Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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DH has severe lung disease. I have reason to think that he is suffering from drops in his oxygen saturation at times, but it never does it in the doctor's office. He uses O2 at night and recently did a night study to find out that--duh! he needs o2 at night.
the things I'm noticing most are his propensity to get confused over the smallest things. We can have a conversation and 1 hour later he would swear on his father's grave that we never talked. I write down just about anything that matters. In simple sentences. He hasn't gotten confused while driving, so far.
DH requires at least one 2-hour nap per day to "reboot", and many times he needs two naps. He uses his oxygen during naps. But even with naps and coffee( he drinks several cups of espresso throughout the day) he can't seem to think straight. The smallest things set him off and he has no capacity to multi-task. This was a man who regularly took on corporate attorneys and ate their lunch! And he's having trouble holding his own with our 22yo son!
Since our insurance is never going to pay for this, I was wondering if there is a vendor for oxygen saturation monitors. I'd just like to know if this is caused by hypoxia or if something more sinister is going on.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
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PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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I don't know if I'd consider not understanding a 22 year old son as a problem.....I don't understand mine either!! LOL!
My wife has severe lung disease also (COPD), and we haven't done the night study yet, but plan to soon.
We had a similar thought regarding the Oxygen intake...and I did a google search for the finger tip readers (like what the hospitals use)
n-US fficial&client=firefox-a">Google....I think this will work!
good Luck!!
DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris
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Rocky2
Ventura, Ca.
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Joined: 01/14/2004
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You may have more than one issue present here. First, oxygen saturation can be measured by an oximeter. Hospital versions cost several hundred dollars. I got one for my wife on the internet for $60. I may be wrong but it is my understanding that the confusion issue may be more a carbon dioxide issue. Carbon dioxide can build up, oxygen I do not thing will. In any event, a pulmonologist or respitory therapist may answer this.
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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There is a gadget you hook to your finger and leave on for 24 hours. It graphs oxygen level for entire period and stores it for readout later (so I was told)My wife had that done, ordered by doctor. That way insurance paid. Result was she is now on oxygen 24x7.
IMO if you want an oximeter, Google American Discount Medical. We got ours there, along with other things. Service and prices are excellent we think.
Chuck
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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I got my CPAP machines off of E-Bay. This type of equipment if not rented winds up in the closet most often. Finding it is the hard part.
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dllfo
Sacramento, CA
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1. SPO 5500 Pulse Ox (new) for around $150. I bought myself one. It
is placed over the end of the first finger, turned on and it gives
you oxygen levels and heart rate.
2. I had several of the same symptoms and I needed a PFO. I had a
hole between the left and right atrials, causing oxygen desat
blood to mix with oxygen enriched blood. I was lucky I did not
have a stroke.
3. I sleep with oxygen also...and he probably needs some form of CPAP
or BiPAP machine. A sleep study could save his life. I have had
two sleep studies and it uncovered a life threatening disease I
did not know I had. Now I am aware of it and with the help of my
wife, our youngest adult daughter and my medic alert dog I am
doing ok.
4. The sleep study is inconvenient, a pain in the rear, but
necessary.
5. I would recommend you find a Pulmonologist in your area, go see
him and don't take a chance.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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dllfo wrote:1. SPO 5500 Pulse Ox (new) for around $150. I bought myself one. It
is placed over the end of the first finger, turned on and it gives
you oxygen levels and heart rate.
2. I had several of the same symptoms and I needed a PFO. I had a
hole between the left and right atrials, causing oxygen desat
blood to mix with oxygen enriched blood. I was lucky I did not
have a stroke.
3. I sleep with oxygen also...and he probably needs some form of CPAP
or BiPAP machine. A sleep study could save his life. I have had
two sleep studies and it uncovered a life threatening disease I
did not know I had. Now I am aware of it and with the help of my
wife, our youngest adult daughter and my medic alert dog I am
doing ok.
4. The sleep study is inconvenient, a pain in the rear, but
necessary.
5. I would recommend you find a Pulmonologist in your area, go see
him and don't take a chance.
I agree professional help is in order based on the OP. I skipped the sleep study due to time and cost and got my CPAP machines off of EBay. It saved my life I am sure and restored my mental clarity (depending on who you ask).
I know one guy who had a heart attack due to sleep apnea not being treated.
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Bigburd
Tennessee
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Joined: 12/07/2006
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Chock Full o' Nuts if your husband has restless sleep, stops breathing, snores severly at night have him go for a sleep study. Sleep aphnea will have the same symptoms. Go to cpaptalk.com for more info.
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javaseuf
Oxnard
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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I have purchased two used pulse-oximeters from eBay and have had no trouble.
On a used machine, just expect to replace the battery if the unit has this feature. The price was around $100.00 for the Nellco bed-side units.
There are spot-check units available that are self-contained and clip on the finger but these aren't designed for continued monitoring.
We now have three Nellcor bed-side units. One for the RV, one for the wheelchair van and one for home.
Because our doctor wrote us a prescription for one, insurance covered the cost of a new machine.
* This post was
edited 10/09/08 12:24am by javaseuf *
Steve
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jim & pat
avenel nj
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Joined: 06/27/2006
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he may be at a point were he needs o2 24/7 with a bi pap at night. he's got to start seeing a lung doctor.
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