Health issues are a part of life, and receiving a sudden diagnosis can dramatically change your plans for the future, whether short-term or more permanently. Being told that you need medical oxygen can feel quite overwhelming, especially if you have been an active person or a frequent traveller. You might even be wondering about what your future holds:

  • Can I travel if I just started oxygen therapy? 
  • Do I have to stay close to home from now on? 
  • Will I be able to have any fun at all? 

The good news is that yes, you will be able to have fun; you certainly don’t have to stay at home all the time, and yes, you can still travel, even if you are still new to the world of oxygen therapy. With the right support and planning, you should be able to live as full and satisfying a life as you did before your illness took hold. This first-time oxygen user travel guide is designed to help those who are looking to combine starting oxygen therapy and travel – it is packed with information that can help you continue living your best life, no matter what.

The first thing to remember is that oxygen therapy is not a burden – it is a freedom that allows you to live more fully, more happily and more comfortably. Even if you’re planning a holiday, a family visit or just a quick weekend away. Let’s have a look.

Many people travel confidently with oxygen—this is your starting point.

What It Means to Start Using Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy helps you in a number of ways. It can improve your energy levels, boost your sleep quality, and even enhance your brain function by ensuring that your blood oxygen levels are kept at a safe level.

You might use oxygen on any number of occasions – this will be unique to your needs and your condition:

  • You might need oxygen only when you exert yourself: walking, climbing stairs, etc
  • You might need oxygen therapy at nighttime, while you sleep
  • Or you might need oxygen therapy continuously throughout the day

How much oxygen you require and when you should use your oxygen supply device will be ascertained by your medical team, and your required flow-rate will be detailed on your written prescription.

First Time Travellers’ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I still be able to go on holiday and have fun?

A: Yes! There will be more steps to your planning and you will have to have back-up plans and take more care over setting your itinerary, but otherwise you will absolutely be able to get away from home and have a great time!

Q: Can I take my oxygen therapy device with me?

A: It depends on what equipment you have and where you are travelling to. If you use a portable oxygen concentrator (POC), the odds are higher that you will be able to take it with you, even on a plane. Do note, however, that only certain models of POC are allowed on planes, so you may have to switch to an unfamiliar model for the duration of your flight and/ or stay away from home. Cylinders can sometimes be transported, but they will usually have to be completely empty and in the checked luggage hold. LOX usually cannot go on a plane for safety reasons.

But do put your mind at ease: with the help of OxygenWorldwide, you can arrange for your oxygen supply to be waiting for you at the holiday destination, along with the equipment of your choice, so that you can make the most of your time away.

Q: Will I need a prescription abroad?

A: Expect this answer to be yes – it is far better to have paperwork that proves unnecessary than to need it and not have it at hand, especially when dealing with foreign bureaucracy. Your prescription should be a paper version of an official prescription, and you might want to also carry a medical letter stating your diagnosis and the rationale for your flow rate and treatment; as well as a fit-to-fly letter stating while that your condition requires oxygen, it is not serious enough to limit your enjoyment and fitness to be on holiday.

Q: I always love to travel spontaneously – can I still do this?

A: It really does depend on your specific needs, but the short answer is that it is possible that you can take spur-of-the-moment trips – albeit with the need for some hasty scrabbling to get your oxygen supply sorted out!

Equipment Basics for New Users

Above, we’ve touched upon some of the types of equipment: here’s a more detailed explanation of each and for which purpose it is best suited.

  • POC – portable oxygen concentrators take the air and filter out the nitrogen, leaving you with nearly pure oxygen. They are ideal for active people on day trips and excursions, and are the only form of oxygen therapy that can be used on board a plane
  • Oxygen Cylinders – these can be on a wheeled frame for portable use, or kept in one place – your hotel room, for example – and they are for those with short-to-medium term needs
  • Liquid Oxygen or LOX – this is highly compact and very high capacity, but cannot be taken on flights because of the sheer quantity of gaseous oxygen that a relatively small amount of LOX can produce. LOX is ideal for cruises or longer stays in hotels or boarding houses

Your medical professionals will help you work out which equipment best meets your needs, so you will always be in the best possible health.

NB: When travelling always remember to bring along extra cannulas and tubing; your prescription (as stated above), backup batters for your POC or other oxygen device, if needed; and a copy of your personalised oxygen settings and your treatment schedule.

For more information see our Comparative Guide to Oxygen equipment

Emotional Adjustments and a (New) Travel Mindset

You know you need oxygen to be at your best. But it’s heavy and awkward, and people sometimes stare which can make you feel awkward and self-conscious. This is quite normal and do try to walk through it: soon you will be able to accept the surprised looks and persuade yourself that it is their staring that is rude, not your need for medical intervention! 

Use discreet disguising covers and bags to hide the reality of your oxygen if that makes you feel more comfortable, and focus on the freedom and good health that your oxygen brings to you, rather than what messages others might be picking up from your display of medical necessity. 

You will have to acknowledge your condition, not by putting your plans on hold or stopping yourself from going to places you’ve always longed to, but by planning plenty of stops along the way, packing as lightly as you can, and allowing extra time at each step of the way while you get used to your new normal.

How OxygenWorldwide Can Help New Oxygen Users to Travel with Confidence 

OxygenWorldwide is an oxygen supply broker, in a way, with links with oxygen suppliers in many countries all over the world. Our ties are especially strong in some European countries, but we can coordinate with local suppliers in your language and theirs to ensure a seamless and snafu-free experience. We are also well-versed in various airline and international regulations, so we can help advise you as to the rules, necessary documentation and equipment regulations before you travel, as well as being on hand to help you out while you’re away. If something goes wrong, we have a 24-hour helpline on hand to put a fix into place or to advise you on what you should do next.

We’ve helped thousands of people travel with oxygen. And we’re ready to help you, too

Try to think of your new way of life as being the beginning of a new chapter, rather than the end of everything you’ve known so far. You will still be doing everything that you were doing before (to a certain extent!), just while being a little more mindful of your own safety and with a little support to help you over any rough patches. Start out by taking a short trip, not too far from home. Learn to rely on those who understand your needs, and give yourself space and time to adapt to this new way of life. And don’t forget to call us: get in touch and we’ll help you take your very first trip with oxygen—confidently.