Pulse Oximeter

[Dilbertian]

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

We were going to have a baby sent home on oxygen and I understand you have to display notices and alert the fire brigade if it’s stored on the premises. Baby kicked the habit before home time in the end.

Most Fitbit-style devices have an oximeter.
Mine has never been put to the test but as a first response couldn’t people use that?

Ok feeling like a plonker now, please don’t judge too harshly.

Out of concern that friends and family would succumb and NHS would be overwhelmed I raided my savings weeks ago and purchased some of the smaller o2 tanks. Then was subsequently gripped with fear that they would be paltry help if it really came to it and it sort of snowballed from there. Each new thing needed something else to make it work and now I have a CPAP machine, oxygen concentrator, adaptor valve, universal face mask, and, um, pulse oximeter.

As I said, fully aware of plonker status so no need to point it out thanks. Please don’t think I bought these things selfishly. I was (and remain) 90% certain I had recovered from covid myself way before I made the purchases. They were/are genuinely intended for whoever in our circle of nearest and dearest might need them most and a sincere if misplaced attempt to mitigate/reduce strain on health services.

But instead it seems I have an overdraft, a fire hazard and a bunch of unusable kit. Is it so? What to do with them all now?

@Oopswhoopsie haha sorry your post made me laugh. Don't worry, but yeah I really would either try to return it or offer to donate it to your local hospital perhaps?

I've had a pulse oximeter for years as I have an illness which I have to monitor my spikes in heart rate & I find the oximeter better at doing this than my Fitbit. I had most of the main symptoms of COVID mid March & for part of the time when I monitored my sats, they went down to 89%

Oopswhoopsie
Sorry but you made me laugh at the fire hazard
My thoughts were exactly like yours so your not alone

@Itsjustmee your friend is wasting her money, as would you be. Safety concerns aside, as have already been discussed, 15L of oxygen would provide you with a couple of minutes' supply, which is utterly pointless in the context of Covid-related lung problems. It might make your friend feel better but it's also not helping her asthma much either.

Oopswhoopsie
No judgement here and I'm glad you have a sense of humour about it, that seems in short supply at the moment.
I do have a word of caution though about using a CPAP machine for a C19 + family member in a domestic setting. Even with a well fitting mask there would be some leakage, not to mention the need to intermittently remove the mask for drinks etc, a CPAP circuit maintains a continuous positive pressure which with any leakage would be showering the immediate environment with vital contamination.from the mask and present a huge risk to the rest of the household.
If you already know all this then please ignore me but without the knowledge or skill to correctly use a medical device safely it's probably best not to.
I've no doubt there are people who were using CPAP at home pre CV and some of them may have become infected but remained at home, hopefully they will have received advice about protecting other members of the household.

Vital = viral

My Samsung phone has an oximeter. I found that out on here last week. It could make me anxious as I'm prone to health anxiety but it has actually made me less anxious.

Pulse ox about 20 quid on amazon. Mainly it helps manage anxiety about whether you can actually breath or not. Good god no oxygen is not a good idea unless you have a medical reason. Its a high pressure canister I think.

It is definitely reassuring.

I have a tight chest / aching. SOB but my oxygen levels are fine
Im shielding so fairly unlikely to have COVID -19 but been in contact with a delivery driver and 2 nurses....

To be honest, i would of normally of gone to A&E if this wasnt all going on, even though my sats are ok

Thanks @FOJN, I did know about that but figured I’ve already had it so 🤷‍♀️

Glad I got some laughs, too! Thanks all for the advice :-) x

@FOJN ps by that I meant that I’d go with the machine and look after whoever was using it, not that I didn’t care about onwards infection cos I’m alright jack!

Well, the oxygen concentrator machine is on eBay now. The product line on the website I bought it from has since been restricted to NHS only which I take as a sign it’s a useful bit of kit. It’s not cheap but I’m selling it at cost.