Re: Determining need for Oxygen

[Guest guest]

C

Yes, we know group health doesn't generally provide oximeters. They are

available online for $65.

Fact is no one knows where the ill effects happen or how much. No way to

prove a specific point. Some doctors use 90%, many insurers and social

security use 88%. I've known a couple to use 92%. All that one knows for

sure is its not good to drop too much too often. The major risk.

Pulmonary Hypertension. So why take chances.

Yes, it is just one body measurement but its a key measurement of our

lung functions. Saying that is like saying checking blood pressure is

just one measure for those with high blood pressure or checking blood

sugar is just one measure for a diabetic.

It's your choice. We've answered. If you're happy as you are then we'll

stop pushing you. I just wouldn't want to take the chances you are

personally.

>

> E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:

> Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to keep

> saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until it

falls

> below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for extended

> periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and needs to be

> evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function. ROBERT

> SANDBLOM, MD

> C_53_IPF_5/09

> Washington-the-Evergreen-state

>

[Guest guest]

,

Many pulmonologists don't recomend the use of oximeters to their patients thus

refusing to write a prescription for them. The fear on their part is because

many pulmo specialists see more COPD patients than PF patients. The two diseases

are vastly different. The use of Pulse Oximeters are a wonderful tool for us

PFer's and can be ordered without a prescription.

http://portablenebs.com/choiceoximeter.htm

That is the link to the oximeter many of us on the board use. It's FDA approved

and very accurate.

34 FL

IPF dx 1/06

>

> E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:

> Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to keep

> saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until it falls

> below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for extended

> periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and needs to be

> evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function. ROBERT

> SANDBLOM, MD

> C_53_IPF_5/09

> Washington-the-Evergreen-state

>

[Guest guest]

,

Don't ya love it when they do that? Kind of like well you need to lose

weight, but we will do nothing to help you do that! I realize Doctors

are not the wizards we wish they would be, but sometimes to really stop

and think about what they are telling us. I believe I needed 02 long

before I really began using 24/7 but because I blamed my SOB on being

'out of shape' I would just keep pushing (being a mom trains you to just

keep going no matter how YOU feel) and I probably did spend hours in the

mid eighties with my heart rate about 140. Could be why I have the

enlarged heart. Luckily its a healthy enlarged heart. Not so sure

about the enlarged liver or the loss of bladder control. Again women

tend to 'go with the flow' so to speak because of child bearing, etc.,

but the bladder is one organ that lack of o2 causes problems. If I had

gotten an oxymeter when I first was sick I could have been checking my

sats all through the time I was " stable " . When I went to the doc my

sats were always 92 ish but I was just standing there DUH! We always

joked because my husband who only had one lung would have sats at the

doc of 97-98 and I was always 89-92. Yeah five years of doing

damage....You are very lucky to be so proactive. I wish I had found

this group so much sooner. So glad I have them now!

Dyane Phoenix IPF 02

> > >

> > > E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:

> > > Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to keep

> > > saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until it

> > falls

> > > below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for

extended

> > > periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and needs

to be

> > > evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function. ROBERT

> > > SANDBLOM, MD

> > > C_53_IPF_5/09

> > > Washington-the-Evergreen-state

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

While it is true that many health insurers don't cover oximeters, there are also

those that do! My provider, Harvard Pilgrim, covered mine, no questions asked.

All I did was get my pulmonologist to write me a prescription for one when he

prescribed the oxygen. If he hadn't have done it, my primary care physician

would have. Bottom line, it can't hurt to try...at the worst, the say no and

you pay for something you were prepared to pay for anyway.

Steve aka...Knip IPF/UIP 9/07 VATS 12/07

57 Plymouth, NH

> > >

> > > E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:

> > > Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to keep

> > > saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until it

> > falls

> > > below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for extended

> > > periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and needs to be

> > > evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function. ROBERT

> > > SANDBLOM, MD

> > > C_53_IPF_5/09

> > > Washington-the-Evergreen-state

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Steve

At one time Aetna covered it. On a $250 Nonin their charge from Apria

was $284 a month or purchase for$1500+. I was on 20% copay so would have

paid more than buying it. Couldn't believe them.

> > > >

> > > > E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:

> > > > Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to keep

> > > > saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until

it

> > > falls

> > > > below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for

extended

> > > > periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and needs

to be

> > > > evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function.

ROBERT

> > > > SANDBLOM, MD

> > > > C_53_IPF_5/09

> > > > Washington-the-Evergreen-state

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Steve,

You are correct, when I was first diagnosed I had health coverage through my employer with Aetna. They paid for my oximeter and they also covered the 24 hour oximetry when my doctor wanted to be sure I had the right amount of oxygen to maintain my sats during all my normal daily activities.

As you said, if you don't ask, you don't get. What's the worst they can say, no? Like we haven't all heard that before, right? LOL

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 11:54:15 AMSubject: Re: Determining need for Oxygen

While it is true that many health insurers don't cover oximeters, there are also those that do! My provider, Harvard Pilgrim, covered mine, no questions asked. All I did was get my pulmonologist to write me a prescription for one when he prescribed the oxygen. If he hadn't have done it, my primary care physician would have. Bottom line, it can't hurt to try...at the worst, the say no and you pay for something you were prepared to pay for anyway.Steve aka...Knip IPF/UIP 9/07 VATS 12/0757 Plymouth, NH> > >> > > E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:> > > Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to keep> > > saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until it> > falls> > > below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for extended> > > periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and needs to be> > > evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function. ROBERT> > > SANDBLOM, MD> > > C_53_IPF_ 5/09> > > Washington-the- Evergreen- state> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Steve/MB

Just don't let them delay you. Worst case you get the $65 oximeter, then

they pay for what the doctor prescribes, probably a Nonin 9500 and now

you have a spare oximeter.

> > > >

> > > > E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:

> > > > Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to keep

> > > > saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until

it

> > > falls

> > > > below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for

extended

> > > > periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and needs

to be

> > > > evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function.

ROBERT

> > > > SANDBLOM, MD

> > > > C_53_IPF_ 5/09

> > > > Washington-the- Evergreen- state

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This is why I buy my own cpap masks and some of my cannulas and hoses.

I hate having the insurance company get any actually. Its a viscous

circle about who screws who more. The supplier has to charge an arm and

a leg so that the contract cost actually covers what they did. INSANE!

Dyane Phoenix IPF 02

> > > > >

> > > > > E-mail from my pulmonary specialist:

> > > > > Group Health usually does not provide oximeters. We try to

keep

> > > > > saturation above 90%, but it is hard to show ill effects until

> it

> > > > falls

> > > > > below 85% for a significant period of time (hours per day for

> extended

> > > > > periods) The saturation, however, is just one measure, and

needs

> to be

> > > > > evaluated in light of heart rate and other organ function.

> ROBERT

> > > > > SANDBLOM, MD

> > > > > C_53_IPF_5/09

> > > > > Washington-the-Evergreen-state

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>