Pulse Oximeter

[Dilbertian]

Many posters have said that having a pulse oximeter was very helpful while they were ill. How was it helpful?

My DH has asthma and currently has COVID symptoms (after the rest of the family has had them) he was able to do some oxygen function tests over the phone with the GP to see if he needed any more intervention. He has been told how to monitor his levels and when to call for additional help

I read the asthma threads and it was suggested there that along with peak flow readings - it could help detemine if extra help was needed.

I ordered one through amazon - over a month ago now - still not here and no response to questions.

So I'll have to look again.

It is helpful because the disease makes you feel breathless. However the pulse oximeter shows what your actual oxygen levels are so you can see if you need help.

111 are doing a lot of, well if you can speak you must be ok, but actually covid isn't necessarily the same as other respiratory illnesses and some people can still speak but have low oxygen levels and need help.

Conversely it can avoid panic if you feel bad but your oxygen levels are ok.

I got one from Argos just before this kicked off. I'd been thinking about it anyway- when Asthma Flairs up, it's reassuring to see that you can breath, it only feels like you can't!

We used one when asthmatic dd was ill with CV symptoms and it helped to reassure her that her o2 levels were ok despite feeling really breathless.

They can be useful tool however I would say do not let nornal sats / temp / pulse stop you phoning for help if you feel very unwell. I have admitted covid patients who have been very unwell but at that time had normal numbers.

www.careco.co.uk/item-p-dl08148/digi-pulse-oximeter/

I got ours from here

I’m considering it. Asthmatic and last time I was face to face with an HCP (just before lockdown) I was measuring, I was 94, and I wasn’t there about my lungs. So hard figures would be a nice guide.

(94 being borderline)

It was helpful for me as I felt very unwell am asthmatic and it was useful to be able to give 111 and my gp some numbers BUT there is also the danger that self monitoring can increase anxiety if someone is prone to health anxiety and that the numbers dont tell the whole story and someone might still need medical attention with reasonable readings.

@hotlungs, my brother sourced an almost identical model for me from China (wotalarf, they ALL come from China) £10 delivered. They are accurate to within 2% ie a reading of 97% equates to 98-99% actual. 390% markup.....hmmm. They are a useful tool to have, along with a thermometer and bp machine.

Just wondering. Any doctors here - if you were to buy something like - clear 02 ( small 15 litre oxygen can ) would be worth getting in case you get Covid 19 and get the bad breathing problems

I know a friend of mine has several cans that she keeps for her asthma and she swears by it but was just thinking Is it something worth having - like toilet rolls and pasta 😂

I’m Asking this because I have been reading a lot that early intervention with oxygen is suppose to work well for the those with breathing problems with Covid 19

Thanks.

They're not £10 any longer!

I found it very reassuring. You can be coughing and finding it hard to breathe but actually your oxygen is fine. Or you can be a bit low and need to breathe more deeply to get it back up or change position. Plus you can monitor so you know if you are deteriorating and need to get help. If my parents get sick I’d like them to have one so I can keep an eye on them from afar.

I would be very mindful of the fact that sometimes numbers can look normal, but the patient can actually be very unwell. This more than often occurs in children who compensate for a long time before declining rapidly. I can understand why some people can find them helpful and reassuring but it’s a bit like a baby Doppler for me, unless you’re a professional and can assess the whole picture rather than just a number, they can actually be more dangerous. I certainly wouldn’t start buying your own oxygen cylinders either. It scares me that these things are available for just anyone to buy x

Mine was invaluable when I was unwell & in the “early” stages of the virus (day 25-ish now). I’ve never had chest pain, laboured breathing or burning lungs before. It was quite frankly terrifying and I’m in my 30s and in usually excellent health.

It was the doctor’s suggestion (I went through the various 111 triage ‘layers’ on the day that I was most unwell) and the oximeter reassured me that my oxygen levels were at an acceptable level, despite how breathless and poorly I felt. I was told to call 999 if my SPo2 went to 90% or below.

It also meant that I didn’t waste any more NHS resources than I strictly had to, nor did I run the risk of infecting any NHS staff. Best £20 I’ve spent in a long while.

My GP surgery suggested people with asthma (unless mild, at least) would get one, simply to help in phone/video consultations, even if they don't fall ill.

Equally if you're prescribed it by your doctor do use it as advised!

I would also strongly advise against self medicating home oxygen. It might seem quite harmless but it really isn't which is why it can only be administered by prescription in hospitals. There are some patients with chronic lung conditions who will have adapted to low oxygen levels and administering high flow oxygen to increase SaO2 could be very dangerous. Unless you are medically advised to use O2 at home then please don't and never at a level above instructed.

Also just to add you can give someone TOO much oxygen and it's very serious- it causes a type of respiratory failure. Don't give it unless qualified to do so.

@RoryGilmoree
Thank you for your detailed reply
My friend has these cans by a company clear02 which she buys and keeps for when she struggles with her breathing . She’s been doing this for a while and says it really helps her.
It’s cheap at about £17 for a 15 litre bottle with a valve and it’s sold as non prescription

So I was just thinking of buying a can just in case
Although I am a low risk group I’m a bit of a prepper 😂
My dad has COPD and has a machine for this

Thanks for the tip on it being flammable. None of us smoke so keeping it somewhere cool and dry won’t be a problem

FOJN
Thank you as well

@Itsjustmee I definitely would advise against doing that in that case - like I said, you can go into respiratory failure if you use oxygen inappropriately