elses whenever I’m in their car. There are also handcap license plates but I prefer the placards.