Pulse-Oxy meter

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:38 pm

I have been on O2 for a year now. I really feel that I don't need it as I don't have any lung problems as far as I know or have been told. When I had my sleep study I was down and from a 4 day stay in the hospital. My DME does not have a pulse-oxy meter at all. My doc has one shared by 4 docs in the group but it is not a recording type and they don't rent or loan it. I have called two other DMEs and when I asked to rent one it seems like I have opened a huge can of worms. I told them I would pay to rent it out of pocket. One said the would not rent it unless I would go through their RT's program (More money than I want to pay out of pocket). The other said they would have to have doctors orders and would have to have clearance from ther corpotrate office and would have nothing to do with reading it. (What good is if if I can't get it read, Said it was some kind of law that prevented them from reading because it would be construded as medical advise) Both wanted a script before doing anything. Script is not a problem, I have already talked to my doc.

Any one know of a place online where I can rent one for a couple of nights. I am just about to the point of returning my oxygen concentrator and going without any proof that I don't need it.

I have one last chance, I will call the sleep center that did my sleep study and ask them but I really don't have much hope there. I'm almost sure they would require a new sleep study and I am not going to go through that again.

Jerry

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:44 pm

Don't have any ideas but am wishing you lots of luck!!!

Hope you are able to find one to rent or use!!

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:20 pm

Jerry did you ask the supplier of your oxygen equipment if they have one for you to use. Seems like that would be in line with their business to check out if their equipment is doing its job. My opinion only. Jim

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:50 pm

Yea Jim, they were the first one I asked. They told me they did not have one, no further discussion.

Jerry

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:51 pm

Sounds like renting a Pulse/Ox is a hassle for you. I found it to be the same for me.......so, I bought my own. I've got about $480 invested in it......and it's already paid for itself a couple of times.

My honey used it for about 30-days.....and discovered that her apneas were more numerous than mine. She only had a "suspicion" that she might have SDB....but had no proof. The Pulse/Ox did its job.....and she proved to herself that she needed to join me in the "hose-head club". She's been on the hose for a couple of months now....and is doing fine.

My neighbor used it for another month.....and he's now a hose-head. He just reported that he's doing much better.

I get to use it occasionally......just to be sure my therapy is still effective.

So, the bottom-line for all this....if you can possibly afford it, buy your own. Sidestep the hassle.....and "git-'er-done".

Gerald

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LavenderMist · Post by **LavenderMist** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:03 pm

I don't know if this would help or not, but I had remembered seeing it when I was looking for something else.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/digita ... lseox.html

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:23 pm

That one doesn't record anything. A recording oximeter used to cost around $750 I don't know if they've come down much or not. The reason you need a record of your sat. level is because it will be at the low point while you're asleep.

I haven't seen one at cpap.com either that I recall. later...jim

KAZ · Post by **KAZ** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:26 pm

Interesting, when I would get the test in the doctors office it would be 92%, and then it would drop at night during my sleep study. They did an overnight at home with a recording meter provided by Lincare which showed that it did in fact drop overnight below 90%. After 90 days on cpap plus weight loss/exercise I had a doctors office check and it was 98%. Three months later on a regular doctor visit I had the same result,98%. So, my doc ordered another overnight test and it never went below 90% and I was able to get rid of the O2 concentrator. My point is, what do you get in the doctor's office test? I realize that it does not replace the overnight test, but it does seem to have some relationship. Regards

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Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:50 pm

This doesn't make sense to me. Who is paying for this 02 concentrator? You, out of pocket or insurance? It is true that a script is needed for an overnight oximetry. 02 cannot be supplied w/o a script as it is considered a medical need. The providing company does have to send it out for insurance purposes for the original script. Other than that, whilst a script is again required they can do the printout themselves unless they don't have the software to do so.

What insurance company is going to pay some $400 a month for oxygen equipment if need hasn't been established? My family doctor just called in a script for my overnight oximetry to a local DME supplier such as Lincare (or whoever your insurance has contracted with). When I insisted that the CPAP didn't feel sufficient, my sleep lab sent me home w/an overnight oximeter and I'm not sure if they did the printout or if they sent it out.

Someone, somewhere is handing you a pile of horsepuckies or you must live in some tiny town out in the middle of nowhere. I cannot conceive of a oxygen supply company not being able to provide overnight oximetry!! And cost shouldn't run more than free to $65.

The ONLY problem I see is that you've expressed the desire to do several nights of overnight oximetry. I've not known of any doing more than just one night of overnight oximetry.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:14 pm

Slinky, Medicare and BCBS is paying for the concentrator. The 2 ltrs of O2 was specified on my sleep study but it was a split night study and I had just come directly from 4 days in the hospital where the last night my heart stopped or studdered 6 times during the night mostly from me not breathing. The sleep tech almost did not let me stay for the study when he found out, finally let me stay only if my wife would not leave the premices (If I had known I would have walked out, Yea I'm stubborn and at that time still in denial). I still think the O2 was a precaution thing because of my condition at the time.

I'm not in that small a place (Bryan/College Station, Texas, Home of the Texas Aggies) just seem to have a monopoly on crappy DMEs. I really hate to spend $500 out of pocket(I don't think medicare or BCBS will pay for it) just to get out from under the O2. It is costing me very little between medicare and BCBS my out of pocket cost is less than $100 a year.

I may just have to turn it off for a week or so and see if I can tell any difference if I can't work something out. One night would be fine. Did not know how much data my doc needed.

Jerry

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ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:50 am

How about telling your oxygen suppliers that you're switching to an oxygen supplier that does have a pulse oxymeter? And then, either you still need the oxygen, or you don't but at least you're in touch with a more serious company....

O.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:55 am

Jerry, I also am insured under Medicare as primary and BC/BS as secondary. My overnight oximetries, off and on CPAP, have been covered and not cost me a cent. My family doctor scripted an overnight oximetry on CPAP late last fall.

Either no one is being truthful w/you, or there is some variation in Medicare coverage between our states (I'm in Michigan) or our different Dx's as the reason for the overnight 02 supplementation have some bearing.

I'd be inclined to do some snooping; get a copy of the sleep/titration study's full data summary report, doctor's dictated report, CPAP "and" 02 supplementation equipment order/script to see what the Dx'ing code for the 02 supplementation is and then I'd follow up by checking w/Medicare about overnight oximetry based on that code. Those codes have to be included on the script provided to the DME supplier. There is just no way that overnight 02 can be scripted without an overnight oximetry as proof of need in a situation like yours.

Even in my situation, having COPD, 02 could not be scripted w/o an overnight oximetry to establish need. As time progressed PFTs and ABGs were needed to establish the need for daytime 02 supplementation. The stories you are being fed just don't hold up w/my experience and similar insurance coverages.

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:19 am

Can anyone recommend the best recording oximeter for home use (best device for best price)?

Thanks!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:44 am

Price wise, new: the SPO 7500 wrist recording oximeter. Comes w/its own software and cable to download the info to your 'puter for evaluation. Can also be used for "spot checks" thru out the day.

Last I checked you could still buy new and used recording oximeters on e-Bay. But - keep in mind you need the finger sensor clip, the cables, the software, etc. and few of the "hospital-quality" recording oximeters offered are complete in that respect. You have to know what you need and want.

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:01 am

So, is this the one (seeing an "H" after the model number)? If so, that's not too bad, $250, including the software & cable.
http://www.med1online.com/ps-14370-470- ... spo%207500
EDIT: For new readers, note that this $250 device was posted by the company in error, has since been corrected, so this link now goes to the non-recording/no software version of the device.
One could purchase this, use it for a week, and then sell it at cpapauction.com and probably spend less than a week long rental fee--and, no DME to deal with!

(Could wear it while I'm doing this, too!)

Pulse-Oxy meter

Pulse-Oxy meter

Oximeter

O2