recommendations for a recording oximeter

I would like to hear from those who use a recording oximeter and was it useful in fine tuning your apnea treatment? I have a finger oximeter and get reading in the middle 90's (94/95) and have COPD. Used to smoke, but quit 30+ years ago.

I am sure members will tell you of good experiences with oximeters and they are truthful. However, your profile doesn't indicate that you have the software and card reader to monitor your CPAP therapy. That should be a priority for you. Get it and make sure your therapy is effective before considering an oximeter.

If you get the oximeter first, you may see oxygen desats and not know why they occur and what to do about them. Software/reader should be purchased first. It may help you tweak your CPAP process to the point you don't feel an oximeter is necessary.

I have been thinking about getting a recording oximeter too. I did find a cheap recording oximeter at http://www.Facelake.com
They have the CMS50D for $59.95 I believe it comes with a data cable and software. I know nothing else about it.

rbtgjns, since your suffering from COPD, Oximeter can be really beneficial.

You can contact your DME and borrow one for a few days and get a feel for how it works. Your Doctor might have to approve, but to purchase you don't need a script.

A few weeks ago I purchased a CMS-60D. Tons of reviews on this web site and I'm extremely pleased with it. Just do a search on the cpaptalk.com web site 'CMS-60D'.

One of the ways I've used the CMS-60D in the past few days:

I'm sick and very clogged up. Almost impossible to use CPAP Therapy. I wear the CMS-60D all night and day while sleeping. I set the alarm function to go off when saturation falls below 90%. Heart rate can be set at the same time.

Interesting experience waking up to the alarm and your 'Code Blue'. Rubbing your eyes and asking yourself, am I dead??

Anyway, my Mother has COPD. She is 83 years old and smoked since she was 13. She hasn't touched a cigarette in the past two or three years. At the Doctor's office, she tested at 97-99% saturation after running. I don't know how she does it and the Oximeter was of no interest to her She's a miracle!!

Everybody has their own specific needs for DME equipment. A more expensive Oximeter might be worth it, considering your health needs. All the way around, $200, CMS-60D fits all my needs and works well.

Good luck,

SG

Woody wrote:I have been thinking about getting a recording oximeter too. I did find a cheap recording oximeter at http://www.Facelake.com
They have the CMS50D for $59.95 I believe it comes with a data cable and software. I know nothing else about it.

Woody, That sounds too good to be true. And it isn't true. That model will only do spot checks and is not compatible with a data cable and software.

The cheapest model on that website that does come with cable and software sells for $240.

Anyway, I stick by my advice that the OP should buy CPAP software and card reader first. He first needs to see how things are going such as mask leak, apneas, hypopneas, snores, and pressure. Without this data, he may knowingly have an ineffective treatment. A decision about an oximeter can be revisited after he is satisfied with the effectiveness of his CPAP treatment.

Anyway, I stick by my advice that the OP should buy CPAP software and card reader first.

Rooster Ditto!!

Thanks,

SG

The CMS Model 50-E Pulse Oximeter sales for $129. I have a good experience with it. It records data for 24 hours and downloads to computer. I used to monitor my asthma as well.

http://www.semedicalsupply.com/cms-50e.htm

elg5cats

SuperGeeky wrote:
One of the ways I've used the CMS-60D in the past few days:

I'm sick and very clogged up. Almost impossible to use CPAP Therapy. I wear the CMS-60D all night and day while sleeping. I set the alarm function to go off when saturation falls below 90%. Heart rate can be set at the same time.

Interesting experience waking up to the alarm and your 'Code Blue'. Rubbing your eyes and asking yourself, am I dead??
SG

Do you use a FF Mask. I've found a FF Mask with coughing and mouth breathing due to congestion helps with CPAP use during illness. I don't like K-mart's Blue Light specials when I'm sleeping.

Do you use a FF Mask. I've found a FF Mask with coughing and mouth breathing due to congestion helps with CPAP use during illness. I don't like K-mart's Blue Light specials when I'm sleeping.

I asked the Doctor to prescribe FF, he wouldn't do it. And, he was a very very qualified Sleep Doc. I never questioned his judgement.

One of my theories of why, surface area of contact is greater with FF leading to more opportunities for leaks. Is it comfortable??

I'm sure if I were a Severe Sufferer of OSA, he would have scripted it in a heart beat. Just a thought....


Sleep well,

SG

Some have said on this Forum that Oximeters are a waste of money. After a few nights, you discover everything is fine. Oxygen Saturation is not a worry. Let's put it up for Auction....

When the price falls to $200 for a solid Oximeter, I think it's worth the peace of mind. Having the Grim Reaper visit in the middle of the night a few times can create some paranoia.

Though my sleep efficiency was fine this past titration, I've always been skeptical of past CPAP settings and how effectively the machine was arresting apnea. I was waking up too fatigued and brained fogged.

Oximeter helps me understand the effectiveness of my therapy. The way the Health Care debate is going with our Govt, I think I'll be able to titrate myself in the future. I don't take anything for granted these days!!

Take care,

SG

elg5cats: Do you use a FF Mask. I've found a FF Mask with coughing and mouth breathing due to congestion helps with CPAP use during illness. I don't like K-mart's Blue Light specials when I'm sleeping.

SuperGeeky: I asked the Doctor to prescribe FF, he wouldn't do it. And, he was a very very qualified Sleep Doc. I never questioned his judgement. One of my theories of why, surface area of contact is greater with FF leading to more opportunities for leaks. Is it comfortable?? I'm sure if I were a Severe Sufferer of OSA, he would have scripted it in a heart beat. Just a thought....SG

I find the FF Mask to be more comfortable than my nasal mask. I was opposed to a FF mask in the beginning as I did not like the idea of sleeping with my mouth and nose covered. Seemed like a suffocating image to me. I elected to experiment and get a FF Mask. I immediately found it to be very comfortable and not suffocating. I now prefer the FF Mask to the nasal mask!! With my horrific illness this week, there's no way I could have used my nasal mask and am impressed with the ability to use FF mask with illness. Monitoring my 02 because of asthma, my 02 sats are less than normal with periods of desats on APAP. See below link!!!! I don't understand your doctor's opposition to a FF mask......seems like the surface to cover would be all breathing surfaces.....nose and mouth, where body leaks hinder treatment!!!!

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af11 ... hH1N-1.jpg

elg5cats

SuperGeeky wrote: .....
I asked the Doctor to prescribe FF, he wouldn't do it. And, he was a very very qualified Sleep Doc. I never questioned his judgement.

One of my theories of why, surface area of contact is greater with FF leading to more opportunities for leaks. Is it comfortable??

I'm sure if I were a Severe Sufferer of OSA, he would have scripted it in a heart beat. Just a thought....


Sleep well,

SG

The requirement for a full face mask is not related to the severity level. A full face mask is required if you breathe or leak air through your mouth. When you mouthbreathe/leak with a nasal device, your therapeutic pressure is lost and your apnea will not be treated properly.

SuperGeeky wrote: ........Though my sleep efficiency was fine this past titration, I've always been skeptical of past CPAP settings and how effectively the machine was arresting apnea. I was waking up too fatigued and brained fogged.

Oximeter helps me understand the effectiveness of my therapy. .....
SG

SG, Sorry, I don't understand your main point. With the oximeter, did you find periods of desaturation when your CPAP software was showing no respiratory events?

Or are you just saying that seeing a good saturation level on the oximeter report is motivating? That I can understand.

On self-titration, it is the way to go. You have many nights to do it in your own bedroom under the conditions of your normal sleep. The sleep lab just has one night to get it right in a strange environment very different from the way you normally sleep.

Regards,

Ok let's see if I can clarify: If the mask has a greater circumference with greater probability to leak, to me a nasal mask is better.

Example, if I'm tossing and turning, greater surface area can open up and leak. Whereas, if I'm taping (which I do) and tossing and turning with a nasal mask, I'm less likely to have greater leaks.

Just a theory...


P.S. CPAP PRO has an absolute rock bottom leak ratio.... Relative to the other masks, I couldn't honestly state the benefits..

Other than, less leakage is good in any case with any mask

thanks,

SG

SG, Sorry, I don't understand your main point. With the oximeter, did you find periods of desaturation when your CPAP software was showing no respiratory events?

Rooster, I did have one instance where the alarm went off, desat was 80% and heart rate was low. I tried to match it with an apnea on my Encore Report. I think my finger slipped. Though, it was startling to wake up to...

I haven't seen any correlation between events on Encore Reports and significant events on the Oximeter Data. To me, that's great news and wonderful peace of mind.

Thanks for confirmation on titration. I agree..

I too have asthma, I think the uses of the Oximeter are boundless. Bottom line, the Oximeter is what it's all about

P.S. Rooster, thanks for your beneficial postings... That goes for everybody else too

Take care,

SG