COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

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kaput 07/30/2012

I've not been posting much lately for reasons of my own, but am concerned about what some of us think an oximeter can do. It can be confusing if you retain CO2. This can make your O2 sat scores seem higher than they are. With all the new people, which is a nice thing to see, I thought I'd post this link. Please read. Debbie :>))

http://www.pulseoximetersplus.com/categories/Pulse-Oximeter-News/Advantages-%26-Limitations-of-Pulse-Oximeter/

deleted_user 07/30/2012

Debbie -
Thanks for the reminder. Tis also good to remember to toss out the pulse oximeter if you are smoking - it screws up the readings and makes then unrelaible.

Dennis

LilEllie 07/30/2012

An important point to bring up.

For those of us that are CO2 retainers, We must always be aware that an oximeter indirectly measures the amount of oxygen that is carried by your blood. A pulse oximeter does not measure your carbon dioxide level.
An arterial blood gas (ABG) directly measures both the amount
of oxygen carried by your blood and the actual amount of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) that are in your blood.

At present, the first aid that we have is PLB and it does help but can be extremely exhausting when done if you are rally having a bad day.

I do use the Oximeter throughout the day to also check my pulse which is always cause for concern for me.

Good topic, Thanks all

kaput 07/30/2012

I use it more to check my pulse rate too :>))

deleted_user 07/30/2012

Thank you for the reminder Debbie. I use my oximeter for the heart rate; more than oxygen saturation. I have to keep my pulse under a certain number. Just had a Arterial Blood Gas, because I am a "retainer" and Pulmonary doctor wanted accuracy that he can not get from oximeter.

Sue825 07/30/2012

Thanks for posting this Debbie. I'm about to fly from Chgo to VA next weekend, and I was just driving through the Appalachian Mountains last week. At about 3000', I was in very bad shape while in the car. First, I would start yawning, then I'd get a headache right in the center of my forehead. If we didn't descend quickly, I started feeling nauseous and faint, and I also wouldn't be able to get my words out. I couldn't put a sentence together! Not a comforting feeling! (glad I wasn't driving!)

My pulmo is on vacation (figures!), and my regular doctor doesn't want to do anything about prescribing O2 for the flight. So I bought a really nice Pulse Ox on Amazon (about $42), and will use that to monitor things in flight. That combined with my rescue inhaler and PLB, should see me through. (I hope!) The flight is only 2 hours long.

I don't know if I'm a CO retainer or not. I've never had an ABG done. None of the pulmos I've had thought it was necessary. But I figure that the notes I take on this flight will be just one tool the doctors can use to help me prepare for a flight to the UK next year.

Thanks again! Hugs, Sue

deleted_user 07/30/2012

Thanks Kaput!

I just got one and your post really helped this 'newbie'!

deleted_user 07/30/2012

Thank you Debbie, I am checking with my health coach and doctor regarding my CO2 level. I know that it was checked repeatedly during my recent stay in the hospital and it wasn't an issue. They checked it every other day for 8 days, always at 330am, and always by a rookie. My doctor has not even addressed it since I have been out, but I believe it is worthwhile to check again. So that's a conversation waiting to happen. Again thanks - Bill

deegran 07/31/2012

Thanks Debbie! Really good information.

deegran 07/31/2012

I had missed seeing your posts.

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