Not sure if this has already been posted but thought it was very interesting. Link to BBC site below.
One of the mysteries of Covid-19 is why oxygen levels in the blood can drop to dangerously low levels without the patient noticing.
It is known as "silent hypoxia".
As a result, patients have been arriving in hospital in far worse health than they realised and, in some cases, too late to treat effectively.
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.
But a potentially life-saving solution, in the form of a pulse oximeter, allows patients to monitor their oxygen levels at home, and costs about £20.
They are being rolled out for high-risk Covid patients in the UK, and the doctor leading the scheme thinks everyone should consider buying one
Excellent advice. Good for the NHS to so advise. And a very good video. I have one, bought about three years ago. Have had PEs, etc and have COPD, so was useful to have to hand. Just don't get fixated on using 'all the time'...Take care -
I don’t think it matters really. I got one at the start of first lockdown on the advice of a family member who is a doctor. He suggests checking twice a week which is what I do.
Mine is a Sanitas - think it is a German company. Bought from Lidl, in France. A Good buy.Oxyen levels; heart rate; heart trace. Does not attach to a computer, so hand write the numbers. Make a note of the heart trace. Here is mine, Sanitas, SPO25 - German company, sold by Lidl : youtube.com/watch?v=jgEnXY1... Can put in a search, many options. I like mine, no probs. Works. (Far better than the very *expensive faulty one that was offered for sale in the nearby pharmacie !)
Like Highlandtiger I got mine last year when I heard that a low oxygen level could be a sign of Covid. I thought they talked about giving out free ones well before Christmas. I think mine cost around twelve pounds.
Back in April I was very unwell and my husband had to call the ambulance. The paramedics suggested I buy an oximeter, and so I did. Part of my first aid box now.
I got one too after someone else on this forum suggested it. However my levels are more often 93% - 94% than not. I wonder if it’s not working properly or if I have a problem
Hi Rache, can't give you a definitive answer, but may be worth seeing if someone else has one you can check it with, or try it on someone else to see their results. If worried you could try and speak with Doc or ring 111 and see what they say.
finger oximeters measure circulation, which can be lower in PMR/GCA. You need a more exxy one that measures on the ear lobe. I tried this out in hospital for my Mum, a huge difference. I'm unsure about me , my SPO2 drops down to low 80's and then back to over 92..frequently around 92., but can also go and stay at 100. It rises if I yawn- very big yawns a few times. I was told that it was because of my watch, but it did this with finger oximeters as well..and in hospital, I sent off the alarms several times during the monitoring for 4 hours after my angiogram lately. I asked the nurse and she said it my alarms were ignored as it was common to go low on SPO2 when you fall asleep. The problem with this theory is I was not asleep at all? The man next to me also set off his alarm 3 times (mine was maybe ten times). He was also under the same neuroradiologist for an angiogram, and he hs aneurysms in the brain...but he ONLy sent the alarms off for SPO2 dropping below 90 I think when he was snoring and sound asleep. My low SPO2 levels are at the same time I feel "blurry" and giddy and a bit tired or wiped. If they didn't correlate with symptoms I would not be concerned. At times, obviously, it IS the position of the watch on my arm but other time, and the fact I can get it up by concentrating on breathing deeply and yawning does mean something to me. I was wondering buying an ear one, but a tad exxy. I tried to get y watch to see if it was reading the same as the hospital monitor but noone brought me it..darn
Just mentioning as maybe with PMR you have some suboptimal circulation in your fingertips
My background is public health, I used to be responsible for public health in a large hospital (until I took early retirement, PMR and GCA influenced) and so have always been focused on prevention.
In case you’re interested I use a number of tools in my kit:
An oxymeter I find excellent to check my oxygen levels but also pulse when I have attacks of SVTs as it’s very quick to monitor.
I also have a blood pressure monitor which I use once daily, I then enter the data into a free app ready to share with GP or Cardiologist as necessary.
As I developed steroid induced diabetes I also use a blood sugar testing kit which I only use on an as and when basis, as it’s very well managed.
And finally a 6 lead ecg machine, which is tiny, my GP recommended this. But is a great help when I have an attack and again my GP or Cardiologist can be emailed the results.
Good morning Mgt1234, since being diagnosed with PMR and the arrival of Covid which has meant that all my doctors appointments have been on the telephone, I keep a complete daily spreadsheet diary which includes, dosage planned and dosage taken, daily BP readings and weekly weight and BS reading. Have to say never thought about an ecg machine and not sure that I need one either. I send a copy of the diary to the doctors whenever I put in prescription request and/or a few days before a telephone consultation. The Doc. says she finds it really useful.
Good morning Bcol, That’s great, my appointments are the same. Without storing the data it is so easy to forget a flare up, attack etc. I also find it useful to provide a clear history to medics. It certainly helps me to feel more informed and aware of changes. All the specialists that look after myself seem to like it as they are used to reading charts and they quickly give an accurate overview.
My doctor suggested I should buy one some months ago. I bought it off a well known company which also does bidding... it was from a medical company, but cost £8. Trials show it works very well. It looks just like all the others, don’t think there are any differing ones. We both get asthma & David has COPD & it shows the oxygen levels excellently, & so easy to use. Free postage, UK supplier. I couldn’t see one, at that time, that cost as much as £20! Hope they don’t increase the prices because of the publicity, that’s really why I wanted to make this post! S x
Hi, all, I’ve just bought Marsden fingertip pulse Oximeter from our local pharmacy on offer £29 reduced from £35 think someone making money, wish I’d seen this a couple of days ago, sounds like I’ve been done over, never mind I have one now,Keep safe.
hi there, i been encouraging members to purchase an oximeter as not only very useful tool to monitor your condition, but definitely can save your life. pre pandemic, my mother in law 91 was unwell and we were on to 111 for advice. my visiting niece suggested using her oximeter she'd brought with her, on my mother in law, and when we gave result to 111 they sent 999 ambulance immediately! she was whisked away, got emergency oxygen and treatment returned home 2 days later back to normal. THIS DEVICE IS A HUGE WEAPON IN OUR ARSENAL AGAINST SNEAKY UNDER THE RADAR INVISBLE COVID. ASYMPTOMATIC ADULTS AND CHILDREN CAN BE PICKED UP WITH LOW OXI LEVELS WITH THIS MONITOR, AS OXYGEN LEVELS CAN BE COMPROMISED BY COVID, BUT NOT OVERTLY OBVIOUS TO THE VICTIM. AN OXIMETER FOR CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 12 YEARS CAN BE BOUGHT ON AMAZON. I BELEIVE EVERY SCHOOL IN THE WORLD SHOULD BE USING THIS (antibac'd), ON EVERY CHILD EVERY DAY , AS WELL AS TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF, AND PARENTS. YOU GET A READING IN 8 SECONDS. THE OXIMETER COULD PICK UP THIS HIDDEN SYMPTON, OF LOW LEVEL OXYGEN, AND ALERT US TO POSSIBLE COVID POSITIVE CASES TO BE SENT FOR FURTHER INVESTGATION... THEY COULD BE USED AT AIRPORTS, SHOPS , OFFICES, TRANSPORT, HOMES, EVERYWHERE, DAILY BY EVERYONE. WE'D HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, AND IT WILL DEFFINITELY SAVE LIVES.
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