Pulse/Oximeter

[Oldern]

First: A beautiful thing is taking place here on this website every hour of every day! Many thanks to all of you who think enough of your fellow human beings to offer your (valuable) advice and time. I thank you!

Considering buying a Pulse Oximeter thinking there might be some benefit to monitoring Oxygen level and supply. Am using AirCurve 10 ST since 2015 (VPAP Adapt SV from 2005).

Read a recent post today talking about insurance coverage and home tests and began wondering about practical benefit of Pulse Oximeter. It would inform me on a regular basis about Sat/desat but may not be of any direct benefit for Insurance purposes. Neurologist has prescribed overnight Oximetry test with DME from supplier.

I will follow through with DME for this purpose.

Is there a consensus among the group about benefits of having and using a Home Pulse/Oximeter without a prescription? (I know that for some people, Oxygen availability is absolutely essential. But my case is certainly not critical, at least I don't think so.)

I know there are many different units on the market. If it becomes worthwhile to me, any recommendations?

Thanks, as always.
Oldern

[Pugsy]

Start with seeing what the overnight pulse ox test performed by your DME shows.
Unless it shows low or you have some sort of other health issue going on that your doctor is concerned about there may not be any need for further testing unless you just want peace of mind. Talk over the "need" (if there is any) for nightly testing with your doctor.

My oxygen levels went to the low 70s during my diagnostic sleep study. On cpap they stay well within normal/acceptable ranges for asleep oxygen levels.
Verified by an overnight pulse ox test done by the DME and 3 nights with a pulse ox that I bought and eventually sold because I wasn't having any drops and there just wasn't any need to keep testing it.

If you just want peace of mind and occasional testing then I would go with the CMS 50 D+ (the plus is important) or one of the slightly fancier models.
You can check out the various models here and then maybe search the internet for best price.
http://www.pulseoxstore.com/overnight-pulse-ox
You can get a decent one for under $100. I used the 50D Plus...it was the cheapest and I pretty much knew that I wouldn't want to be using it very often and I was right. If I were going to use one frequently I would probably go with the 50 F model.

[Goofproof]

First: A beautiful thing is taking place here on this website every hour of every day! Many thanks to all of you who think enough of your fellow human beings to offer your (valuable) advice and time. I thank you!

Considering buying a Pulse Oximeter thinking there might be some benefit to monitoring Oxygen level and supply. Am using AirCurve 10 ST since 2015 (VPAP Adapt SV from 2005).

Read a recent post today talking about insurance coverage and home tests and began wondering about practical benefit of Pulse Oximeter. It would inform me on a regular basis about Sat/desat but may not be of any direct benefit for Insurance purposes. Neurologist has prescribed overnight Oximetry test with DME from supplier.

I will follow through with DME for this purpose.

Is there a consensus among the group about benefits of having and using a Home Pulse/Oximeter without a prescription? (I know that for some people, Oxygen availability is absolutely essential. But my case is certainly not critical, at least I don't think so.)

I know there are many different units on the market. If it becomes worthwhile to me, any recommendations?

Thanks, as always.
Oldern

Just one more tool in the kit, many obsess over it, wasting their time and effort. It does pay to know all you can about your body. Jim

[WearyOne]

If you just want peace of mind and occasional testing then I would go with the CMS 50 D+ (the plus is important) or one of the slightly fancier models.
You can check out the various models here and then maybe search the internet for best price.
http://www.pulseoxstore.com/overnight-pulse-ox
You can get a decent one for under $100. I used the 50D Plus...it was the cheapest and I pretty much knew that I wouldn't want to be using it very often and I was right. If I were going to use one frequently I would probably go with the 50 F model.

Thanks for the link and information, Pugsy. I have been saying for years that I want to do this, but never do.

Once many years ago I had a two-night overnight pulse/ox recording by the sleep doc that showed everything was okay. I think that's a good thing to have done. My average AHI is less than 1. I still feel horrible when I get up in the morning. Sleep doc is suggesting a few things, but can't afford another full-fledged sleep study so have to work with stuff at home.

[Pugsy]

Once many years ago I had a two-night overnight pulse/ox recording by the sleep doc that showed everything was okay. I think that's a good thing to have done. My average AHI is less than 1. I still feel horrible when I get up in the morning

If you just want peace of mind and want to rule out oxygen problems...get the 50 D plus since it is the cheapest and the likelihood of your using it regularly every night is pretty slim. Not quite as fancy but gets the job done.

Remember not every cause of feeling horrible in the morning is related to sleep apnea and the machine can't fix problems unrelated to sleep apnea.
I don't ever wake up rearing to go run a marathon. I have other issues that affect my sleep quality and how I feel in general that are totally unrelated to sleep apnea.

Start with the basics though.

Hours of sleep...is it realistically enough?
Are those hours fragmented for any reason...multiple wake ups during the night will trash sleep quality?
Having any insomnia issues? Either falling asleep or staying asleep?
Take any medications that might have some unwanted side effects?
Other health issues...etc, etc and the list goes on.

A nice low AHI doesn't guarantee anything but a nice math score. Wish it were that easy...get a low AHI and feel like superwoman....heck I could do that standing on my head. Low numbers are easy to get....feeling them is a whole different story.

[WearyOne]

Once many years ago I had a two-night overnight pulse/ox recording by the sleep doc that showed everything was okay. I think that's a good thing to have done. My average AHI is less than 1. I still feel horrible when I get up in the morning

If you just want peace of mind and want to rule out oxygen problems...get the 50 D plus since it is the cheapest and the likelihood of your using it regularly every night is pretty slim. Not quite as fancy but gets the job done.

Remember not every cause of feeling horrible in the morning is related to sleep apnea and the machine can't fix problems unrelated to sleep apnea.
I don't ever wake up rearing to go run a marathon. I have other issues that affect my sleep quality and how I feel in general that are totally unrelated to sleep apnea.

Start with the basics though.

Hours of sleep...is it realistically enough?
Are those hours fragmented for any reason...multiple wake ups during the night will trash sleep quality?
Having any insomnia issues? Either falling asleep or staying asleep?
Take any medications that might have some unwanted side effects?
Other health issues...etc, etc and the list goes on.

A nice low AHI doesn't guarantee anything but a nice math score. Wish it were that easy...get a low AHI and feel like superwoman....heck I could do that standing on my head. Low numbers are easy to get....feeling them is a whole different story.

I totally agree that OSA is not the only thing that can cause sleep issues.We're working on that with a few medications right now. And yep, I wake up a lot, but nothing noticeable that wakes me up. One thing my sleep doc mentioned, and I tend to agree it's possible, is that some people's bodies never truly "get used" to the mask and air while sleeping, even if it appears we have while awake. He points out, obviously enough, that it's not natural to sleep with a mask on our faces and air blowing up our noses all night. Some people adjust to it wonderfully, and others have sleep that's disrupted by the mask and air, even though we need to wear it because of OSA. I liken it to some people can't use an APAP because even a little bit of pressure change wakes them up. Not the same thing, but similar. I'm reducing my pressure little by little over time to see if that helps and still keeps my AHI okay--it's under 1 now--and see if that helps. And I've lost a lot of weight with about 30 pounds more to go. He suggested trying an oral device at some point, but to tell you the truth, I think that would bother me more!

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Pugsy]

He suggested trying an oral device at some point, but to tell you the truth, I think that would bother me more!

You know I used to think the same thing but then I got the Tap Pap nasal pillow mask which uses a mouth guard to hold the nasal pillows and I found out that properly fitted it pretty much disappears. Now I think that the oral devices for keeping the airway open are going to be more obtrusive (bigger) and they might not disappear so easily but if I had a way to do it and I thought it might help and I just wanted to try it....I might do it.
They are so darned expensive though unless one goes with the cheap boil and bite stuff and I know those are too obtrusive to suit me.
The ones that really have a greater chance to work need constant adjustment and I don't know if I would be willing to go down that road unless I just had too. I am lazy and putting on the mask at night and taking it off is about all the work I want to do.
But then cpap has been fairly easy for me and I feel that the sleep apnea part of my crappy feeling has been dealt with quite effectively.
The other stuff that messes with how I feel...an oral device wouldn't help those either.

Now maybe if I could use a tiny little mouth guard like the Tap Pap uses....and if it didn't cost a small fortune...and if I was assured it was effective (sleep study with it)...I would probably try it.
But that's a lot of IFs to go through. For now I am okay with what I am doing.

[HoseCrusher]

If you decide to get a pulse oximeter, plan on using it a couple of nights a week for a month or so. This will give you a baseline of where you are and something you can compare to if things change.

The problem is that there is a learning curve involved in understanding the data and it takes time to figure things out. A spot check during a single night recording can help verify your xPAP machine is giving you good therapy but if you encounter any heart irregularities you need a broader base from which to draw.

It is not absolutely needed for most cases, but it does add depth to understanding what your body is doing.

For example... I decided to wear mine while driving long distances. I was surprised that my oxygen levels were dropping while I was driving. I adjusted my posture and concentrated on breathing deeply and more often and after that became a habit I no longer had that issue. I noticed that I was much more alert when my oxygen levels were normal.

[Oldern]

I tell you folks you can't beat this place. In a matter of hours I have received a number of replies positing different ideas and approaches to my particular problem. Some may be general, yet they provide an avenue of thought and every one adds to my knowledge base.

What I know at this time is simply to do the overnight test, using equipment furnished by the DME. The results should be informative. I'll visit with the Doctor to see what he says. If significant desaturations are evident, immediate changes in treatment may be needed.

I am definitely dissuaded from trying to rely on an inexpensive Pulse/Oximeter as a monitor or as a guide for treatment of what might be a serious problem. It isn't that the equipment is useless, or has no value. However, at this point, I need the best information available.

Thank you very much for responding. I found this site several years ago and have been amazed at the responses. Sites like this ought to be mandatory for all of medicine!

Ernest Allen

[WearyOne]

He suggested trying an oral device at some point, but to tell you the truth, I think that would bother me more!

You know I used to think the same thing but then I got the Tap Pap nasal pillow mask which uses a mouth guard to hold the nasal pillows and I found out that properly fitted it pretty much disappears. Now I think that the oral devices for keeping the airway open are going to be more obtrusive (bigger) and they might not disappear so easily but if I had a way to do it and I thought it might help and I just wanted to try it....I might do it.
They are so darned expensive though unless one goes with the cheap boil and bite stuff and I know those are too obtrusive to suit me.
The ones that really have a greater chance to work need constant adjustment and I don't know if I would be willing to go down that road unless I just had too. I am lazy and putting on the mask at night and taking it off is about all the work I want to do.
But then cpap has been fairly easy for me and I feel that the sleep apnea part of my crappy feeling has been dealt with quite effectively.
The other stuff that messes with how I feel...an oral device wouldn't help those either.

Now maybe if I could use a tiny little mouth guard like the Tap Pap uses....and if it didn't cost a small fortune...and if I was assured it was effective (sleep study with it)...I would probably try it.
But that's a lot of IFs to go through. For now I am okay with what I am doing.

That Tap Pap looks interesting. I've never been able to handle a mask that was just on my nose, unfortunately.

I didn't realize they would need constant adjustment. I"m like you, filling the humidifier and putting on the mask is about all I want to mess with at night. I do feel better than I did before CPAP, but definitely not good at all. Before CPAP, I would say that in the morning I felt like I'd been run over by two Mack trucks during the night; now I feel like it's only one. Better for sure, but still far from good!
.