Oximeter Reviews/Recommendations?

[plr66]

I have scanned general references to oximeters here tonight until my eyes are bloodshot. Would find it incredibly helpful if all of you who own an oximeter could post a brief synopsis of the pros & cons of the make & model you own, and any features you either wish for, or find to be unnecessary for the expenditure. Technology changes so frequently that I believe responding regularly to such a question is not a waste of effort.

I personally am not particularly sophisticated in terms of comparing graph read-outs from different programs without help. But I am considering the purchase of an oximeter because although my AHI has for nearly 2 years remained stable and below 2.0, I am again beginning to yawn through the day and my memory seems to be declining again. Want to monitor whether my O2 level is responsible, and not clear about the best way to do this. Would surely appreciate any help you all can provide.

[Goofproof]

My choice was the CMS 50E, It works fine, not for exercise though. No batteries to buy, software does what I wanted. Cost not too high. I got it from http://www.pulseoxstore.com/Downloadable-Pulse-Ox.html shipping was fast and not overcharged for. Their website supports the produce. I feel with the wrist mounted unit, the probe could be replaced, but by using a probe you have one more failure point the cable hookup, and the cost of the probe may make just replacing the whole unit a good option. Jim

[Gerald]

I like the SPO-7500 from turnermedical.com. Good product....good software....price now $350.....I've had mine for over 2-years....and I'd buy the same product again....from the same company.

[FlyingB]

I just started using the CMS-50E. The software is pretty basic and not very intuitive. But you can't beat the price on a budget. It has told me what I wanted to know. I also have an SPO-CheckMate that I bought years ago for aviation use, but does not store or record the data.

[elena88]

I am very happy with my pulse oximeter, its super easy to use, sort if like an i phone, and easy to download.. easy to print the reports too!

all you do is plug it into your computer.. it has a graph for present time, or one you can record and download in the morning.. takes a few seconds.

http://www.pulseoxstore.com/Downloadabl ... anchor_109

[djr1215]

I have the CMS 50D from http://www.pulseoxstore.com. Had a bit of problem getting started (with instructions written by non-English speaking writers!) but Kevin Cooper at PulseOxStore was very helpful and now no problems. I just got my sister to use it this weekend. I printed out the reports for her and she took them to her nurse practitioner and she's now getting scheduled for a sleep study, though they were more concerned that her pulse rate stayed up and didn't drop down into a resting state.

[plr66]

Thanks for these responses, everyone! I work during the day, so was unable to respond until now. Any other recommendations/reviews are very welcome. I'm finding these briefs to be very helpful.

My choice was the CMS 50E, It works fine, not for exercise though. No batteries to buy, software does what I wanted. Cost not too high. I got it from http://www.pulseoxstore.com/Downloadable-Pulse-Ox.html shipping was fast and not overcharged for. Their website supports the produce. I feel with the wrist mounted unit, the probe could be replaced, but by using a probe you have one more failure point the cable hookup, and the cost of the probe may make just replacing the whole unit a good option. Jim

Thanks for your reminder about the CMS 50E, Jim. Sounds like you feel that you clearly get the data you need from this unit? Also, can you clarify a little about your last sentence above? I think you're comparing 50E to 50F, but I'm not sure of your main idea there.

I like the SPO-7500 from turnermedical.com. Good product....good software....price now $350.....I've had mine for over 2-years....and I'd buy the same product again....from the same company.

And Gerald, can you jot a note about why this one would be preferable to the much cheaper CMS50E? Hate to be tedious with questions, but I have no idea whether certain features are really important or just "over the top."

I just started using the CMS-50E. The software is pretty basic and not very intuitive. But you can't beat the price on a budget.

Thanks, FB--That's pretty straightforward. Does it tell you what you need to know for good therapy?

Elena, Can you explain why you chose the CMS 50F wrist model rather than the 50E?

I have the CMS 50D...Had a bit of problem getting started (with instructions written by non-English speaking writers!)

Yike--Is this a problem with all the instructions for CMS models? I am totally dependent upon written instructions when learning to use any electronic device.

[jonquiljo]

I use a CMS-50E, but I noticed this one at amazon.com the other day. http://www.amazon.com/Choicemmed-Oxywat ... 93&sr=8-31 The CMS 50E works great, but it is difficult to keep it on your finger all night. I tape it with gobs of tape and that works.

Amazon sells it and they usually don't sell junk unless you use one of the "sellers". But I haven't tried it nor have I heard anything about it.

[elena88]

Elena, Can you explain why you chose the CMS 50F wrist model rather than the 50E?

the finger probe on the F model is all rubber, and very light.. its very easy to tape to your finger, and I wanted the
screen to be on my wrist, like a watch.. I use a little sports tape and I tape the rubber to my finger on both sides, then a bit of tape
on my wrist, then I let the strap slide around.. and that keeps the probe very stable..

I really didnt think I could sleep with the wide profile probe on my finger very well..

[plr66]

Thanks, Elena. That's really helpful information.

[djr1215]

I have the CMS 50D...Had a bit of problem getting started (with instructions written by non-English speaking writers!)

Yike--Is this a problem with all the instructions for CMS models? I am totally dependent upon written instructions when learning to use any electronic device.

Well, that might have been just been me. But a quick email to Kevin Cooper got me straightened out.

[davecpap]

This post from another user convinced me to go with the wrist type model (the Contec CMS 50F) because he brings up a good point regarding the comfort level:

viewtopic/t56190/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50 ... 35#p517835

I picked up the Contec CMS 50F on eBay for $118.01, but it took a while waiting for the auction to end, then waiting for it to ship from Hong Kong. Afterwards I found this site selling it for $125 with free shipping:

http://www.door2doorshop.com/wholesale/ ... 0F-36.html

I've never heard of door2doorshop.com however. WARNING: Check out another user's experiences with door2doorshop.com prior to buying:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56811

Overall, I find the CMS 50F comfortable to use.. And there is a big user base on this forum for these Contec devices if you need help. The software is a little weird, but it does what I need.

[Goofproof]

Thanks for these responses, everyone! I work during the day, so was unable to respond until now. Any other recommendations/reviews are very welcome. I'm finding these briefs to be very helpful.

My choice was the CMS 50E, It works fine, not for exercise though. No batteries to buy, software does what I wanted. Cost not too high. I got it from http://www.pulseoxstore.com/Downloadable-Pulse-Ox.html shipping was fast and not overcharged for. Their website supports the product. I feel with the wrist mounted unit, the probe could be replaced, but by using a probe you have one more failure point the cable hookup, and the cost of the probe may make just replacing the whole unit a good option. Jim

Thanks for your reminder about the CMS 50E, Jim. Sounds like you feel that you clearly get the data you need from this unit? Also, can you clarify a little about your last sentence above? I think you're comparing 50E to 50F, but I'm not sure of your main idea there.

The CMS 50 E, does provide all the data I need, I got it to check on a problem I have with low energy, just to make sure low O2 wasn't the problem. It has shown me that O2 isn't my major problem, with that out of the way, I can try other things. I'm cutting back on my Lipitor, and increasing my Iron, that seems to be helping some, with my other health problems all of which can be blamed on not being able to walk far or do work. My Cholesterol levels were way down, lower than any of my heart doctors other patients, there's a side effect on Lipitor like my results, so I am cutting the dose down to 3/4 or maybe half. It seems to be helping a small bit, will take blood test next month to check levels again.

As far as the unit with the separate finger unit, anything that can be replaced provides another connection to fail, plus replacements parts are usually priced higher, and the startup cost is higher too. I figure if mine fails, I can probably get a new one for about the same price as the repair on the 50 D model.

I don't see a problem installing the software, I downloaded the software v0.89 from the web sight and all the manuals and never had a problem installing it and getting it to work. I did loose the first nights data due to setting the device wrong, poor eyes, makes it hard to see, after that no problems. Mine stays on all night without taping, but I do wake up every few hours and push it on farther, I flop around in bed a lot.

It will not read, while doing exercise, it's for checking with milder movement and resting, as said before I have trouble moving anyway, I only good for one flight of stairs or 100 feet, whichever comes first then I need to catch my wind. Jim

[plr66]

This post from another user convinced me to go with the wrist type model (the Contec CMS 50F) because he brings up a good point regarding the comfort level:

viewtopic/t56190/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50 ... 35#p517835

OMG, dave,after reading this entire thread you noted above, I am actually really discouraged about how complicated and troublesome the CMS oximeters seem to be in terms of software readouts. I am still wondering why so much attention is given to these units on this forum, and so little focus on the many others that seem to be available. I cannot spend more than a couple of hundred dollars on an oximeter, do not need bells & whistles, as I so far have no other complicating medical conditions to monitor...but I would love to hear about any units that are straightforward, reliable, accurate, and have software that is clear & easy to understand. Any such animals exist??

[davecpap]

OMG, dave,after reading this entire thread you noted above, I am actually really discouraged about how complicated and troublesome the CMS oximeters seem to be in terms of software readouts. I am still wondering why so much attention is given to these units on this forum, and so little focus on the many others that seem to be available. I cannot spend more than a couple of hundred dollars on an oximeter, do not need bells & whistles, as I so far have no other complicating medical conditions to monitor...but I would love to hear about any units that are straightforward, reliable, accurate, and have software that is clear & easy to understand. Any such animals exist??

People on this forum like the contec units because they are affordable, recordable, generate reports, relatively reliable. I wouldn't read too much into the rest of that thread - they're discussing the technical details of how the contec units store the collected data. I think its a benefit that the contec units store their data in a non-proprietary format so folks like gvz can develop their own applications to manipulate the data.