smoking with oxygen

[BUTTERCUP109]

I have a very difficult problem that is tearing my family apart and I desparately need some advice. My 74 year old father has been a lifelong chain smoker...tried to quit a few times but never was successful. He is now very far gone with COPD...on 24 hr oxygen, nebs, prednisone...6 ft tall but weighs 120 lb...so weak he can't walk more than 10 steps...in and out of hospital frequently, often when the EMTs arrive his oxygen sat is 70 and his BP =240/110..his CO2 stays high...in other words he is likely end stage. His quality of life is bad since he is often struggling to breath. He continues to smoke, but is so oxygen dependent and weak that he smokes indoors while the oxygen is going. I know this is bad, but he claims he is careful so that no ashes fall that could be fueled by the oxygen. He believes he can control this. Says he knows enough about chemistry to know that the oxygen cannot explode but will fuel a fire if one starts and believes he can quickly move the oxygen away if he needs to. My brother and mom are afraind of a fire and have had a very forceful "intervention" with him, saying they will take the cigerettes away and let him go cold turkey even in his debilitated state if he does not start disconnecting his oxygen and going outside to smoke. I recognize their concerns, but am pragmatic enough to know that he does not have the strength to go outside or even do without the oxygen for 5 minutes. If he is forced to stop smoking, I guess he will have to deal with it, but it seems cruel to put someone who is already is constant distress from disease and near death through nicotine withdrawal at the end of his life,as well. At this point, quitting will not add a day to his life. This issues should have been solved years ago, but we can't go back in time. What is the right thing to do now? How real is the fire risk? I need help because I honestly don't know the answer.

[BUTTERCUP109]

Our family had an "intervention". Since my Dad no longer drives, we have made a pact to iinsure no one provides him cigarettes. We approached my dad with the news on the 6th day of his most recent hospitalization for pneumonia.(His third hospital stay in 3 months) We recognized the opportunity because he had already been 6 days non-smoking while hospitalized..lots of antibiotics, and a bronchoscopy to clear all the mucous from the lower lobes of his lungs...He can at least have a chance at a fresh beginning when he goes home, if he stays away from smoking. He was angry and lashed out and we all suffered for a few days at seeing how it affected him, but we will stick to our guns when he gets to go home next week. Thanks

[Bob_D]

I am no expert. However, I just read a news article about a woman in Pennsylvania who suffered third-degree burns over 30% of her body by smoking with oxygen. She was fortunate that someone heard her screaming and was able to come and extinguish the fire. This led the local housing authority to formally ban smoking in rooms that contain oxygen equipment.
It seems the fire hazard is very real and your choices are limited. Perhaps nicotine gum could play a role in easing your father's discomfort, if that's what you decide to do.