Recently I sat next to a gentleman in a casino. He had a bottle of oxygen and a plastic tether that carried oxygen to his nose. He has to use it whenever he exerts himself like walking or moving about. As we talked, he
went into a discussion about the pluses and minuses of using oxygen. He could go with or without a mask. He prefers to just use a tether hose. One of the first things he asked me was if I ever smoked? I told him no. It was heavy cigarette smoking that brought him to this point in his life.
He carried the tank in a side pouch and the tether always seemed to get tangled up. The man spent time making sure that it didn't get in the aisle way for someone to trip on. He told me that he could survive without the oxygen, but that he would struggle to breath easily.
When he first started using oxygen, he was afraid to go out in public. His friends would not see him like he was before. Now they would see him basically chained to an oxygen bottle the rest of his life. It was a life changing moment for him. It was an image changing moment in his life. The freedom he once had, has now been restricted by an oxygen tank.
He heard little children asking their parents," why does that man wear a hose in his nose?" He heard replies from shhhh to actual explanations. He told me, that although he doesn't feel sorry for himself, he felt like others did. The cold, but true comment he heard the most was,"that is what smoking does to you." A statement that haunts him
He went on to tell me that some now avoid him altogether. People that use to talk to him, just smile or say hi and keep on going. Even his close friends see him in a different light than before.
Every now and then, someone will ask if, "he has it turned on?" He replies, "always." He told me, "Why lug around a heavy tank if you aren't going to use it?" "Good point", I said.
Carrying an oxygen tank also puts some limitations on what he can do. To some people and some places, he is considered a liability. A possible accident waiting to happen.
He carried the tank in a side pouch and the tether always seemed to get tangled up. The man spent time making sure that it didn't get in the aisle way for someone to trip on. He told me that he could survive without the oxygen, but that he would struggle to breath easily.
When he first started using oxygen, he was afraid to go out in public. His friends would not see him like he was before. Now they would see him basically chained to an oxygen bottle the rest of his life. It was a life changing moment for him. It was an image changing moment in his life. The freedom he once had, has now been restricted by an oxygen tank.
He heard little children asking their parents," why does that man wear a hose in his nose?" He heard replies from shhhh to actual explanations. He told me, that although he doesn't feel sorry for himself, he felt like others did. The cold, but true comment he heard the most was,"that is what smoking does to you." A statement that haunts him
He went on to tell me that some now avoid him altogether. People that use to talk to him, just smile or say hi and keep on going. Even his close friends see him in a different light than before.
Every now and then, someone will ask if, "he has it turned on?" He replies, "always." He told me, "Why lug around a heavy tank if you aren't going to use it?" "Good point", I said.
Carrying an oxygen tank also puts some limitations on what he can do. To some people and some places, he is considered a liability. A possible accident waiting to happen.
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Jim Ryan
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/01/2009
yukked
;-}}>
I'm guessing you brought him a lot of comfort by letting him share his story.......but what are you doing in a casino, LOL!
:)
Thanks for sharing this sad, but interesting, piece.
Very sad, but glad he was able to adapt.
It's sad that he will never get better.
Something I never had thought about - I appreciate your insightful article/interview.
What a moving piece, well-stated and yet poignant. Should be read by anyone who smokes.
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