Pulse Ox.

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone: Here is one about pulse ox. am I alone here? I am told to get rid of mine that it is driving me crazy. I where it constantly, do not like when the heart is higher then the O2. I guess what I need to know is am I in the pulse ox trap and does anyone else check theres a lot?

Amy

[Guest guest]

Amy,

How long have you had the oximeter? If you haven't had it very long, you're likely doing what pretty much everyone does when they first buy an oximeter. For about 2 months after I got mine a couple of years ago I did the same thing. I checked in constantly and probably drove myself a little crazy. Then I gradually learned how I feel when my sats are low and only used it occasionally. I think most of us get to know our bodies and how we feel when something isn't right and that's the time to check our sats and make adjustments in activity or O2 flow based on that.

My resting heart rate is in the mid 80's, when I get up and move around it jumps into the low 90's and when I'm on the treadmill it's in the 120's or 130's. That's higher than most but my heart has been thoroughly checked and I have an echocardiogram every 3 or 4 months to monitor things. I don't like that my heart rate runs high but watching it constantly isn't going to change it. As a matter of fact watching it constantly can add to your anxiety and actually make your heart go faster.

Amy I think "getting rid" of your oximeter is kind of like throwing the baby out with the bath water. It's a tool and like anything else it's how you use it. If you only bought it recently, then the novelty will eventually wear off. If you've had it for a longer time and you're still wearing it constantly, you might want to just try putting it away for a few hours at a time and get used to not using it constantly. I think having one is a necessity for us but you also don't want to drive yourself crazy at the same time!

(DWAI= Don't worry about it)

Beth

Age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 UCTD 07/08

Change everything. Love and Forgive

Pulse Ox.

Hi Everyone: Here is one about pulse ox. am I alone here? I am told to get rid of mine that it is driving me crazy. I where it constantly, do not like when the heart is higher then the O2. I guess what I need to know is am I in the pulse ox trap and does anyone else check theres a lot?

Amy

[Guest guest]

Amy

I may be as obsessive as anyone here and I do always have mine with me

and I check it a lot. However, in no way does it drive me crazy. I don't

check it every minute, but I do as I change what I'm doing. I check when

I sit in the car to make sure its ok to turn the oxygen down and when I

go into a store to make sure I have it high enough. I seldom notice the

pulse part as that isn't my major concern.

As to getting rid of it, no one could pry mine away if they tried. It is

my tool for lengthening the quality of my life. I don't want to see my

pulmonary artery pressure increase. My kidneys are only around 50% now

(were only 60% 11 years ago so not major concern) but I don't want to

see them drop. I think you can probably learn to be a little more

judicious in your use of it. I just feel like telling you to get rid of

it is equivalent to telling a diabetic to stop their testing. As you've

used it more you should know more the times you don't need to.

For instance, you know if you just walked into a store and your sats are

ok, as long as you walk at a certain pace they will stay. Now, if after

ten minutes or so you feel sob you check, but more often will find

you're just a little tired from walking and they are fine. You can learn

to use when you change pace as opposed to just obsessively checking ever

five seconds.

Why do you say its driving you crazy? Is it because your sats keep

dropping below 90%? If so, thats a good kind of crazy if it causes you

to get them back up. Now if you look obsessively and they are always ok,

you need to remind yourself the times you don't need to check as much.

But every time you look and your sats are below 90%, then you probably

have an organ of your body whispering to another, " thank goodness that

woman is OCD " and the kidney and liver giggle together.

It may take a little retraining but you can balance it. I don't believe

personally getting rid of it is the answer. Just perhaps a little

behavior modification. Also, make sure its you who is being driven

crazy. Is it really driving you crazy or someone else? If someone else,

then thats their problem. Now those I'm with mostly understand and

sometimes they have even asked to check theirs.

So, yes, I check mine a lot. No, I'm not getting rid of it. Am I a bit

obsessive? Yes. Are obsessions bad? Not always. Some of mine are great

ones, like washing my hands more than most people and not liking them to

be dirty. Ah, the obsession protects me against germs. Who decides what

is obsessive. Some parts of the world would think we all are by bathing

daily. For any who have watched Monk on tv, one of his obsessions is

asking for wipes. So, by keeping baby wipes in my glove box, am I

obsessive? By wearing gloves when I pump gas? Probably, but they sure

make sense to me. And, I'm living with PF, more specifically with UIP,

and not having complications. So, label me, but I'm not changing.

Good luck in finding the balance right for you, Amy.

>

> Hi Everyone: Here is one about pulse ox. am I alone here? I am told

to get rid of mine that it is driving me crazy. I where it constantly,

do not like when the heart is higher then the O2. I guess what I need to

know is am I in the pulse ox trap and does anyone else check theres a

lot?

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

Amy... you're no different that most of us when we first get the oximeter. I too looked at mine all day. Afraid something was going to "happen" that I wouldn't know about. How silly I was. (Or do you do that too? lol).

I don't pay much attention to my heart rate because it's up and down from 110 to the 40s and most in between. I have no heart problems but my heart skips beats and the reading isn't accurate anyway.

I keep my oximeter on the kitchen table and if I "feel the need", which is very seldom, I go check it and put it back down. Much like I would check my temperature. I wouldn't walk around with the thermometer in my mouth all day. lol.

You'll relax with some time and mostly experience.

What is your reason for wearing it constantly? What are you watching for?

A HUGE drop in sats, or just any decrease at all?

I'm thinking you already know if sats are above 90 then you're doin' ok....

MamaSher, age 70. IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

Pulse Ox.

Hi Everyone: Here is one about pulse ox. am I alone here? I am told to get rid of mine that it is driving me crazy. I where it constantly, do not like when the heart is higher then the O2. I guess what I need to know is am I in the pulse ox trap and does anyone else check theres a lot?

Amy