Home Blood Oxygen Meters?
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >that the principle effect of detecting mildly low oxygen levels in > >clinically stable asthmatics is to increase hospitalizations. > >– > I think this is exactly right, fill up a bed. > While the hospital that employs the ER doc certainly doesn’t mind the bed > being filled I think the ER doc is acting more from the medical culture that > says every abnormality must be found and treated and fear of litigation. The > damned things have become the standard of care with little validation. It > will be hard to put the genie back into the bottle. > — > CBI, MD
There also may be operant here what I call the Technological Imperative: If it can be done, it should be done. The Imperative controls the situation regardless of actual need. Larry Larry
Response:
> > Is there anything less expensive out there to monitor blood oxygen? The > last time I had mine checked was before I got treatment for my allergies > and asthma and it was 95% in the doctor’s office, a number they weren’t > too pleased with. > You can a completely self-contained fingertip model pulse oximeter for > $400 online, only proviso is you need a script to get one; try doing a > search on the Nonin Onyx 9500.
I found a site for airline pilots that will sell you the 9500 without a script (wink) for "professional use only." Try metacrawler if you’re interested.
Response:
> I’m not sure why they weren’t happy with the 95% number. It is normal.
My doctor told me that 98-100% was normal and 95% was low. They seemed to imply that I shouldn’t feel 100% OK if the number was a lot less than 100%, no pun intended. While perhaps they and I both overreacted to the 95% number, it and other information I received brought me to the realization that my breathing situation was _not_ normal and got me looking for, and receiving, help. > I’m > also not sure of what good the oxymeter will do for you since oxygen levels > don’t drop until relatively late in an attack – you will know you are in > trouble long before this.
I do not suffer from life-threatening asthma nor dehabilitating attacks. I have a fairly simple (in my mind, anyway) case of residual damage from a childhood filled with respiratory illnesses – Serevent for my lungs, Allegra for my allergies and I feel like I function as almost completely normal. I’m just curious to know if I measure that way now that I’ve found treatment that works for me. I bought a peak flow meter for $20 and was hoping that blood oxygen meters were similarly inexpensive. I guess I’ll go back to the doctor and have them measure me again. > In addition, the routine use of the oxymeter as a > "vital sign" is controversial. It has never been shown that detecting mildly > low oxygen levels in people who were otherwise clinically felt to be stable > enough to be treated as outpatients provides any benefit.
I don’t see how "detecting mildly low oxygen levels" of and unto itself could "provide any benefit" – it’s the treatment that provides the benefit, and knowing of my low numbers prompted me to seek treatment, a multi-year process of experimenting with medications under my doctor’s care that’s been nothing short of wonderfully successful for me. Well worth having the knowledge in my case. -S-
Response:
> I was hoping getting a blood oxygen meter would be inexpensive, like a > peak flow meter, but my local store told me they’re $800 and have to be > special ordered. > Is there anything less expensive out there to monitor blood oxygen? The > last time I had mine checked was before I got treatment for my allergies > and asthma and it was 95% in the doctor’s office, a number they weren’t > too pleased with. > Thanks in advance. > -S-
According to this link, a normal oxygen level [SaO2] is 94-100% at sea level. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003855.htm Blood Gases The finger clip on models can be purchased for around $400; they measure SaO2 and pulse rate. Links [commercial]: http://www.avweb.com/articles/oximeter.html Nonin Onyx Pulse Oximeter http://www.aeromedix.com/ http://www.aeromedix.com/products/pulseox/pox_avia.html some models FDA approved, some not Ellis
Response:
Thank you. -S- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I was hoping getting a blood oxygen meter would be inexpensive, like a > peak flow meter, but my local store told me they’re $800 and have to be > special ordered. > Is there anything less expensive out there to monitor blood oxygen? The > last time I had mine checked was before I got treatment for my allergies > and asthma and it was 95% in the doctor’s office, a number they weren’t > too pleased with. > Thanks in advance. > -S- > According to this link, a normal oxygen level [SaO2] > is 94-100% at sea level. > http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003855.htm > Blood Gases > The finger clip on models can be purchased for around $400; > they measure SaO2 and pulse rate. > Links [commercial]: > http://www.avweb.com/articles/oximeter.html > Nonin Onyx Pulse Oximeter > http://www.aeromedix.com/ > http://www.aeromedix.com/products/pulseox/pox_avia.html > some models FDA approved, some not > Ellis
Response:
steve, i’m interested in the Serevent, it’s strenght, type of pill ?big? little? and cost if you don’t mind .feel better. barbra
Response:
Serevent is inhaled. Two puffs twice a day is the usual dosage. I don’t know the cost – gets delivered from the local pharmacy, we have some sort of prescription plan, and I just pay whatever they tell me to at the end of the month. When I started using Serevent I completely stopped needing Albuterol/Proventil. -S- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > steve, i’m interested in the Serevent, it’s strenght, type of pill ?big? > little? and cost if you don’t mind .feel better. barbra
Response:
>that the principle effect of detecting mildly low oxygen levels in >clinically stable asthmatics is to increase hospitalizations. >–
I think this is exactly right, fill up a bed.
Response:
>that the principle effect of detecting mildly low oxygen levels in >clinically stable asthmatics is to increase hospitalizations. >– > I think this is exactly right, fill up a bed.
While the hospital that employs the ER doc certainly doesn’t mind the bed being filled I think the ER doc is acting more from the medical culture that says every abnormality must be found and treated and fear of litigation. The damned things have become the standard of care with little validation. It will be hard to put the genie back into the bottle. — CBI, MD
Response:
I was hoping getting a blood oxygen meter would be inexpensive, like a peak flow meter, but my local store told me they’re $800 and have to be special ordered. Is there anything less expensive out there to monitor blood oxygen? The last time I had mine checked was before I got treatment for my allergies and asthma and it was 95% in the doctor’s office, a number they weren’t too pleased with. Thanks in advance. -S-
Response:
> I was hoping getting a blood oxygen meter would be inexpensive, like a > peak flow meter, but my local store told me they’re $800 and have to be > special ordered. > Is there anything less expensive out there to monitor blood oxygen? The > last time I had mine checked was before I got treatment for my allergies > and asthma and it was 95% in the doctor’s office, a number they weren’t > too pleased with.
You can a completely self-contained fingertip model pulse oximeter for $400 online, only proviso is you need a script to get one; try doing a search on the Nonin Onyx 9500.
Response:
> I was hoping getting a blood oxygen meter would be inexpensive, like a > peak flow meter, but my local store told me they’re $800 and have to be > special ordered. > Is there anything less expensive out there to monitor blood oxygen? The > last time I had mine checked was before I got treatment for my allergies > and asthma and it was 95% in the doctor’s office, a number they weren’t > too pleased with.
When my office looked into getting one I’m sure we found them for less. I don’t believe you need a prescription to buy one. Try shopping around at different medical supply sources. I’m not sure why they weren’t happy with the 95% number. It is normal. I’m also not sure of what good the oxymeter will do for you since oxygen levels don’t drop until relatively late in an attack – you will know you are in trouble long before this. In addition, the routine use of the oxymeter as a "vital sign" is controversial. It has never been shown that detecting mildly low oxygen levels in people who were otherwise clinically felt to be stable enough to be treated as outpatients provides any benefit. (The use of oxymeters for monitoring sedation/anesthesia and in monitoring oxygen therapy in hospitalized patients – the intended uses of the machines- is another matter) Many doctors, especially older ones, point out that in the days before pulse oxymetry these patients would be sent home, apparently without ill effect. This is yet another example of technology that has been widely adopted prior to good studies and now is so firmly entrenched that it may never be adequately evaluated or discarded. A similar example, I fear, is labor monitors, which have been shown conclusively to do nothing more than increase the cesarean rate, yet, are still widely used due to fear of litigation. Along the same lines I suspect that the principle effect of detecting mildly low oxygen levels in clinically stable asthmatics is to increase hospitalizations. — CBI, MD
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