Newbie - urgent oximeter question

[Rob (UK)]

Hi, I have just had my first appointment at a sleep clinic yesterday and they gave me a pulse oximeter to use for two nights (has to be back tomorrow) last night was a nightmare as the oximeter kept bleeping nearly everytime I fell asleep, thus waking me up.

My guess is the oximeter has been set to some sort of alert mode rather than just to measure through the night so as soon as my apnea starts I get bleeped. Would this sound right to you guys?

As it's Sunday I can't call the clinic and I have only one more night to get this right. Hopefully though they can let me have the kit for a bit longer.

cheers - Rob

[Gerald]

Rob.....

Since we don't know what make and model Oximeter you have, we can't answer your question.

I agree, however, that a preliminary test with an Oximeter is a wise thing to do. It's a quick, easy, and economical way to find out if your blood Oxygen level is dropping below 93% while you sleep.....and that's the heart of the sleep apnea problem.

You're going in the right direction.

Gerald

[Slinky]

I'm inclined to agree w/Gerald. W/o knowing which oximeter you are using we can't answer your question about the beeping.

However, I've had overnight oximetries w/two different professional oximeters, both finger clips w/a "box" about the size of a paperback book as the oximeter itself to just take into bed w/you. That type oximeter runs on batteries. I had lots of desats, but never any beeping altho I know the one brand, if it does beep, the beeping is an indication that the batteries are too weak and need replacing.

The beeping could also be an indication that good contact was lost w/the finger sensor. Too much movement, etc. I'd venture a guess that this would be a likely cause of the beeping. This would also be more likely w/the rubber cup type finger sensor or the finger clip sensor than the type that are taped onto the finger tip.

There are more "stationary" type oximeters that are larger boxes that sit on the nightstand and are plugged into a wall outlet that would be quite different.

[plr66]

My first oximeter had a very fragile type of attachment to my finger with a tiny cloth tape that came unstuck throughout the night, and the instructions were that additional tape could not cover the light area. The second one I was given had a clothespin type clip over the entire tip of my finger which I was instructed to tape on securely. That one worked very well, without any slip-ups or alarms going off.

[Rob (UK)]

Thanks for your replies. I'm at work at the moment so don't so can't get a model number, but it is a Motorola device about the size of a small mobile phone which I attach to my wrist by a velcro strap and then I attach a finger clip (which has thin rubber flaps on either side). The device has an LCD screen which has a flashing bar for pulse and a reading for oxygen levels. It only has two buttons on one for power and another for a backlight.

cheers - Rob

[Slinky]

I'd opt for the poor sensor contact or low batteries as the reason for the beeping. Last guess would be a warning that you had desatted below 90%.

[Guest]

As it's Sunday I can't call the clinic and I have only one more night to get this right. Hopefully though they can let me have the kit for a bit longer. cheers - Rob

Most clinics in the US work Sun. - YOU are working Sun., right?

DME's handling o2 supplies will have a 24hr. on-call number.

I'm sure it's some Resmed finger thingy which prob alarms when you fall asleep

Be sure to tape securely to your finger.

[feeling_better]

Hi, I have just had my first appointment at a sleep clinic yesterday and they gave me a pulse oximeter to use for two nights (has to be back tomorrow) last night was a nightmare as the oximeter kept bleeping nearly everytime I fell asleep, thus waking me up.

My guess is the oximeter has been set to some sort of alert mode rather than just to measure through the night so as soon as my apnea starts I get bleeped. Would this sound right to you guys?

As it's Sunday I can't call the clinic and I have only one more night to get this right. Hopefully though they can let me have the kit for a bit longer.

cheers - Rob

I think that test should be done without any alerts. The oximeters I have tried has settings to turn the alerts off. In order test your normal pre-therapy condition as closely as possibly, it should simply recording siletly; waking you up by meter does disturb your normal rhythm. Since you were sleeping w/o any meter or cpap just prior to this oximeter study, there is no added risk in not warning you even if the oxygen level goes below some threshold such as 87%. Hope the doctor will allow you to redo with the alert turned off.