"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Did anyone buy a overnight oxymeter? I just ordered my third.
I just ordered my third oximeter that can do overnight studies -- the first two I got were both cheap (about 200). and quit working within a week. I bought them at Walmart so I could take them back. Now walmart has a new model, 229$ and I'm eager for it to get here. Yes, another "cheap" one. Its a CHOICEMMED OxyWatch
The "good ones" cost 1400-3000, which is a lot, but even that would be well worth it, I think. I will buy one of those, if this 3rd one doesn't work for long.
The point is -- we all are talking about how effective these Cpaps are - well, we can TEST it ourselves to an astonishing extent. The proof is in our oxygen levels as we sleep, for most of us. And if a device can tell us that --regularly -- it's a good thing.
If we are desaturing, (getting low oxygen levels) even with CPAP -- we need to tell the doctor, asap. He or she can figure out what to do.
Oddly these doctors don't seem concerned about overnight levels -- they never ask about them, that I've seen. You almost have to hit them over the head with it. Yet there simply is no more important piece of information he - or you -- can have. If you knew only one thing about what was going on in your body, regarding sleep apnea, that would be it. AHIs and periodic breathing and leaks, all that, is useful information, but all that is about the need to keep our oxigen levels right. So why not know what our oxygen level is? And regularly!
And yes, it can change from night to night. Plus, this is a great way to tell if your CPAP issues are having an effect in your cells.
Someday, these Cpaps will have that feature -- a built in oximeter, and they should. They are recording a lot of other things - but this is really the big one. The continuous oxygen levels are what it's all about!
And WE should want to know it. Everyone should know if they are going low on oxygen overnight -- even if we are young and healthy! Oxygen, of course, is the primary thing in every cellular activity. It affects EVERYTHING -- and profoundly so.
I just want to know if anyone else bought various oximeters for overnight and what kind of results are you getting. ALso, is your doctor "oxygen" minded. He should be thinking and acting in terms of your oxigen levels, from what I can see.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by gordon on
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I think it's a good idea because that's less than seeing the sleep doc for 15 minutes! I took one home overnight. The results were "abnormal", bear in mind, I used it while on my usual CPAP, so the sleep doc said it was "a little abnormal... it's hard for me to tell (pointing to the episodes of a drop in O levels) if that's just were your mask leaked..." In other words, maybe use it with and without CPAP. I'm sure mine would read deathly bad w/out on CPAP. He raised my pressure by 2. Felt better right away.
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Mark Douglas said:
Someday, these Cpaps will have that feature -- a built in oximeter, and they should. They are recording a lot of other things - but this is really the big one. The continuous oxygen levels are what it's all about!
The ResMed S9 already does that.
It is pricey, but you can buy an adapter & the entire kit that includes the Oximeter.
The results can be viewed in the ResScan software.
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on
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Have not bought one, bought my Sleep Doctor requested an overnight pulse ox two weeks after starting CPAP. That will be this coming THursday. I hope (and assume) she will order this periodically; and my DME company does not charge anything for it.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Douglas on
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Ginny - good, he ordered one anyway. Why on earth don't we get these figures regularly - like blood pressure?
Did you know that years ago, the pulse ox was reserved only for sophisticated operating roooms? It was high tech when it came out. Gradually it became more common, until today, it's in almost every patient room in the hospital.
Most of mankind's history we had nothing like this technology-- it's really an amazing thing, and for a few hundred dollars, we can know our oxygen levels overnight at home, everynight.
At least -- if this new one works well. As I said, the doctors grade equipment cast over 1,000. But even that would be worth it.
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I think it SHOULD be checked regularly while asleep. Hard to believe a specialist in Sleep Studies does not order it to be done this way. My pressure setting is 8. Hope it does not have to be raised! Good luck!
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I use one most nights - I find the data, and the data from the apap, very reassuring and helps me balance my own therapy - if I can't tweak within a few days a quick call to my tech and I'm back on track again.
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That's interesting ymmits-- what kind do you use? You mean you have a separate oximeter, right?
ymmits said:I use one most nights - I find the data, and the data from the apap, very reassuring and helps me balance my own therapy - if I can't tweak within a few days a quick call to my tech and I'm back on track again.
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Ginny --- that's exactly my point. How would you tell? This would be the best way to tell, this oxygen level would be the gold standard, the real deal.And you would know virtually anytime -- and let your doctor know. It's really goofy (my favorite word) for doctors and we patients not to know, regularly.
Ginny Edmundson said:I think it SHOULD be checked regularly while asleep.
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I agree, Mark. So let's get together and perfect the CPAP machine that also does a constant read out of O2 sats and make some $$! :) Might as well make having sleep apnea pay for itself!!!! He-He-
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If that is the same one -- FANTASTIC price - did you buy it at 50?
Wait --that is not like the overnight one I got -- the 30 hour recording unit. That is the whole point, to get one that can record overnight.
The unit you said you might get later, I bought 2 units from that company so far, I recognize the style and fonts and so forth. Both lasted about a week. The first one got the same spot results as the heart doctors unit -- I felt so smart to buy it! Till it quit working totally a few days later.
Plus, it caused a lot of pain on your finger at night.
The second one was so cheaply made, and didn't work after a day or two. I sent them both back, refunded, from Walmart.
Maybe if you get that, your unit will last -- but I sure would buy it from Walmart, or someplace you can take it back easily.
Here is the one I ordered, should be here tomorrow:
CHOICEMMED OxyWatch W11SM Continuous Use. 10 User ID. USB data transmission to computer with 30 hour memory. Comfort-fit wrist worn. Autopower…
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Thanks, I will look more into Ebay - I just heard bad things about people getting conned.
But the main thing is, I'm getting a unit that records overnight oxygen levels.
I have an APAP to- I adjusted it upward half point, to see if that lowered my AHI's -- but then my cheapo overnight meter went kaput.
If this one works, I'm ordering a second one, just to loan out to family and friends. I have a couple siblings that I think display many signs of sleep apnea -- my sister has lived with extreme fatigue and a HORRIBLE memory for years now. Plus she has insomnia. I've told her and told her to get checked.
We should know our overnight O number as much as we know our BP and cholesterol, and we should know it regularly, and from our 20's on. I'm convinced someday the medical community will realize this.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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As long as my O2 sats are ok when I go to the doc- I have three docs that check it on visits and I'm feeling ok during the night and when I wake up, I'm not going to worry about my nightly O2 sats. During my sleep study it never went below 95%. I'm behind anyone who wants to keep track- don't want to give the wrong impression- but have you found anything dangerously low? To tell you the truth I might check it myself if my partner wouldn't laugh me out of the bed. She's already all over me (laughing) about how I live and breathe CPAP, CPAP, CPAP. Don't get me wrong if I was determined, I'd just do it and not tell her. It is a good idea for people you feel have Sleep Apnea and won't get checked. It might give some valuable information. And the more info the better.
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