Pulse Oximeter Help: Can anyone please... - Lung Conditions C...

Lung Conditions Community Forum

56,314 members66,939 posts

Pulse Oximeter Help

Dham profile image
Dham
24 Replies

Can anyone please advise of a reliable pulse oximeter? I bought this one last week pulse-oximeters-uk.co.uk/co... but when i use it, it doesn't stop changing the numbers, from 94% to 99% for example. I'm sure that they should settle on readings after a few seconds. My doctors have used them countless times on me over the years and this just doesn't seem okay to me.

Any advice is gratefully appreciated as I want to be prepared for any eventuality with Covid.

Thank you

Written by
Dham profile image
Dham
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
24 Replies
Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer

I got mine from Amazon it works perfect. Have a good day and take care 😊 Bernadette xx xx 🌈

Dham profile image
Dham in reply toDamon1864

Which model did you get? I'm looking at iProven on Amazon now.

Have a good day too, I'm working unfortunately

Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer in reply toDham

I got the DB100. 😊 Bernadettexx xx 🌈

Dham profile image
Dham in reply toDamon1864

That's what I got, in the link i shared. Can you tell me how you use it? How long before it stops fluctuating and gives the reading? Mine just keeps on fluctuating which made me think it wasn't working properly

Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer in reply toDham

It's sounds like you got a Dody one send it back and try a different one. Let me know how you get on.😊 Bernadette xx xx 🌈

Dham profile image
Dham in reply toDamon1864

I will do. I'm going to order one from Amazon and then send this one back. Thanks for your help

Just return the item as faulty for refund or replacement. You could check a new battery in it to make sure the one that is currently in it is not low on charge.

I also got mine from amazon it works fine. With amazon, especially if with Prime there is no worries about returning faulty items.

Dham profile image
Dham in reply to

I have changed the batteries. I'm going to order from Amazon as they are good with returns. Which model did you get? I saw a You Tube video for iProven that was done by a doctor. They have good reviews on Amazon.

in reply toDham

iproven is the one I have - it works great :)

Dham profile image
Dham in reply to

Brilliant news! I'll just order it. Wish I paid the extra in the first place. Thank you. Sorry I don't know how to put smiley faces

in reply toDham

For smile like :) its a colon : followed by right hand bracket )

For a smile like this :D it a colon : followed by capital D

Dham profile image
Dham in reply to

Thanks. :) :D

stamford1234 profile image
stamford1234

I hope you got sorted out with your oximeter, I can see that you have received lots of advice already, it's always good on here. Don't worry too much about the bits of kit. The best bit of advice I got from this site was ... make sure you breath out! Stay safe Dham

Dham profile image
Dham in reply tostamford1234

Yes, it seems a really good forum. I've ordered another to try. I just want everything in order before the winter.

I won't be out much or taking any risks.

Take care

BreatheasyBe profile image
BreatheasyBe

Mine fluctuates if I keep moving- best to rest when taking a reading and there can also be slight variations even at rest for me only a percentage or two.

Dham profile image
Dham in reply toBreatheasyBe

Thanks. I think it's faulty as I don't move with it on.

I've ordered another one.

MoyB profile image
MoyB

I've had an oximeter for a few years now. When I first got it, I thought it was faulty as it was behaving like yours did. I contacted the firm I got it from and they refunded half my money - they wouldn't replace it. Anyway, I put it away in the drawer in disgust then got it out to try again sometime later and it worked! I used it thereafter and it seemed reasonably reliable. Then it started playing up and I changed the batteries. Once again, the readings started bouncing about all over the place, but after while it settled down.

While it was messing me about, I decided to invest in a new one. I now have the two and tend to use them both together if I'm in doubt.

The one consistently shows a reading of 1 below the other but otherwise they give me much the same results. I have been surprised to find my sats down to 89 or 90 one minute and then rise to 95, 96 or even 97 on one momentous occasion.

I don't understand why there are these great fluctuations but as they are happening on both of the oximeters at the same time, I can only conclude that the problem is me, not the equipment.

xx Moy

Dham profile image
Dham in reply toMoyB

They seem to be a mystery. I'm hoping the new one will be fine when it arrives.

in reply toMoyB

Might be preaching to the converted, Moy, but whilst seeming relatively straightforward, there are lots of things that have to be ‘right’ for accurate results. The first is that hands are dry and preferably warm, and that you’re still. The second is that the signal trace is strong: there’s usually a solid bar that pulses up and down that indicates signal strength. For an accurate reading, it should move up and down rhythmically and smoothly, filling the entire space allocated to it. If it’s jerking about, and/or not filling the space, or not behaving smoothly and regularly in any way, the numbers will be questionable. When you first put the probe on, it can actually take quite a while for the trace to settle and pick up correctly, particularly if digits are cooler, but poor trace is the most common reason for sats to look abysmal to start with and then suddenly pick up towards ‘normal’ relative to the patient. It’s also why some people buy one and suddenly think their sats are really bad, when in actual fact it’s just not using or understanding the probe correctly. Which is also why a number of medics I’ve encountered are not a fan of patients owning them unless they’re on oxygen.

MoyB profile image
MoyB in reply to

Thanks for that. I will check on the signal. I always make sure my hands are warm and dry but didn't know about the signal so it will be interesting to see what it's like. Xx Moy

peege profile image
peege

Just a thought, They don't work properly when patient is wearing nail polish.

Dham profile image
Dham in reply topeege

Thanks. I don't wear nail polish

MoyB profile image
MoyB in reply topeege

No nail polish on me either these days. I remember going into hospital for a minor op and was told I must keep at least one nail free of polish so they could monitor my sats. Xx Moy

Dham profile image
Dham

The iProven model arrived today and works perfectly. I guess my DB100 is faulty.

Thanks again for all your comments and advice

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Poor circulation affecting finger pulse oximeter readings

hello all, Apparently I have poor circulation in my hands, yesterday at the lung doctor we had 2...
soup1955 profile image

Pulse oximeter

Hi For those that use a pulse oximeter, do any of you have a pulse intensity % on it? Whilst my...
sinclair61 profile image

pulse oximeter

Hi folks, does anyone know where a pulse oximeter can be bought cheap in the UK? Plenty on e bay...
James48 profile image

Exacerbations and Oximeter

I was reading some older posts containing things about exacerbations and oximeters. I've had COPD...

Oximeter

Hi, just got an oximeter and have some questions. Could anybody using oximeter answer my question...
Mendy profile image

Moderation team

See all
AsthmaandLung profile image
AsthmaandLungAdministrator
moderator_AandLUK profile image
moderator_AandLUKAdministrator
Claire_ALUK profile image
Claire_ALUKAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.