Pulse-ox - do you have one?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:29 pm

Anybody out there use a pulse-oximeter on an ongoing basis or intermitantly to verify their treatment success?

Anybody wish they had one?

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:36 pm

Yeah Wader..

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:36 pm

I do not use one but would like access to one or buy one wading thru. Are you selling one? I cannot find one that is reasonably priced and monitirs thru the night whilst the person sleeps.

Do you know of one?

IllinoisRRT · Post by **IllinoisRRT** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 2:20 pm

From a medical professionals perspective, I will say that having one is NOT a good idea...not that I prefer my patients to be unaware of their situation, but it bothers me when people have them. There are MANY factors to oxygen saturation monitoring, and those numbers are not always accurate. In my experience, people who have their own oximeters tend to become number watchers- it's really no way to live. And having the technology without knowledge of its limitations can be potentially dangerous. I've heard of situations where people have turned their oxygen up (this would be for people who are on O2, not necessarily CPAP) when reading a low O2 sat, with drastic results. Not everyone should have a super-high oxygen level- it is in fact dangerous with many disease processes.

::stepping off my soapbox::

Hugh Jass · Post by **Hugh Jass** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 2:32 pm

Thanks IllinoisRRT. Good point.

My interest in one however, would not be for self treatment but rather for working with my sleep doc for optimal treatment. Waiting months for follow-up tests in sleeps labs is often not a viable option since so many of us want to start feeling better asap.

I would like to have one simply to be able to say to my Dr. "by the way I have one of those Oximetry units and my levels are still going down to 70 %. Can we look into this..."

I suspect that for some of us, our levels are lower than what our sleep study revealed, simply because our test only shows how we slept at that time (which is not how we normally may be sleeping due to the strange environment).

It's always nice to have a bit of hard evidence to give an MD to warrant further tests/investigation.

I had to video tape myself sleeping and told my Dr. I had evidence that I stopped breathing before he was willing to swallow his pride and refer me to a sleep doctor. He just wanted to keep pushing useless and harmful drugs down my throat.

Thats my 2 cents.

Regards.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 2:56 pm

ILRT,

I understand your concern, but isn't that the same thing as using the cpap software to monitor your results? Are people cranking their pressure up to 20cm if they show a few apneas? (don't answer that)

Those of us who are responsible and care about our treatment would like to know how things are going. This would be an additional piece of data to use.

Hugh's 2 cents is right on the money!

Irving · Post by **Irving** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:26 pm

Remember Illinois RRT. This ia a sleep apnea forum not a COPD forum.
Tho some may be using supplimental O2 this forum is predominately used by us cpap users.

Irving

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:31 pm

"Number watching" cpap users that is.

I like watching my numbers...maybe it's a "Guy" thing.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:41 pm

Illinois RRT
Thanks for your caution -I think it is wise to always consider as many aspects of a problem before making a decision. I have been ready to "leap" in the recent past and cautions that I have received from folks on this board have helped slow me down so that I made a better, more informed decision.

I agree with you that "number watching" is not the only important data; we have to also assess how we feel. So, thanks for the caution; I, and others, welcome your concern and input.
P

SleepyGuy · Post by **SleepyGuy** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:54 pm

I don't have a pulse oximeter, but I record my stats from my CPAP machine every morning. They've been good and that kept me encouraged in the beginning when I wasn't feeling any better.

So this is a two-edged sword. There may be people who panic at the sight of a few apneas, but there are those of us that are reassured by the numbers.

I would never adjust my pressure without consulting my doc.

Spiritus · Post by **Spiritus** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:16 pm

Hi,

Since I got a ResLink, by default I also have an Oxymeter. I use it occasionally out of interest, to see how apnea and hypopnea affect my oxygen saturation. Not out of concern; just out of interest.

Rob

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:59 pm

Spritis, did insurance pay for your reslink?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:02 pm

I know where you can get a pluse ox unit.
It is very expensive though.
My MIL and I are on O2 as well as my CPAP.
The Pulse ox we bought is from a recreational co. sold for mountain climbers etc..
We had it checked by our O2 co. though and it is very accurate.
If you are interested we got it through....
REI.com
The cost was $400.00 and it was not covered by insurance. They would rather pay the O2 co. to come out and check it.
I hope this helps.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:37 pm

Anonymous wrote: They would rather pay the O2 co. to come out and check it.
I hope this helps.

Just to clarify, we do not get paid AT ALL by the insurance companies to come out and check oxygen saturations. I'm pretty sure it's that way across the board.

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:50 pm

The sports oxymetre looks good as long as you someone else to do the read outs. As far as I can see it does not record but gives one off readings.

I have my eye on the minolta pusle oxymetre pulsox 3i. Only reason I hesitate is the 1311 dollars. It would do the job perfectly. Any body found any others that record?

I am sure that people would be sensible about monitoring oxygen levels and learn to take into account the many factors mentioned by Christine above, or not bother bying if they know it is going to develop into a neurosis with them

Mask

Pulse-ox - do you have one?

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