Use of vaseline and O2

[Nancy]

There is a very important discussion going on in the Pulmonary Hypertension Assoc. forum, regarding the danger of using vaseline to moisten your nose, when you are using oxygen.

The most recent post states that petroleum products can self ignite in the presence of pure oxygen. This poster mentioned that the only safe moisturizer would be a water based product.

I know that some members use oxygen, so thought this might be something you'd want to know.

http://www.phassociation.org/Message_Boards/main.asp?board=1

 

[Mary]

Nancy,
I just ran your post past my husband whose been in the respiratory therapy
field since 1974. He concurs that people using oxygen should not use vaseline or any petroleum based product around their nose or as a lip moisturizer.
I mentioned the post from the PHA forum about the man who was told by his ENT to use vaseline in his nose. Bob said the ENT was nuts-his words, not mine-and should know better.
There are many misconceptions about oxygen use, but the prohibition against using it with vaseline isn't one.

 

[tobagotwo]

KY Jelly is a water-based lubricant, as is the sex lubricant Astroglide. There are probably generic forms of these as well.

Be wary of using other lubricants without checking ingredients first. Lubricating products from Eros and ID are silicon-based, and may cause irritation or may damage silicone-based tubes or other equipment.

I ran across these when I researched water-based lubricants, so I thought I'd give people some options...

Best wishes,

 

[Mary]

Be wary of using other sex lubricants without checking ingredients first. Lubricating products from Eros and ID are silicon-based, and may cause irritation or may damage silicone-based tubes or other equipment.

I ran across these when I researched water-based lubricants, so I thought I'd give people some options...
Best wishes,

What did you say you were using those tubes and other equipment for??? How'd you say they'd get damaged????

 

[Ross]

What did you say you were using those tubes and other equipment for??? How'd you say they'd get damaged????

He said, see Tobagotwo about all of your sexual lubricant needs.

 

[Der Biermeister]

I use a very small dab of Vick's Vapor Rub in my nostrils to try to keep both open for when I use CPAP (with O2 added). While I sometimes use Afrin - I try not to do that more than once a week as that stuff is bad for long-term use.

 

[Nancy]

DB-

Vick's has a pertoleum base. Precautions would be the same as for vaseline.

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

Dry Noses?

Dry Noses?

For those on oxygen having trouble with drying membranes, they could try contacting the doctor prescribing the oxygen. They should be able to get an order for humidified O2... This really helps out a lot. It simply consists of attaching some saline to the oxygen tank end of the tubing, much like is done in the hospital setting. This may not be appropriate for all set-ups, but if this is becoming a problem, it is worth a try. Most home medical supply companies can also help you get something worked out to overcome this problem.