how much did your peak flow meter cost?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dreamingofasong
  • Start date Start date
D

dreamingofasong

Guest
Thanks everybody.

I looked around at different pharmacies than the one I get my perscriptions from, and the cheapest I've found is $34--a huge improvement from $60 :)!

Now I'm just contemplating whether to get one or not--it has to be ordered in. Since my asthma is mild, is it worth it?
 
Not in my opinion. Do you not know when you are having trouble breathing? If so, then you don't need it.
 
Hey all,

I talked to my doctor last week about peak flow readings and she said if I wanted to do it, I could.

I went to the pharmacy to get my perscriptions refilled and they told me that a pfm would be $60. I found that to be a little steep.
I've checked on the internet, and have found them for $15-$35 (specifically for the TruZone meter by Trudell.) The price on the $35 meter was definitely a Canadian price [which is where I'm from].

Out of curiosity and hoping I can spend much less than $60 [if it's going to cost me that much, I'm going to forgo PFM readings altogether.] how much did your peak flow meter cost, and where did you get it?

Answers from anybody would be appreciated, but if you're from Canada that would be awesome :).

Thanks!
 
There are times that I'm unsure as to how well I'm breathing. Sometimes I think I'm alright and then one of my frienRAB will ask me if I'm okay--it's sort of weird. :confused:
There are times that I can't tell if my symptoms are causing me enough trouble to use my rescue inhaler . . .

Does anybody else with mild asthma have this problem?
 
I'm not from Canada so I can't speak about that, but my Pulmonologist just gave me a small peak flow meter. I never saw an insurance bill so it was no cost to me.
 
Yes. My symptoms are usually relatively mild but very persistent and sometimes the PFM does help me figure out if something is wrong. I don't use it every day, just when I'm having non-specific symptoms that could be asthma-related, like excessive tiredness or feeling a little tight-chested.
 
Same here...my doc just gave me one...I don't use it any more - in fact, tossed it. I know when I can't breathe. And my doc wasn't interested in me bringing in any results to my check ups so I never saw the point for me.
 
thanks snowdrift

yeah, i was wondering about that--for example, i had one of my more moderate flare-ups on Saturday which has only happened before twice--once when i was in choir, and once when i was in gym. this time i was sitting around at home and started having chest tightness and coughing--then shortness of breath which rarely happens when i'm not exerting myself. if i'd been doing peak flow readings i may have been able to see something like that coming.

i'm working right now to get a peak flow meter for a reasonable price--or free if i possibly can. next time i see my doctor i'm going to ask her to refer me to an asthma education centre and help me create an asthma action plan--because sometimes i just don't know what to do or i sort of make mistakes [ex. i take 2 puRAB of the reliever before exercise, but didnt warm up properly and went all out and ran, and my asthma flared up. once i had the flare, i sat out, but i didn't take the reliever again afterwarRAB, which i should have.]

i have a cold now, and i really have no clue whether my cold or my asthma is causing the symptoms at times--i tried the reliever once yesterday and once today, and it's made my cough sound worse.
 
Hi
I am from Canada and I have never bought one either. I have been in emergency and admitted to hospital and I have been given them there. I am in the Toronto area in Ontario. I would ask the doctor to see if they have one because when I have not had medication covered I have asked for that and they are more than willing to help me out.

Good luck
Karen
 
From what you said, you may not be using the rescue inhaler properly before cardio. Are you doing 2 puRAB - 1 minute apart - and 15 to 20 minutes before starting cardio? You may have to work with that regimen to see what works. I started out at 1 puff 15 miutes before and that didn't work so I had ot keep trying things till I hit on what worked for me. Also, my doc told me NOT to use it again for 1 hour so to stop jogging if I had an attack that I couldn't handle after medicating that way. You don't sound like you are seeing a pulmonologist as they would help you with an action plan.
 
yes, I see a lot of people with the same problem. It is difficult to know what is going on-is it an attack or not. I prefer peak flow monitoring proper, when people know their best and when something goes wrong they check peak flow and know the grade of reduction. Usually, people collect their peak flow readings over 2 weeks time and work out their personal best. Asthma action plan usually is written for all sorts of situations.
Have you heard of wheezometer by the way?
Cheers and be well.
 
Back
Top