Anyone using the Nonin 9600 Pulse Oximeter

I asked Apria for a pulse ox machine with an alarm. They brought me a new
9600. With the software.

Is anyone else using the 9600? I reset the parameters to my own needs, so I guess I will have a babysitter. Drop below 90 and it will let me know.

Are there are any problems with the unit?

I am glad to find you back at home from your trip
and it sounds like you hit paydirt with the pulse ox
I looked on turner site and this is a very good package
I take it that it is Hospitial grade equipment. I hope it serves you well
as well as the peace of mind of the alarm. keep me informed about your
results. If you got the Nonin software it is what a lot of dme and
sleep Dr use to screen with.. It will give graphs over time
and let you see where you stand.

Allen

Ablong,
thanks for verifying the quality of the Nonin 9600.

I am still in Denver. After the heart surgery last week the Cardiologist wanted me to wait a week before driving. And my wife doesn't like to drive, so we are waiting. Plus they wanted to inspect the incisions, make sure nothing is wrong,

So we have a long trip ahead of us. Drive a day, rest a day is the plan. I forget the milage, but Denver to Sacramento will be about 8-10 days I guess. Unless I get to feeling really good.

I have my Prednisone with me, I can take it and breathe really well, thereby having a lot more energy. Except on the trip over, it didn't work that way. I had forgot about that. Hmmm. I forgot to tell the doctors about that. They will send me a complete report in about 3 weeks.

What a simple test to find out if you have a problem in your heart. I am still amazed. All the RTs can educate the doctors you might work with.
Do an MRI or was it a CT Scan with contrast? Can't remember one from another, they did so many, but that showed a bunch of dots on the film. Their people figured out that was the damaged/diseased small airways, so I am on Qvar 80 twice a day with the AeroChamber Z-Stat Plus. It will take a few months to determine if my small airways are inflamed or damaged.
The echocardiagram with agitated saline did the rest.

Breathing problems? Their speech pathologist told me to inhale through my nose for one second, then exhale thru pursed lips for 3 seconds. They said this simulates (somewhat) the action of a CPAP. When we take huge breaths, like after running, our airways inflate and then collapse. I forget the reasoning behind it, but that isn't good, at least for me. By breathing with this technique (and 30mg of Oxycodone to keep my lower back and hip quiet) I was able to do the treadmill stress test for 11 minutes. I usually run out of air in a short period of time, followed by a lot of pain in my back.

Vocal Cords - - RTs know the primary function of vocal cords is to protect the lungs, speech is a secondary function. When they explained it like that, I understood why my vocal cords were so easily effected by acid reflux. I have pretty bad GERD. No one wants acid in their lungs, so my vocal cords slam shut until the emergency is over. I was having GERD attacks at night when I slept on my right side, but when the doctor told me to switch to my left side, the attacks stopped. The stomach acid can't flow uphill.

Quite a trip. Never spent a month doing medical tests before. Then again, very few of have done that. At least, I hope no one else on the forum has done that. BUT if you have a breathing problem, even if you don't have any money, call them. They will treat you for free if necessary.

In summary, the walls of the building aren't made of gold, but their staff is.
Nicest people I have ever worked with. When they are doing a procedure that may hurt, they will do everything possible to lower the pain level. Including getting another tech who is better at doing the dreaded ABG tests.

dllfo, thank you so much for sharing your experience w/National Jewish. It is so good to hear you sounding so good!

Is the Nonin temporary or permanent? A purchase or a rental? Is your insurance covering it or are you having to pay for it.

Nonin is considered one of the top three oximeter makers in the country: I think it is BC and then SPO is the other of the top three.

What version of software does the 9600 use?

I wouldn't be in any hurry to rush back to sac, it has been hotter in the 105-F range the last few days.

Slinky, I have the software. I will try to PM you or email you with the unusual circumstances behind it. The 9600 is mine for good as far as I know. The reasons are boring, but it ties into my brain not - - reacting to the low pulse ox. At a pulse ox of 60 my brain had not told me to breathe harder, etc. so now, I will use a pulse ox machine set at 90 for the drive home. But I really think the main obstacle to my brain compliance is the morphine I am on.

After I get home, I need to see what all this machine can do. As I said, I do have the software, I downloaded it, but have not had time to use it.

I come back here in 6 months, for more testing. I have to carry a card now, saying I having a metal thing in my heart. I think it has nickel in it, so I can still do an MRI. I hope. Hmmmm. I had BETTER find out. I emailed the company..AGA for more info. The booklet we got did not cover all of our questions.

Snoredog,
I know it is hot back there, but we have some things we have to take care of. 1200 miles in about ten days I figure. Drive a day, rest a day.

Thank you, dllfo. I will look forward to it.

Hey, a long drive, good idea on traveling/resting alternate days. Gives you the chance to enjoy some beautiful scenery too.

We were always ones to "drive straight thru". Always had a station wagon, one slept, one drove.

FINALLY, have matured to where we can "enjoy" a trip, take the time to stop and smell the roses. (Meaning the bladder doesn't last as long, the joints tend to lock up and the muscles stiffen up if we don't stop every couple of hours during the day and stop for the evening early enough to eat a good meal and get a decent, clean room at a reasonable price).

There's some BEAUTIFUL country between Michigan and Maine, including from time to time, thru parts of Ontaria and Quebec