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Covid

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Original poster

Help oxygen sats

84 replies

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 02/02/2021 14:57

My Dm had covid and copd she doesn't sound well at all but is refusing to call an ambulance because she says she's fine but she's struggling for breath and can't talk without coughing and spluttering. She's CEV so we're very concerned

We've got an oxygen meter but I'm unsure what the reading should be for someone with COPD. I looked online and think it's fine to be between 88-92 however Dm thinks if it's 86 it's fine.

Does anyone have any advice and at what reading on the oxymeter would you consider calling for an ambulance? Tia

OP posts:

Original poster

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 02/02/2021 18:23

She's on the phone to 111 hopefully they send a paramedic to at least check

OP posts:

trulydelicious · 02/02/2021 18:31

Those readings are way too low. She should call an ambulance

frumpety · 02/02/2021 18:48

Is she actually letting you see the readings or just telling you what they are ?

Original poster

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 02/02/2021 18:59

111 have said a chest dr is going to call her and hopefully she'll have to go to the hospital to get some steroids. She was apparently supposed to have a home pack but for some reason hasn't got one

OP posts:

MichelleofzeResistance · 02/02/2021 19:08

Well done OP. Hope she's feeling a lot better soon.

Greybeardy · 02/02/2021 20:23

The sats are entirely academic if a person who can normally talk after standing up now can’t talk because their too breathless. Sats probes are not the most reliable piece of kit at the best of times and you do need to understand a bit about how they work in order to interpret them fully. They’re also generally the first monitor to stop giving useful information in a sick person. What’s normal/not normal is rather more complicated than people upstream are suggesting - normal for some people could be life-threatening for others and ‘normal’ sats are also not at all normal or reassuring if someone is gasping for breath or can’t speak. Low oxygen levels can definitely impair judgement and someone with respiratory distress is often not the best judge of how sick they are. Bottom line is it sounds like she needs to see someone who understands the physiology properly and can base their decisions on more than a number. Hope she’s feeling better soon.

Spiratedaway · 02/02/2021 20:38

Get an ambulance

babyyodaxmas · 02/02/2021 20:48

Thinking of you, hope all is going well

Original poster

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 02/02/2021 20:56

So apparently she needs to call her dr tomorrow to get her emergency pack... they don't seem worried and apparently it's 'just covid' so at least she's spoken to someone, I guess it's good news. I'm sure they would have came out if they thought it was necessary

OP posts:

Spiratedaway · 02/02/2021 23:12

@fannyFERNACKERPANN

Let us know how she is x

Flossie44 · 02/02/2021 23:29

What a worry for you. Don’t hesitate to call for
Help. They won’t mind coming out twice as it’s legitimate cause.
Sending thoughts. X

dublingirl66 · 03/02/2021 16:36

Gosh I feel for you all

Keep a close eye
We checked my fathers sats three times a day
Doctor said if it does below 93 ring ambulance

dublingirl66 · 04/02/2021 23:47

How's everything today?

Original poster

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 05/02/2021 00:22

@dublingirl66 not great today, very breathless and coughing a lot. She had a panic attack yesterday in the shower because she couldn't breath :( apparently the nurse for her copd still hasn't got in touch about the steroids but I'm starting to think maybe she didn't ask for them?. I might be looking on the bright side but at 10 ish days in (I've lost count now) I think she'll likely be ok? I told her to call about her steroids as they'll likely help relieve her symptoms but I don't think she has or if she has the hospital haven't bothered...not sure what to think

OP posts:

dublingirl66 · 05/02/2021 00:34

Gosh keep making a fuss

She is not out of the danger zone yet
She should be ok

What I have learned with my journey is you can have one good day followed by 3 bad days

Will be thinking of her
Look after yourself too

Such a worrying time
I was so sick and all I could do was worry for my father 😢😢😢

dublingirl66 · 05/02/2021 20:36

Just checking in xxxx

trulydelicious · 05/02/2021 20:47

Hold on, she can't breathe?

Shouldn't an ambulance have come for her already?

What is one supposed to do in a situation like this?

Greybeardy · 05/02/2021 20:58

Are you certain she really spoke to 111/ told them how bad it was? They send an ambulance for the daftest things, I’m really surprised they didn’t for this.

Elasticatedwaist · 05/02/2021 21:20

Dh doesn’t have copd he has very bad asthma . His oxygen was at 95% the first week he had Covid and then suddenly dropped to 92% 111 sent an ambulance . The paramedics weren’t too concerned as they said he was able to speak in full sentences etc . A few days later we called 111 again because he felt worse and it had dropped down a bit more . Sent ambulance again . This time they took him in for a chest X-ray and sent him home with antibiotics and told him to start the steroids from his rescue pack . He’s now much better and going back to work next week . The ambulance man said they were seeing people’s symptoms peak in the second week before getting better . It’s so worrying , I feel for you . There were two others with Covid who turned up at a&e when dh was there both worried about low oxygen levels and struggling to breathe . I hope she picks up soon . Sending best wishes for recovery op.

Original poster

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 05/02/2021 22:16

I spoke to her this afternoon, she's very emotional today, she had phoned the dr to get this emergency pack. Not sure what's inside the pack or if she's got it yet. She said she feels a bit better today though but was very breathless and coughing down the phone. I am also surprised 111 didn't send an ambulance. I heard her call to 111 and 111 telling her a consultant would call but I didn't hear that conversation. I don't think she did ever call for her copd emergency pack thing until today tbh.

We lost her dad to covid a few weeks ago, he called an ambulance and they didn't arrive for 3 hours. He died just before they arrived.

OP posts:

dublingirl66 · 05/02/2021 22:24

This is very worrying

OP could you call the out of hours doc on her behalf?

Wishing you all well

trulydelicious · 06/02/2021 08:11

I'm sorry about your grandfather OP

dublingirl66 · 06/02/2021 20:43

So sorry to hear this
How are you all now?

Original poster

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 08/02/2021 21:33

So update, spoke to dm a couple days ago she sounded much better, still breathless but better. She said she had called the dr for her pack but I don't know if she ever got it.

She called just from the hospital, after a bad night she called 111 they sent an ambulance. She got an infection but they don't know where. Dr said forget about corona, the infection is different but her bloods are a mess apparently.

Worried is not word right now

OP posts:

Original poster

fannyFERNACKERPANN · 08/02/2021 21:37

She also has a pain In her chest and right side. She went ashen grey. This was before she called the ambulance.

Someone mentioned how corona seems to come in waves, one minute you're ok the next you're wiped off your feet. Dm said the exact same

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