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Original poster

Oximeter advice- worried

31 replies

Lifeispassingby · 22/01/2021 16:34

DH is isolating as he had contact with a pupil who tested positive last Friday. He had sore throat a minor headache over the weekend, but was ok mon and tues. since Wednesday he has been laid up with aches and headache. My friend dropped her oximeter through my door today and have just checked his levels and is says 92. Should we be concerned by this? Obviously I don’t know what his usual levels are like, he is generally healthy although had a heart bypass a few years ago. He has no cough or breathlessness at all, just fatigue aches and headache

OP posts:
flossletsfloss · 22/01/2021 16:38

Is he sitting up properly when you test it? Not slumping? That's low and is a bit of a concern. I'd ring 111.

starryeyed19 · 22/01/2021 16:40

You need to take him to hospital

AnnaMagnani · 22/01/2021 16:40

Yes you should be concerned.

Stick it on your own finger - you should get 99 or 98. If when you go back on his you get 92 call 999 straight away.

Cookerhood · 22/01/2021 16:40

On the TV the other night they said that at that level you should go straight to a&e or call 999. Does it change if he sits up, walks around, breathes in deeply etc?

CrunchyCarrot · 22/01/2021 16:40

Are his hands cold?

TooTrueToBeGood · 22/01/2021 16:41

I'm not a HCP but according to this article on BBC news, 92 is on the line between phoning your GP and going straight to A&E. At the very least, phone his GP now. If the aches and pains he is complaining about are in any of his vital organs I'd be inclined more towards A&E and that's based on my own personal experience of CV-19 last year.

"If oxygen levels drop to 93% or 94%, then people speak to their GP or call 111. If they go below 92%, people should go to A&E or call 999 for an ambulance."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55733527

Bagelsandbrie · 22/01/2021 16:44

Is he breathing deeply and sitting up properly? Do you know the gadget works (as others have said try it on yourself). If after that it’s still saying 92 you need to ring 111 urgently.

RainbowRaine · 22/01/2021 16:45

Try another finger and try on yourself, sometimes the position of the meter can be slightly off and not give a proper reading.

Lougle · 22/01/2021 16:46

Are his hands nice and warm? Is he breathing normally (lots of people hold their breath instinctively when a test of any sort is being done - bizarre but true) and is he sitting up well?

If yes to all those things, he is feeling ok and the oximeter is reading a good 95+% for you, then I would definitely call 111. If he is feeling very unwell, I would take him to A&E.

bellropes · 22/01/2021 16:46

The readings can be unreliable if the batteries are starting to go.

Measure the finger on each hand and ensure he's sitting up and breathing fully.

LIZS · 22/01/2021 16:48

You need to repeat it at intervals with different fingers. If it remains below 94 seek advice,

ILookAtTheFloor · 22/01/2021 16:50

Do repeat it. Something similar happened to MIL- covid + and one of the oximeters had her at 85. Called ambulance, paramedics came and she was actually 95+ and the paramedics said the oximeter was a piece of crap-not sure if more expensive ones are better.

So use them but do bear that in mind!

beckslovestimmy · 22/01/2021 16:51

Has he had a Covid test? Definitely make sure his hands are warm and he's sat up straight. As others have says try it on your self too. If he's a smoker that could explain why it's lower. Worth a call to GP or 111

Lupinhere37 · 22/01/2021 16:51

Check on yourself first; presumably if you’re not unwell, you’ll get 98/99/100. Check his fingers are clean and dry. Re-take the reading. If still 92, call for urgent help, if you can’t safely get him to A&E yourself.
Good luck; hope he’s ok.

TokyoSushi · 22/01/2021 16:54

Have you tried it? Has he had a test?

mrshoho · 22/01/2021 16:56

How long are you keeping it on for? He should sit up and keep it on for 10 minutes breathing normally. If it's still the same then call for medical advice.

bloodywhitecat · 22/01/2021 17:07

Try it on you, then try it on him on a different finger, makes sure it is sitting on him well. If it is still at 92% call for help.

bloodywhitecat · 22/01/2021 17:08

And if you are wearing nail varnish make sure you try it on a finger with no varnish on the nail.

WatchWatch · 22/01/2021 17:18

I'm hoping OP has got the message by now, but yeah, this needs checking!

forrestgreen · 22/01/2021 17:22

I was told to get help at 92, I checked my meter against the hospital and I was a couple of points down.

Mine got worse when I'd got comfy on the settee and there was less room in my lungs. Stretch out and move before panicking.

Hope he's ok

Calmandmeasured1 · 22/01/2021 17:30

Someone posted a chart on another thread recently. It showed you need to call A&E if 92%. Sorry, but he needs oxygen assistance now. Please don't leave it any longer.

I hope your DH will be okay.

CommanderBurnham · 22/01/2021 18:07

Order a test too

Original poster
Lifeispassingby · 22/01/2021 18:14

Thanks everyone for their responses. I got him to sit up properly etc as PP advised and have repeated the oximeter and it varies between 92-96. The latest one was 95 and I left it on a while as a PP suggested. To clarify, he had test yesterday and it came through as I was rechecking the oximeter and he is negative. We are both surprised as he has been so unwell, although not the classic 4 main symptoms but other symptoms for sure

OP posts:
Ohbabybab · 22/01/2021 18:21

If you can get him to walk around with it on his finger for 30 seconds. This will show his working oxygen levels (or so the Dr told me when we needed to check DD with ours)
Is it showing high levels on you? Just so you can be sure it’s working.

TunMahla · 22/01/2021 18:24

I bet false negative. But reassuring his stats are better. Keep monitoring as they can worsen quickly.