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A MyCOPDTeam Member asked a question ๐Ÿ’ญ
Gastonia, NC
November 2, 2020
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A MyCOPDTeam Member

Medicare and most insurance companies will not pay for O2 unless your six minute walk test demonstrates that you require it. Your O2 sat rates must go below 88 either at rest or with exertion to qualify, regardless of your lung function tests results and your DLCO percentage. Docs may use those things to do a six minute walk, but it's the six minute walk test that determines whehter or not you qualify. Most people with COPD understand that it's important to keep your O2 sats up in the 90s most of the time, though all of us can dip lower than 88 for short periods when we don't anticipate doing something requiring that much exertion. That said, most of us also keep an oximeter handy to check our O2 sat rates. When your sats go below 88 with exertion or at rest is when you know you're going to need O2, so keep track of it.

Sometimes docs don't watch those things and don't do anything about a six minute walk test until they see people really struggling, you end up in the hospital with respiratory failure or the patient complains about being short of breath. If things go that long, often the patient is already experiencing pulmonary hypertension and/or brain damage. That's why owning an oximeter is a really good idea and a better one is to carry it with you.

November 2, 2020
A MyCOPDTeam Member

@A MyCOPDTeam Member Your doc will consider prescribing it according to your lung function test, 6 minute walk, and capillary gas test. They generally don't like to see your levels drop under 90%. It may vary according to your recovery rate.
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November 2, 2020
A MyCOPDTeam Member

So if I take oxygen level on getting up and going to bed and during the day etc Iโ€™m to keep track of it.

January 28, 2023
A MyCOPDTeam Member

Iโ€™ve got the little one that goes on the finger. Are you saying when exerted and oxygen falls in the 80s but bounces to 90s when stopmwhatever youโ€™re doing that you need oxygen ?

January 28, 2023

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