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kevincoop
Rookie
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 10:22:24 PM
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Hi,
I was wondering how many COPD patients take advantage of using a pulse oximeter to keep tabs on their oxygen levels. If so, what type of oximeter do you use?
Thanks,
Kevin Cooper
- Link removed - Advertising is prohibited |
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PennyPA
Contributing Member
USA
1564 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 11:17:59 PM
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| I think many of us use pulse oxes; I have a Nonin but I've heard good reports on the less expensive ones (which names completely escape me at this time of night!) |
Penny's LVRS Blog
And Our Travel Blog After LVRS
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CarolCA
Contributing Member
USA
606 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 12:04:28 AM
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| Kevin sells oximeters, Penny. He knows all about them. I bought something from him at one time. I think it was my PIKO. Nice guy as I remember. |
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PennyPA
Contributing Member
USA
1564 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 08:51:06 AM
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| AHA! A commercial to-be in disguise. Oh well. I guess, had I read his tagline, I would have deduced something like that. Too late at night...too duh (although THAT seems to happen in the daylight hours, too, LOL!) Thanks Carol. |
Penny's LVRS Blog
And Our Travel Blog After LVRS
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Helen-CO
Rookie
19 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 10:42:55 AM
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| Could it be Kevin is just interested in knowing how many of us have an oximeter and the brand we prefer? He's pretty open in identifying that he's with a medical supplier. |
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Dave-OH
Administrator
USA
1226 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 11:55:04 AM
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| Same problem here Penny, last night I just looked at the responses. I have edited out his link and will email him. |
Dave, Forum Administrator
COPD Support, Inc.
http://www.copd-support.com/
Your source for peer support and COPD Info |
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kevincoop
Rookie
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 12:33:08 PM
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Yes, I do sell oximeters. I also work as a respiratory therapist at a DME company. The main reason I was asking about pulse ox use is in this area doctors seem to discourage the use of oximeters with their patients. The general response from most is that they don't want their patients to worry excessively about the number on their oximeter but how they feel. I also wanted to find out what type or brand of oximeter is used so I can look into different manufacturers.
Thanks for your help.
I read a lot on this forum before I joined and am glad that so many people are proactive with thier treatment. |
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PennyPA
Contributing Member
USA
1564 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 6:31:00 PM
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| Kevin, a lot of doctors feel the same way...and I guess there are some patients who do obsess about their sat numbers but if there's any number we with copd should be aware of and keep track of, it's our sat levels. A person can feel quite fine and still have low sats (believe me, I know that first hand, LOL!) while again they might feel not so fine but their levels would be good. I think most of us encourage people to get their own oximeter, especially if they exercise at home. How the heck else are they going to know when to slow up or slow down...or keep on truckin'...or up their O2 level a notch? I think some doctors feel threatened with a patient that knows as much as or more about their disease than the general bear, LOL. |
Penny's LVRS Blog
And Our Travel Blog After LVRS
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tsainta
Member
41 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2010 : 12:20:15 AM
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| I have a pulse-oximeter. When I first got it I couldn't leave it alone. I learned a lot about correlating how I felt to safe O2 levels. Now I check myself every now and then, but I am a strong supporter of gaining the insight a pulse-oximeter can provide. I didn't ask my doctor and I don't much care what he would think on this issue (although my doc is generally very supportive of anything I want to do or try). There are plenty of sources for adequate instruments that don't require prescriptions. |
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CarolCA
Contributing Member
USA
606 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2010 : 12:40:52 AM
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| When I got mine I used it constantly and so did my friends. Now I seldom use it and actually use it more for pulse rate lately as I have an irregular heart beat. Then I found out it isn't accurate with an irregular heart beat. Kevin is a really nice guy and well versed in COPD. My doctor said I didn't need it but he has asked me a number of times what my numbers were when I mentioned something strange that happened or when I was on a plane after I told him I had it. I think most of us have Nonin's and I would replace with same if mine every breaks. I have had it 9 years now and still going strong. |
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kevincoop
Rookie
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2010 : 10:06:34 PM
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Thanks for your feedback. I have joined this site and others on COPD and sleep apnea. I have figured out that I will learn more by reading posts from COPD patients than from articles or books. I have been a therapist for over 10 years but since getting on these forums and reading about real life situations, I have learned more in the last few months than I did in school or on the job. Thank you to everyone for your input.
Kevin |
Edited by - kevincoop on Jul 28 2010 10:18:01 PM |
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Judy1948
Rookie
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2010 : 10:40:29 AM
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Hi, new here but want to jump in here. I was in the hosp. w/respirory failure, contributed to COPD (not previously dx) and was sent home with O2 24/7. Needless to say, I hated it but used it because I was scared to death. As I further recovered and researched, I wanted to see what the PMB and diaphram breathing did for me, so I ordered a Nonin GO2 Achieve. I discovered I could keep my O2 up in the 90's with the breathing techniques (usually 91 to 95). Now I'm off the O2 except at night and think I can stop that fairly soon. Am getting an oximeter with alarm to test nights. I have woken at 4:30-5am, turned the O2 off and it's fine when I wake for the day. The point is, I'm afraid I'd still be tethered to the O2 if I hadn't been proactive.
Judy |
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CarolCA
Contributing Member
USA
606 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2010 : 7:23:03 PM
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| Judy, it sounds like you have done a great job but there is just one thing I take issue with. Testing yourself when you wake up has absolutely no bearing on how low your saturation was 10 minutes before you wake up or during the night. Once we are awake a different process of breathing takes over and your sats will come up. At night we are on sort of automatic pilot as we go deeper and deeper into sleep and that is when the saturation drops. Your overnight will tell the story. I, too, came home on O2 after respitory failure in 98 and only had to stay on O2 for 2 weeks. About two years later I wanted to see if I qualified for O2 since I felt more secure having it and I did for nightime only. I believe that being on it at night is very responsible for my stability and lack of heart problems and I have gotten to really like it at night as I wake up more rested. My sats are good upon arising but then they always were, just not during the night so be sure and get tested with an overnight oximetry test which will show how low and for how long you sats may have dropped. |
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donnagirl
Rookie
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2010 : 5:10:38 PM
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This is an interesting subject to me as well. Sometimes I wake up at night coughing and check my oximeter and find it is in the low 80's. I plan to ask my pulmonologist about this next visit, but wondered what causes the dry, non-productive cough at night that wakes me up. I wonder if the low oxygen is normal at night, or could it cause the coughing. Anyone have the same experience?
Thanks |
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jmrommes
Senior Member
201 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2010 : 5:50:59 PM
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Pretty much everyone, including those people without lung disease, breathe more shallowly at night than during the day when we're up and moving. For those of us with COPD, that often means that our O2 sats drop lower than people without lung disease. For many of us, when we're initially prescribed O2, it's for night use only. I was able to stop using O2 completely through diet and exercise, and the O2 at night was the last thing to go.
I doubt that your cough is caused by low O2. More likely it's gerd or acid reflux. The other thing to check is blood pressure meds....they can cause a dry, non-productive cough too.
Jean |
Exercise not only lets me live, it enables me to have a life. |
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donnagirl
Rookie
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2010 : 6:28:27 PM
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Thank you, Jean.
I appreciate all the information I can get. I don't take blood pressure meds or have have any stomach problems. It's a dry, non-productive cough, and I don't know what causes it. I take cough medicine before going to bed and I use Spiriva every morning. Thanks again. |
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jmrommes
Senior Member
201 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2010 : 9:46:46 PM
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Don't discount the possibility of gerd or acid reflux because you don't know you have a problem......many people with COPD do have one or the other and don't know it. I'd suggest that you talk with your doc.
Jean |
Exercise not only lets me live, it enables me to have a life. |
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CarolCA
Contributing Member
USA
606 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2010 : 9:51:09 PM
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| I second that, Jean. I didn't think I had any GERD until I had an endo and it showed plenty of damage but I never had heartburn or burped or any of those things that people expect. Donna, if you are in the 80's when you wake up you definetly need to get an overnight oximeter test, maybe even a full sleep test. Once we wake up our sats climb so if you are still in the 80's you are really low other times. I can see it waking you up but not causing a cough. |
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Pulse Ox Use?
