Oxyfit (Oxygen In A Can) Or Simliar - Available In Phuket?

[Phuketshrew]

My son has recently been diagnosed with Thalassemia and we are looking at ways to alleviate it's effects. We have both done quite a bit of research and this week he had another visit to the hospital as he was vomiting, having palpitations and trouble breathing.

Part of his treatment at hospital included an oxygen 'session', which, in his words, made him feel '100 times better'.

Further research indicates that it's possible to buy oxygen cannisters for personal use (I guess that asthma sufferers must use them?) - such as Oxyfit at http://www.oxyfit.co...-sufferers.aspx. Does anyone know whether Oxyfit (or something similar) are available in Thailand (ideally Bangkok as that's where my son is based).

Also - wondering if there are any Thalassemia help groups or forums here in Thailand?

I tried posting something in the 'Health' section of Thai Visa but I don't think that many people read that section so I am now trying as a general posting.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[stevenl]

As far as I know not available. Have you considered buying an oxygen clean scuba tank (they come in all sizes) with regulator? Would probably be cheaper in the long run as well.

[NomadJoe]

As far as I know not available. Have you considered buying an oxygen clean scuba tank (they come in all sizes) with regulator? Would probably be cheaper in the long run as well.

Steve, does Dive Supply, Aqua Master, or Scuba Market sell the DAN O2 kits? They must, but I don't recall seeing them there. May not be practical if these oxygen sessions are very often or very long. The tanks are only good for about an hour max.

https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/store/home.aspx?id=30

[Shot]

Pure O2 can give life if used properly. It can kill if not. You need medical grade O2, or what the dive centers use for mixed gas, which should be equal in quality. I would think any competent medical supply shop would have it, or any hospital. You may need a prescription, believe it or not. I think that is a way of insuring it is used properly.

I hope this is a helpful post in the Phuket forum. I have no intention of posting something nonsensical.

All the best, peace and love

Shot

[surangw]

invest in a portable oxygen concentrator ( make sure it runs on 120/240 vac 50/60 hz

[stevenl]

As far as I know not available. Have you considered buying an oxygen clean scuba tank (they come in all sizes) with regulator? Would probably be cheaper in the long run as well.

Steve, does Dive Supply, Aqua Master, or Scuba Market sell the DAN O2 kits? They must, but I don't recall seeing them there. May not be practical if these oxygen sessions are very often or very long. The tanks are only good for about an hour max.

https://www.diversal...home.aspx?id=30

As far as I remember they bused to seel them, but about 8 years ago or something that was not allowed anymore. Tanks with demand system will last quite a long time.

[robertsonmartin]

I recently saw Medical Oxygen in Fascino Pharmacy in a number of different sized cylinders. Fascino Pharmacy is on the road into Phuket Town traveling past Naka market from Central Festival end.

If you google "Fascino Pharmacy Phuket" you'll get a map.

[Phuketshrew]

Thanks for all the advice thus far.

I will definitely take a look at Fascino pharmacy later this week.

Phuketshrew

[wheelyking]

How did you get on?

My firm in UK used to despatch Oxyfit for sole UK importer, it was used primarilly as a sports treatment for injuries and as a backup when Air products/Boc couldnt deliver in time.

Oxyfit is expensive in the long run, i would advise checking out the phuket hospitals suppliers here in Phuket.

There is 1 i know you could try, head towards the bigh supercheap from Phuket town centreand about 100 metres before the BMW garage on the left, you will see a medi cal bottling plant.

They have a bulk Oxygen storge tank in their yard and fill medical Oxygen for local hospitals.

Sorry no number, but if you follow directions, shouldn't be too difficult to find. If you are still having problems send me a PM, will try narrow it down for you.

Good luck.

[Rocky Sassoon]

Just had a quick look at Oxyfit and would have to say it's a waste of time. 8l of Oxygen would be give or take 1 minute of quiet breathing at rest only and they do not look like they are meant to be refillabled either. Even if one would be able to get them refilled, that would be a lot of trips to the Oxygen dealer. Depending on how often your son may need to breathe oxygen, I would rather get a 10l or 40l oxygen tank from one of the gas suppliers, like the one wheelyking mentioned. A 10l cylinder, usually filled up to about 120 bar would give you 1,200l of Oxygen. There is another one roughly opposite the Royal Phuket Marine. Coming from Phuket Town and heading towards Talang, it's right after the Jotun shop. You have to drive in to see it. They will sell you tanks with valves and also do refills. I guesstimate a 10l cylinder to be around 3,000 THB and a 40l one around 6,000 THB. Refills are cheap, they do the 40l one for under 300 THB. You should learn about handling Oxgygen and oxygen equipment though. Although Oxygen does not burn itself, it will help and make literally anything burn, including the metall the tank and valve is made out of. If you drop a filled oxygen tank on it's valve for example, it can turn the tank into a rocket that will finally burst, after going through walls! A simple regulator like they use in hospitals can be found for example in Super Cheap's pharmacy for less than 1,500 THB. For the purpose you describe you would probably set the regulator at not more than 8 l/min when using with a non-reabreather mask and 2 l/min if using nasal cannula, which I would personally not bother with, unless the O2 is to be given for days rather than minutes or a couple of hours max.

Purchasing a demand valve setup would be unneccesary in my opinion. It is the best way to effectively deliver 100% straight into the lungs and save Oxygen at the same time, but this does bring possible sideeffects on much earlier. Breathing Oxygen at normal pressure is not going to kill someone, unless maybe they have COPD, are poisened by a rare incecticide or you adminster very high concentrations for many days without breaks. The patient would very likely complain about chest burning, dryness and start coughing long before that though. Usually you are wise to be a tad sceptical about Wikipedia entries, but this article is excellent: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_toxicity

Nomad and Steven, none of the suppliers currently sell DAN O2 kits. They really are kinda pricey for what they are, it is hard to source spare parts, the first stages would usually have to be sent back to the factory for service and they are not really made for tropical / saltwater environment. So they deterirotae too quick and you cannot really get them fixed. IMO they only thing they have going for them, is that they are considered the standard of care in some countries, like US and Oz. There are other and better options available.

[jrtmedic]

Sorry to learn that your son has Thalassemia. Thalassemia, as I am sure you are aware, is inherited and to suffer the most severe form of the disease requires inheriting defective gene(s) from each parent. People with just one copy of the gene are "carriers" but tend not to suffer much in the way of ill effect. However there are many sub-types of Thalassemia and it is important that the condition is fully investigated.

Home oxygen therapy is not a main stay treatment and is not likely to assist your son.

Hopefully your son is under the care of a Haematologist (Dr, specialising in blood diseases) and you should be guided by s/he as to the best way forward.

If you son becomes unwell you should not be tempted to give him "home" remedies but always take him to see a Dr. Make sure the Dr, appreciates your son has Thalassemia.

The following may be of interest ----- http://www.mayoclini...assemia/DS00905 This paper from the Mayo Clinic gives a very clear overall picture of Thalassemia , its causes. effects and treatment.

Edited September 9, 2012 by jrtmedic