Use of an OXIMETER

I bought one recently on the advice of The British Lung foundation for exactly the same reasons.
Money well spent!

I got one too after reading something on GN. It’s probably a good thing to have and it will go with out BP monitor. Sorted!

With our....typo!

Mary doll.

Absolutely, good point, money well spent.

More importantly perhaps, is to really spend time breathing deeply every day- fully emptying lungs and then fully filling them - for a couple of minutes each day. Most of us forget to breathe properly. Of course, this can be difficult for some health conditions, but as much as you possibly can. Amazing how quickly your lung capacity and efficiency improves.

Our GP always measures mine and it is always 99% - and she says 'ah of course, you are a deep breather'.

Mine's been 98% for years. Doubtless it would be 100% if I didn't smoke.

Stop boasting ladies! ? Mine is 93% on a good day, that's why an oximeter is invaluable for monitoring my health.

I bought one early on in lockdown as I read that your level can go down without your experiencing breathing difficulties but you still need hospitalising.

During lockdown I started to check my bp, oxygen level and peak flow whenever I remembered. I found that in April, when there was much less traffic and no planes flying overhead to the nearby airport, my peak flow improved.

My oxygen level varies between 97 and 99 which isn't bad considering I have some lung damage and also asthma.

Yes have had one for years for DH. They were recommended at the start of the pandemic for obvious reasons, noticed that the price seemed to rocket.

I’ve been trying to buy one but a lot seem to be out of stock, including the Boots one which was very expensive but I was prepared to pay a lot for a reliable one. I was told some of the cheaper ones weren’t very accurate and one that I nearly bought had bad reviews. Does anyone recommend one that I can send away for?

We bought one at the very beginning of lock down as I have chest problems.

Since then, our GP has asked all patients to buy their own BP monitor, thermometer and BP machine.

These all came in useful when I had Covid and again two days ago when I was able to give my GP all my readings: she immediately wanted to send me off to hospital by ambulance! I said we could manage and are not that decrepit.

The hospital diagnosed Pleurisy (possibly post-Covid, although I had that relatively mildly) and as we are now in a telephone-only consultation period, the GP was able to obtain data to help her make a diagnosis.

Yes, I think everyone should have all three pieces of kit. They are not too expensive. As long as one doesn't obsess over the readings, comes to understand over time what they mean and know how to interpret them, they are a great help all round.

Ours is a Kinetik purchased from Argos. I just had a look for you. The price is still £19.99 but they are out of stock. Sorry.

An ad for pulse oximeters has popped up on the right-hand side of this GN page!

I got mine from Amazon, wasn't too expensive. I also purchased a digital forehead thermometer, so easy to use.

That's not nice Marydoll, poor you. 95 is an acceptable level but below that-----

MayBee

Ours is ZacuRate. Pro series 500DL.

EV it is what it is!

Marydoll

I am usually between 90/95 and that does not worry me.

When I dropped to 83, very quickly might I add, I swear the response from the emergency services responded on being informed of that.

Hence well worth the money as you say.!

POGS, that is exactly why I bought it. If I need to phone a doctor, I have that info right at my fingertips.
Take care!

an oximeter is of the order of +/- 2% accuracy, ie 95 could be 97 or 93. Its good to take some initial readings as a control and keep still while it is on your finger

Marydoll

You too.

i'm beginning to wonder if we will have to scan ourselves somehow on a screen and be diagnosed and treated by AI.

i can remember when a GP would visit their patients in hosp.

on the whole though i think oxymeter a good bit of kit.

Purchased an oximeter. Last night kept getting reading of 89 - this morning reading is 92/93.
I know I do have some problems with my breathing - I get very out of breath with any sort of exertion - but am wondering now if I should try to discuss this with my GP. Think the problem comes from an serious accident I had forty years ago, which results in my chopping a piece out of one of my kidneys and also damaging one of my lungs.
I have for a long time had a BP machine of my own and do check to ensure that my medication is keeping this into acceptable levels.