Ds and his chest-Can anyone recommend a sat/finger pulse thing to use at home...

[hazeyjane]

Ds is 2, he is under investigation for global developmental delay, low muscle tone and a variety of other issues. He has had a history of respiratory problems - In nicu when born, with respiratory distress syndrome, 6 chest infections in the first year, 3 in the beginning of this year and 3 hospitalisations with chest problems.

We had to take ds to out of hours yesterday with his chest. The dr said he looked as though his o2 levels should be ok (good colour, no recessive breathing), but when he measured them they were low, and he had to be nebulised and taken to a+e in an ambulance.

The paed at the hospital said that because of his low muscle tone it was difficult to see whether ds was doing recessive breathing, and ds's colour was deceptively good for low oxygen. He was very floppy and I could see his breathing was laboured, but last time he was like this, the gp we saw didn't even take his sats, because he said he could see that his o2 levels were ok. In the end we ended up in a+e with ds.

I just wondered whether a finger oximeter to use at home would be a good idea, so that I can at least say to the gp (if I can't see our usual one - who is very good) that according to a reading I have done, that ds is struggling.

I don't want something which will give me a false sense of security, on the other hand I don't want to be a neurotic nightmare!

I see that you can get these ones on Amazon. Does anyone know if they are any good?

(I've posted this in special needs children as well)

Thankyou

Hi I got one for £15 of eBay works brilliantly.
Dt2 often doesn't seem to be in distress the only sign is rapid breathing even when sats are in low 80's his colour etc looks fine.
I have found it very accurate when compared to GP and hospital monitors.
Will find a link

shipping/CE FDA approved Fingertip pulse oximeter blood oxygen monitor 8C

Try again
bit.ly/QZSoJs

ASk your GP it this is a wise move and don't just buy any old monitor as one for a 2yr old is different from and adult one.

thankyou, I think I will ask my gp what she thinks. The one on Amazon is a specific paediatric one, I know that the full size ones are too big for ds, who has tiny fingers!

There are literally loads on the market.

You sound like you know what you are doing with them and wouldnt want to get one willy nilly.

My only question would be would you use it when you suspect him to be unwell or would you use it continuously? Just watch out for pressure sores on his fingertips if you use it continuously, move it hourly.

There are those with the disposable wrap around finger sensors or there are those with the washable finger sensors, these are very good as you can turn them inside out to really clean them properly, they are also soft rubber so unlikely to make him sore.

Remember that they wont work properly if he has cold fingers, shivering or moving lots.

By far the best indicator is your own intuition, you know him best.
Its a great peace of mind, a good idea.
Good luck xxx

ps, suss out what is normal for your ds, for eg if he has breathing problems normally, his normal sats may be 89-90%, he may not achieve 100% iyswim.
I tend to panic if its below 95% but actually the normal may be much lower.

Also consider the battery, if its a weird and unusual one thats hard to get hold of, i would go for one that takes everyday ones over that, make life as easy as poss.
hth xx

I would talk to drs before doing anything. DS has a lot of chest problems and I discussed the idea of getting a sats machine for at home with them but they said (rightly so IMO) if he is so bad I would be worried enough to check his sats then he is bad enough that he needs to be properly checked over.

I think you have a point, Sirzy, that is one of my concerns.

I think the thing is that ds is a bit of a mystery, medically. The hcps who know him, tend to move a bit quicker, take more precautions and cover more bases. But if we get someone like the gp we saw a couple of months ago, who didn't even want to measure his sats, then I worry. I suppose I just feel like I need to have a bit more control, in those circumstances.

If it is just a daft idea, then my gp will let me know (she is VERY no nonsense!)

I'd suggest one that fits on the ear rather than the finger, just because a 2 year old has such small fingers and you need there to be no gap between the light, the finger, and the sensor.

The ear ones are like a clip on earing with a wire to the readout.

If you do get one, to check it is working properly take ds's pulse - if it matches the HB reading on the oximiter it is aorking, if the numbers are different then try on a toe, other ear or thumb.