Should I get an oximeter?

[StormsDontLastForever]

Looking for peoples opinions please on if I should order an oximeter? Have seen a lot of chat on some threads on here about some. Can anyone recommend the best one? Ideally around £20 mark. Thanks

smariewrtr

I'm not sure you're even reading my posts if that's your response.

smariewrtr

And please stop telling me what I'm implying or assuming.

@StormsDontLastForever
Thanks, I've just bought one. We're old and I can easily picture a situation where it would help.

I think using it when well - as an adult then when unwell so you have a baseline is a good start. But helps to understand the clinical signs of respiratory distress etc too so you’re not relying on some numbers you can’t interpret correctly. Most who buy these will use the appropriately I’m sure.

However, I don’t like to see these used on children particularly young children. Children compensate for a long time before things start to really drop off - my son for example is asthmatic. I had to call 999 in Feb due to his asthma he was having an attack and his sats on paramedic arrival were 96/97% heart rate elevated slightly. That didn’t mean he was having a mild attack it just meant his body was trying to cope for as long as possible before it couldn’t. He then became very unwell and was in hospital for a long time recovering. When nurses do obs (on kids) they aren’t (or should never) just be looking at the numbers on the screen of whichever monitor they use. You’re visually checking resp rate & signs of respiratory distress (tracheal tug recession, nasal flaring, the position of the child, the skin colour etc things that neither the paramedics or nurses in a&e did not pick up on in my son I did point them out and action was taken. I’m sure most parents with kids with respiratory illnesses are aware of these but when panic takes over you don’t always have perspective as a parent - even a trained nurse as I am panics when her own child is struggling in front of my eyes, he had emergency steroids, he got medial assessment ASAP. I don’t have a Sats checker because I didn’t need it. And they aren’t designed for small children’s fingers that’s why we use plaster versions. I’d just be cautious on kids

@FOJN

I am reading your responses but you are making this about people with chronic illnesses, which it isn't. People with chronic illnesses need to follow their own care teams advice. They are much more complicated.

Most people are not that complicated and a simple pulse ox can be very insightful. This is an opportunity for people to be proactive and to make life easier for healthcare workers.

"This is an opportunity for people to be proactive and to make life easier for healthcare workers."

Exactly. @FOJN to directly try and persuade people that they shouldn't be doing this is just awful.

Having an oximeter in the medicine cabinet in case it can be useful is the same as having a thermometer. Stop making it sound more complicated than it is

I got one because quite ill with covid. It's been reassuring - I've been out of breath walking around but oxygen levels were fine. So it saved me wasting dr time.

*@FOJN

I am reading your responses but you are making this about people with chronic illnesses, which it isn't. People with chronic illnesses need to follow their own care teams advice. They are much more complicated.

Most people are not that complicated and a simple pulse ox can be very insightful. This is an opportunity for people to be proactive and to make life easier for healthcare workers.*

^
This 👍

I bought one. After recommendations from scientists on Twittter. I have confirmed Covid at the moment and I am finding it really useful to reassure me.

@blazinglightonthehill

"Nope. As a paramedic said today- taking DH to hospital- their £20,000 machines give you honest readings your £16 one won’t."

😂😂 you think the oximeters paramedics use cost £20k? Seriously @TheVanguardSix

You don't need to "know the science" to read a number and act accordingly. Do you lot also have serious Fitbit anxiety too?

Actually, yes. Our machines that read pulse oximetry are £18000+

They also read Co2, ECGs and defibrillate.

When my anxiety was spiralling in lockdown #1 my pulse oximeter saved my sanity. I felt like I couldn't breathe. It was a panic attack but can you imagine if I'd called an ambulance? At a time when our resources are so stretched. Seeing 97% and 98% actually stopped me panicking.
I think that people aren't given enough credit.
When I was wearing gloves (which I do accept was unnecessary) I was told by a HCP that I wouldn't know how to remove them correctly despite me having worked in a laboratory... it was just assumed that I was too thick or ill educated.