Pulse Oximeters

[bogey21]

Is it worth buying a Pulse Oximeter? I recently read that they can sometimes identify COVID-19 before one has symptoms...

George

 

[stmartinfan]

From what I've read, they can be helpful by monitoring your oxygen saturation levels if you start to feel Covid 10 symptoms so you can get to a doctor before they drop too low. Apparently patients have been showing up at emergency rooms generally not feeling too bad only to find out that their oxygen levels are dangerously low and then they take a dramatic turn for the worse. The article I read described how the virus can attack people's lungs, preventing their system from getting enough oxygen but it happens slowly so people don't recognize what's happening. It was compared to the way your body adjusts to a higher altitude, where you accommodate the thinner air. But with Covid, you can go too long before seeking treatment because you can't feel the lack of oxygen. Using the pulse oximeter will provide a measurement of your oxygen saturation, which should generally be above 90% I think, so you can see if it’s dropping when Covid symptoms appear. I suppose you could also just monitor your levels daily to be sure they are fine.

We have a Humana Medicare supplement that includes a $25 credit for mail order purchase from a catalog (also online) of over the counter health items and we just spotted one of the meters there. We had to pay an additional amount...maybe $25 more...but we thought it was a good use of our quarterly credit.

 

["Roger"]

I would definitely get one. That may not be that easy. For example, my local Walgreens are all out of stock as are any of the brands that they carry on line. Many of the oximeters that you see on the internet are shipped from China and delivery could be slow.

Levels below 90 are bad, but what you really want is to find out your baseline level. Mine is 98 or 99 and what I need to watch for is it to be dropping. Waiting for it to fall below 90 would be acting too slowly.

 

[x3 skier]

I've had one for years. Mainly for use when flying at altitude and when I spend the winters in Steamboat Springs Colorado. Easy to use and very handy. Lately I check my O2 at night and in the morning. No change from the 98-99 readings I've always have had.at home (1000' ft Altitude)

Cheers

 

[Passepartout]

Not a bad thing to have on hand. Like a thermometer. If you start to find that you just don't have much energy or 'get-up-and-go', whether you notice you are panting for breath, or unable to walk and carry on a conversation. An oximeter would give you an early way to gauge how well your lungs are able to transfer the oxygen you breath into your bloodstream- something that every cell in your body needs. Most 'normal' people will have a resting saturation of 98-99%. You'll notice diminished energy at about 90% and definitely feel 'winded' if your saturation gets into the low-mid 80%'s. COVID-19 patients are put on straight O2 and a ventilator in their 50%'s and often never recover.

Trouble is that right now they're getting scarce. I think Amazon is sold out as is Walgreens and most other drug stores. They aren't expensive- I think mine only cost $25 or so (iirc). Anything to give yourself a chance at early intervention. Good Luck!

Jim

ETA: after posting the above, and just for the helluvit, I took my temp. 96.9 was the best I could muster, and my O2 fluctuates between 91 and 93. I already know I have pulmonary fibrosis and only about 45% of normal lung capacity, so CV-19 would likely take me a long time to recover from, if at all. Not a pleasant thought. No despair. I'm being careful, have had a better run than over half in my age group and have my affairs in order.

 

[Sea Six]

I searched Amazon thinking I might get one. I was admitted to the hospital because of low O2, shortness of breath, etc, but was dignosed with pneumonitis. I was overwhelmed by the number of meters on the market, most around $50.

 

[jd2601]

Today show discussed an iphone app that was a Pulse Oximeter. Has anyone had any experience with an app that uses the camera to measure?

 

[x3 skier]

Trouble is that right now they're getting scarce. I think Amazon is sold out as is Walgreens and most other drug stores. They aren't expensive- I think mine only cost $25 or so (iirc). Anything to give yourself a chance at early intervention. Good Luck!

Jim

Check Pilot Stores like Sportys.com and aircraftspruce.com. They carry them for Aviation and are the same thing you get at a Drugstore.

 

[elaine]

got one on amazon (delivered in 10 days) to have in case of C19 where I would want to check O2 to see if in distress to go to hospital. Hopefully, not needed, but knew I wouldn't be able get one ASAP. Dr. always checks when I have respiratory illness.

 

[VacationForever]

Yes, we bought one when our PCP asked that we do that.

 

[Luanne]

Dh got at at home kit from our doctor that includes one of those, also a blood pressure monitor. They both can feed into the doctor's office. I can also use these monitors as long as I don't turn on the tracking.

 

[WVBaker]

The Accuracy of 6 Inexpensive Pulse Oximeters Not Cleared... : Anesthesia & Analgesia

ising questions about performance. METHODS: The accuracy of 6 low-cost finger pulse oximeters during stable arterial oxygen saturations (Sao2) between 70% and 100% was evaluated in 22 healthy subjects. Oximeters tested were the Contec CMS50DL, Beijing Choice C20, Beijing Choice MD300C23...

journals.lww.com

I just started looking at these also. Here is an interesting article that explains the usage of the device. Research as many reviews as you can and of course, take with a grain of salt any review shown on the site that you'll be purchasing from.

 

[5finny]

My wife uses the iphone app and thinks highly of it

 

[Krteczech]

I was thinking about getting this gadget right after we moved to 7500 ft, but didn’t prioritize. I will get it when it is back on Humana free list. It is useful toy.

 

[bogey21]

Most 'normal' people will have a resting saturation of 98-99%. You'll notice diminished energy at about 90% and definitely feel 'winded' if your saturation gets into the low-mid 80%'s. COVID-19 patients are put on straight O2 and a ventilator in their 50%'s and often never recover.

They aren't expensive- I think mine only cost $25 or so (iirc). Anything to give yourself a chance at early intervention. Good Luck!

Mine just arrived. It seems like a quality product. I bought the $54 one rather than one of those selling for around $35. Took two readings. Both were 98%. So far I am both satisfied and relieved...

George

 

[JudyH]

I got one from Amazon two weeks ago. $42. I haven’t tried it yet.

 

[Janann]

Today show discussed an iphone app that was a Pulse Oximeter. Has anyone had any experience with an app that uses the camera to measure?

I believe this is the same thing that is offered on my Android phone through Samsung Health as a stress measurement. It always says 99% for oxygen saturation, so I guess I'm good to go.

 

[Theiggy]

I bought a few from Zacurate.com about a month ago. I just talked to a woman who confirmed what others here have said. Her mom died of COVID. She was very sick, deprived of oxygen but didn’t know it until it was too late. By that time oxygen didn’t help, then vent, then she passed. When my mom tested positive and I called her general practitioner, she said to keep an oximeter on hand.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DrQ]

It seems that COVID-19 causes a condition loosely called happy hypoxia. These people should be gasping for air given their O2 saturation level, but they aren't.

Given that, it's a good idea to have these devices on hand for early intervention.

 

[csodjd]

It seems that COVID-19 causes a condition loosely called happy hypoxia. These people should be gasping for air given their O2 saturation level, but they aren't.

Given that, it's a good idea to have these devices on hand for early intervention.

Normally when we have lung problems we have both O2 in and CO2 out problems. The gas exchange is impacted both directions. Our bodies are wired to detect rising CO2 levels and we start breathing faster and harder if CO2 increases. We don't, however, detect low O2 levels. If CO2 is not impacted, but O2 is, it goes undetected. But, it can cause organ failure, mental issues, etc.

COVID is unusual in that it does not reduce CO2 levels, we expire CO2 normally. But O2 does not transfer from the lung into the capillaries. Thus, our O2 levels drop, but our body doesn't know it and we have no symptoms from it. In a normal healthy person pulse oximetry should be above 94%. Below 94% is a concern. Get below 90% and you need medical care now.

But it is important that you be using a decent device, and that you be using it correctly. Poor finger placement can dramatically impact the readout. (Some oximeters will give a number showing the quality of the data.) My wife's finger nail makes it hard for her to get her finger all the way in, and she'll read 85-88% or lower. When I position it correctly on her and she goes to 98-99%.

 

[bogey21]

I bought a few from Zacurate.com about a month ago.

I bought a ZacUrate Model DL. Cost was about $50. It seems like a quality product. So far I'm very happy with it...

George