Oximeter-Not really sure why I bought it?

[ShelaghDB]

Oximeter. Purchased one and it arrived today.
Pulse Oximeter CMS501

Now I am looking at it, I am kind of stumped as to why I purchased this.
I hear its good but not really sure i need this.
But now I have it, trying to figure it out.

1) Comes with a CD. A tiny one if that makes a difference. I don't use DVD drives in my MacBooks but can dig one up IF I REALLY need this cd.
Anyone know if its necessary or just redundant information. Or would it be software I must use?
I was under the impression that i only had to import whatever it is this records into Sleepyhead?

2) Says not to use for more than 2 hours? I was under the impression I had to sleep nightly with this. Assuming i might be wrong?

3) MUST I REALLY remove the manicure to do this? Or will it not work properly or is that just a story without merit? /sighs

4) Being that i haven't ever tested the oxygen in my blood, why is it i am doing this? I read something that said you do to test if you have Sleep APNEA and if it registers that you do, thats when the sleep study comes in next. Cant say I remember it happening that way but perhaps it did.


TIA

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I think it would be kind of cool to have and know, if there is reporting software like Sleepyhead or Rescarn. Can it hook into the S9 to record and correlate to events?

OMM

[ShelaghDB]

I hope you aren't asking me that question? LOL

You will have to wait for someone else to respond

[archangle]

1) Comes with a CD. A tiny one if that makes a difference. I don't use DVD drives in my MacBooks but can dig one up IF I REALLY need this cd.
Anyone know if its necessary or just redundant information. Or would it be software I must use?
I was under the impression that i only had to import whatever it is this records into Sleepyhead?

I don't think that software works on Mac. I believe that the soon to be released updated SleepyHead software will be able to use the pulseox on Macs.

2) Says not to use for more than 2 hours? I was under the impression I had to sleep nightly with this. Assuming i might be wrong?

I think they're concerned about cutting off the circulation or some such. Many of us have used them all night long.

Normally, you'd only only use the pulseox occasionally as a test or when you're trying to figure out problems with your therapy.

3) MUST I REALLY remove the manicure to do this? Or will it not work properly or is that just a story without merit?

The pulseox works by shining two different kinds of light through your finger. If your nail polish blocks the wavelength of light used, it won't work. It might work with one type of nail polish or stick on nails, and not with others.

4) Being that i haven't ever tested the oxygen in my blood, why is it i am doing this? I read something that said you do to test if you have Sleep APNEA and if it registers that you do, thats when the sleep study comes in next. Cant say I remember it happening that way but perhaps it did.

Sleep apnea can cause a drop of O2 in your blood. It's one of the most harmful aspects of untreated apnea. If you check your O2, it can give you a good idea that you need to adjust your CPAP or look for other problems.

However there is an important point to remember, and that's that some people with severe apnea never show O2 desats, but do suffer considerable harm from their apnea.

Do you NEED one? If you have a good data capable CPAP machine, check your data, have good numbers, and don't have problems, you don't need it that much. If you're trying to figure out problems, it can be a big help. If you got stuck with a dataless brick machine, it's a good check.

[ShelaghDB]

I don't think that software works on Mac. I believe that the soon to be released updated SleepyHead software will be able to use the pulseox on Macs.

Great...LOL....I bought it specifically on someones advice who knew I was using a mac.
Thankfully I DO have a brand new Windows Laptop but never use it and was just about to list it for sale on Craigslist.
Guess I will have to keep it now so its great that i found this out before ridding myself of it LOL

Thanks........that would have been the icing on the cake

Do you NEED one? If you have a good data capable CPAP machine, check your data, have good numbers, and don't have problems, you don't need it that much. If you're trying to figure out problems, it can be a big help. If you got stuck with a dataless brick machine, it's a good check.

Going to have to obviously do my own research from here on in and back up whatever advice given. Thank you for giving me the truth on this.
So I now realize it was a bad purchase and i didn't need it at all.
I was never told that it had those results, or lack thereof on severe sleep apnea.

Yes, it seems I won't need it after all as I have all my numbers sorted out and am happy with my AHI numbers, etc.



ONE QUESTION if you don't mind?
You say that those with Sleep Apnea thats severe never show O2 desats.
BUT IF that same person (me) has got their API under 5 and sleeps on their back and did so during the test so isn't at all sure IF they would be considered severe IF the sleep test had had them sleep on their side, etc...............DOES that still qualify me as having SEVERE sleep apnea in a manner that would still mean it would never show 02 desats?

That will be the defining answer on whether i just post it for sale on Craigslist.........its not sounding from what you tell me that i need this at all ;(

Thank you though for explaining that so well.....now I know. Even if it isn't good news.

[PsychoMike]

Shelagh,

Archangle mentioned that *some* folks with severe apnea don't desat....but a lot do. The pulse oxymeters are a great tool for the right purpose...when coupled with the information you get from your machine (if it's not a brick), it can help with solutions if you're having problems.

Is it a "need?"...probably not. Is it useful? ...depends on what you're using it for. Should you hold on to it? ....only you can answer that one.

[me50]

I don't think that software works on Mac. I believe that the soon to be released updated SleepyHead software will be able to use the pulseox on Macs.

Great...LOL....I bought it specifically on someones advice who knew I was using a mac.
Thankfully I DO have a brand new Windows Laptop but never use it and was just about to list it for sale on Craigslist.
Guess I will have to keep it now so its great that i found this out before ridding myself of it LOL

Thanks........that would have been the icing on the cake

WELL, NOT ALL OF US KNOW WHAT OXIMETER WILL BE PURCHASED AND IF THEY WILL WORK ON A MAC, ETC. WE PRESUME THAT THE END USER WILL ASK IF IT WILL WORK WITH THEIR DEVICE. MAYBE THE CD YOU GOT IS TO LOAD THE SOFTWARE ON YOUR COMPUTER OR WHATEVER DEVICE YOU WANT TO USE AND THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO SEE YOUR RESULTS. CAN YOU SEE ANY RESULTS ON A DISPLAY? I KNOW THAT DOESN'T HELP YOU SEE IF IT MATCHES WITH ISSUES DURING THE SLEEP PERIOD AS WELL AS IF THE RESULTS COULD BE DOWNLOADED INTO SLEEPY HEAD OR RESCAN.

Do you NEED one? If you have a good data capable CPAP machine, check your data, have good numbers, and don't have problems, you don't need it that much. If you're trying to figure out problems, it can be a big help. If you got stuck with a dataless brick machine, it's a good check.

Going to have to obviously do my own research from here on in and back up whatever advice given. Thank you for giving me the truth on this.

I AM PRETTY SURE THAT NOBODY TOLD YOU AN UNTRUTH AND IT DOESN'T HURT TO CHECK YOUR SATS IF THERE IS AN INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. YOU HAVE HAD A HARD TIME WITH YOUR THERAPY AND MASK/CONGESTION, ETC., SO HAVING AN OXIMETER WOULDN'T HURT. AND AS ALWAYS, GETTING SUGGESTIONS/OPINIONS FROM ANY FORUM MEMBER IS GREAT BUT IT IS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED TO DO YOUR RESEARCH. WE ARE ONLY HUMAN AND WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW BUT WE DON'T KNOW EACH POSTER'S COMPLETE SITUATION AND BASED ON THAT, WE CAN ONLY MAKE SUGGESTIONS AND SHARE OUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS.
So I now realize it was a bad purchase and i didn't need it at all.
I was never told that it had those results, or lack thereof on severe sleep apnea.

Yes, it seems I won't need it after all as I have all my numbers sorted out and am happy with my AHI numbers, etc.



ONE QUESTION if you don't mind?
You say that those with Sleep Apnea thats severe never show O2 desats.
BUT IF that same person (me) has got their API under 5 and sleeps on their back and did so during the test so isn't at all sure IF they would be considered severe IF the sleep test had had them sleep on their side, etc...............DOES that still qualify me as having SEVERE sleep apnea in a manner that would still mean it would never show 02 desats?

I BELIEVE IT WAS SAID THAT THOSE WITH SEVERE OSA DON'T ALWAYS SHOW DESATS, NOT THAT THEY NEVER SHOW DESATS. I BETCHA THERE ARE SOME WITH MILD OR MEDIUM OSA THAT DESAT SOMETIMES. I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A GREAT ONE TO ASK YOUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER AS THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU OR THEY SHOULD ANYWAY.

will be the defining answer on whether i just post it for sale on Craigslist.........its not sounding from what you tell me that i need this at all ;(

Thank you though for explaining that so well.....now I know. Even if it isn't good news.

Good luck in getting your answers and in your therapy. hope all the answers have been helpful to you

[archangle]

ONE QUESTION if you don't mind?
You say that those with Sleep Apnea thats severe never show O2 desats.
BUT IF that same person (me) has got their API under 5 and sleeps on their back and did so during the test so isn't at all sure IF they would be considered severe IF the sleep test had had them sleep on their side, etc...............DOES that still qualify me as having SEVERE sleep apnea in a manner that would still mean it would never show 02 desats?

That will be the defining answer on whether i just post it for sale on Craigslist.........its not sounding from what you tell me that i need this at all ;(

Thank you though for explaining that so well.....now I know. Even if it isn't good news.

I'm not quite sure I understand. A severe apneac may have bad desats, mild desats, or none at all. Similarly, a "mild" apneac may have severe or mild desats or none.

Almost no one ever completely suffocates from apnea. Eventually, their brain reacts and makes them struggle to breathe by struggling or even waking up to some extent.

Some people react quickly, wake up enough to breathe and never show a desat. This causes stress and keeps them from getting the sleep cycles they need. Some people have their O2 level drop before they manage to catch a breath. These people show O2 desats.

Bottom line is that a bad O2 test shows you probably have apnea that's not treated well enough. (or other medical problem.) A good O2 test doesn't rule out apnea. It does show you're not getting desats, which are harmful to you.

[ShelaghDB]

I'm not quite sure I understand

It probably wasn't important.
No doubt wishful thinking on my end
Therefore Forget the original question

PSYCHOMike:

Is it a "need?"...probably not. Is it useful? ...depends on what you're using it for. Should you hold on to it? ....only you can answer that one.

I've decided to keep it even if I don't use it. It only just cost me over $100 as i had it shipped in from China from AliExpress.
And who knows, maybe i will need it for something else in the future.


I have taken it seriously and am fine about wearing it the rest of my life but occasionally I have fallen asleep without it and I don't expect to die from not using it. Maybe in 10-20 years but I am fortunately without some of the more serious illnesses that I hear people here talk of.............although completely empathetic, I do find it a bit difficult to have the same panic about sleeping without it the odd time I have fallen asleep as others seemingly do.

But you made a good point. I will hold on to it on the if come basis

me50

I AM PRETTY SURE THAT NOBODY TOLD YOU AN UNTRUTH

I would likely say that that is true 99.9% of the time.

WE ARE ONLY HUMAN AND WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW BUT WE DON'T KNOW EACH POSTER'S COMPLETE SITUATION AND BASED ON THAT, WE CAN ONLY MAKE SUGGESTIONS AND SHARE OUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

That is true.
In my particular situation, theres more baggage to the story but no need to get into it, other than to suggest that I was under the strong impression that I was researching it correctly.

I myself have made a concerted decision never to offer help to anyone for i am not experienced enough to do so. At least where CPAP'ing is concerned.
I can offer someone my story, my experience, if i feel it might match theres but i am careful not to say anything that a newbie might misconstrue and even more so, not to throw something out there without thought for the consequences if i am wrong, or once again, someone takes something I say verbatim IF I didn't mean it as such.

I could suggest that might be my legal background at wishing to be careful naturally but from experience which was negative, I have personally come to the conclusion that there are a lot of lonely people who need to be heard. Unfortunately not everyone considers the consequences of their words.
At the very least I try to preface mine with a warning first, as a reminder......as some have done in their signatures but someone new, someone frustrated or someone overwhelmed can very easily take it out of context.
A good example would be my doctor. When my partner was diagnosed, he was told he had mild borderline Sleep Apnea of 6 but that he just needed to lose a few pounds and it would go away. So little did he believe he needed a CPAP diagnosis, he had to tell the doctor he did want a machine.
But once he got all of it, he then began to think back to what the doctor said, at the same time realizing this was a life long commitment and we went from him believing although moderate, he should use it, to, he likely doesn't have it, since the doctor said so, to now, believing its all a scam and no such diagnosis really exists.
Hes an intelligent fellow but looking for a way out and the doctor provided one rather stupidly I might add.
This is what I mean. I believe too many people like to hear themselves speak and throw out sentences here or there without any real thought given to the end result.
By this, I mean everywhere, not just in forums, but in every avenue of life and for that reason, I am particular about leaving it to those that know far more than I do.

I BELIEVE IT WAS SAID THAT THOSE WITH SEVERE OSA DON'T ALWAYS SHOW DESATS, NOT THAT THEY NEVER SHOW DESATS. I BETCHA THERE ARE SOME WITH MILD OR MEDIUM OSA THAT DESAT SOMETIMES. I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A GREAT ONE TO ASK YOUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER AS THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU OR THEY SHOULD ANYWAY.

The doctor I used as mentioned above wasn't worth his salt at least where CPAP'ing is concerned. Aside from one specialist I see for a curable illness, I haven't seen a doctor since 1999. Guess the time is coming to find one. LOL


In any event, to the few of you, thanks for the answers. I guess it won't hurt to check it out and sleep with it one night, at least to see what it does

thx

[vsheline]

Oximeter. Purchased one and it arrived today.
Pulse Oximeter CMS501

Hi ShelaghDB,

I suppose you mean the CMS50i. I have the CMS50i. I think it is a very nice unit. I think it stores second-by-second data of pulse rate, SpO2 and Perfusion Index (a measure of how much blood flow is being sensed, as a double check or indication of how reliable the recorded data should be).

It can record for up to 36 hrs, which can include up to about a dozen separate sessions (if memory serves) before it says it cannot record more and we must download the data and erase the data before anything more can be recorded.

The unit can be set to the correct local time (like a watch) and the recorded data includes the correct time, so we can easily see the correct time when events happened and can compare the Pulse-Ox data with the data from our CPAP machines.

1) Comes with a CD. A tiny one if that makes a difference. I don't use DVD drives in my MacBooks but can dig one up IF I REALLY need this cd.
Anyone know if its necessary or just redundant information. Or would it be software I must use?
I was under the impression that i only had to import whatever it is this records into Sleepyhead?

It comes with software which we can use to download data from the unit and plot the results.

To get the software you probably do not need to use the mini CD which came with the unit. You can probably also find the software on the web site of Supplier #19 on our Supplier List. (Link to Supplier List is at top of all Forum pages.)

As far as I know, SleepyHead is not yet able to import the Pulse-Ox data from the CMS50i and display it within SH. ResScan works only with the ResMed proprietary (and super expensive) pulse oximeter. But the software which comes with the CMS50i is all we need.