Bought an oximeter today [Archive] - Simple Living Forums

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pinkytoe

4-21-20, 4:56pm

There was an interesting article in the NY Times from an ER doctor today explaining how so many Covid patients die from what he called "covid pneumonia". It is a type of pneumonia with few lung symptoms until it becomes critical within hours. To quote, he says "There is a way we could identify more patients who have Covid pneumonia sooner and treat them more effectively — and it would not require waiting for a coronavirus test at a hospital or doctor’s office. It requires detecting silent hypoxia early through a common medical device that can be purchased without a prescription at most pharmacies: a pulse oximeter." Apparently by monitoring one's self and watching for a gradual drop in oxygen levels, one stands a much better chance of being successfully treated by catching it early. And it might alert someone to other things going on with your lungs/health.
So now I wonder why this isn't out there in the news more. In any case, I bought one today before they run out of them. I figure it's a good thing to have anyway for those of us who are older and live at high altitudes.

razz

4-21-20, 4:59pm

That is news to me; interesting.

Gardnr

4-21-20, 5:03pm

I heard discussion about this early on and oximeters were getting hard to find quickly. I hope you find one!

ApatheticNoMore

4-21-20, 5:11pm

The thing is I'm not sure hospitals are going to take one based just on such home readings, they have their own criteria probably on when you can be admitted to the hospital if you have the covid - i was told a few weeks ago difficulty breathing was the requirement around here, not sure what it is right now.

Tybee

4-21-20, 5:52pm

I've used one for 10 years at home. They are great, and I have determined when I have needed to go to the hospital, and I've kept a close eye out on my husband's readings this last month--he has COPD.

Tammy

4-21-20, 9:33pm

For those with Apple devices, there is a $5 app that measures pulse ox and heart rate. It uses the camera flash like a pulse ox would. It’s called “oximeter” I believe. It works great.

Gardnr

4-21-20, 9:48pm

For those with Apple devices, there is a $5 app that measures pulse ox and heart rate. It uses the camera flash like a pulse ox would. It’s called “oximeter” I believe. It works great.

Impressive! (not an Apple owner).

jp1

4-21-20, 9:50pm

izzy95

4-24-20, 4:32pm

Was thinking about buying one as well

Tybee

4-24-20, 4:57pm

Mine was about $22 on Amazon.

Teacher Terry

4-24-20, 4:59pm

I just downloaded a free one.

SteveinMN

4-24-20, 6:23pm

Tammy, if you could recall the name of that app, that would be helpful. I just looked on the iOS App Store; there's a bunch of inexpensive or free apps containing words like "oximeter" but pretty much all of them are tied to an actual oximeter (sometimes specific models) via Bluetooth; without the finger device, they do nothing.

We're waitlisted at our local pharmacy for their next shipment (mid-May).

Teacher Terry

4-24-20, 8:42pm

Steve, that must be why it won’t connect to my Bluetooth.

Tammy

4-24-20, 10:43pm

I'm looking for the actual name of the app in the app store and for the life of me i can't find it. but the icon on my phone looks like this
3178

SteveinMN

4-25-20, 12:14pm

Thanks, Tammy. I can find lots of apps with similar icons, but nothing identical (iOS 13.x on an iPhone SE; maybe that's why). I see heart-rate monitors which use the camera's flash to measure. But I can't find that app....

Tammy

4-25-20, 3:03pm

Oh maybe so - I’m using an iPhone X.

Tybee

4-25-20, 3:18pm

Wouldn't it have to link to an apple watch, though? Something you are wearing that can scan for the pulse ox?

Mine is just the little clip on to your finger one, low tech, no computer required.

Tammy

4-25-20, 7:36pm

No - I put my finger over the camera and flash area of the phone and it sends a red light through my finger just like a real pulse oximeter.

Tybee

4-25-20, 7:40pm

No - I put my finger over the camera and flash area of the phone and it sends a red light through my finger just like a real pulse oximeter.

Wow, cool!

bae

4-25-20, 9:14pm

The pulse oximeter smartphone apps apparently aren't trustworthy, especially at low oxygen levels (which is when you'd want them to work).

"CONCLUSIONS: It is not physically possible to measure SpO2 using current smartphone technology."

https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/question-should-smartphone-apps-be-used-as-oximeters-answer-no/

"The degree of correlation between monitors routinely used in clinical practice and the smartphone-based applications studied is insufficient to recommend clinical utilization. This lack of correlation suggests that the applications evaluated do not provide clinically meaningful data. The inaccurate data provided by these applications can potentially contribute to patient harm."

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10877-016-9889-6

Tammy

4-25-20, 11:22pm

Interesting!

Teacher Terry

4-26-20, 1:02am

I have purposely not given my family my website or passwords. If I disappear I am gone.

Tybee

4-26-20, 6:32am

I have purposely not given my family my website or passwords. If I disappear I am gone.

Terry, please don't disappear. We need you!

Teacher Terry

4-26-20, 1:12pm

I didn’t mean disappear on purpose. I meant I will be dead.

iris lilies

4-26-20, 2:44pm

My executors are instructed to contact Alan if I die. He will tell you that good/bad news!

razz

4-26-20, 3:31pm

My executors are instructed to contact Alan if I die. He will tell you that good/bad news!

Oh shoot that’s one thing that I didn’t think about doing.

SteveinMN

4-26-20, 4:51pm

My executors are instructed to contact Alan if I die. He will tell you that good/bad news!
I did that, too, for DW's what-to-do list.

Teacher Terry

4-26-20, 5:45pm

I bought a Oximeter about 5 years ago and never used it. Of course I cannot find it. So went online and they were half price with free shipping so bought one.

pinkytoe

4-26-20, 6:02pm

If you look at amazon. the oximeters are mostly Chinese made with weird misspelled descriptions. Ugh...

Teacher Terry

4-26-20, 8:12pm

I ordered from target. Amazon is slow to getting anything to people. I ordered a baking pan weeks ago that hasn’t even shipped.

jp1

4-27-20, 9:33pm

The oximeter I ordered from amazon last week came today. Mine measured 98%. SO's was 95%. So I guess we're healthy. It'll be interesting to see how long the machine lasts. It was a cheap chinese model, complete with the following instructions: "Do not shake the finger, and keep the patient at ease during measuring process. Meanwhile, human body is not recommended in movement status."

I think from now on when I'm going to take a walk to get some exercise I will tell SO, "I'm going to go put my body in movement status for a while."

pinkytoe

4-28-20, 10:30am

Finally got mine. 96% which is what it has consistently been since moving to a high elevation.

Gardnr

4-28-20, 10:51am

A non-smoker should be 95% or higher on a regular basis. If you're 92% or below for a sustained period of a week or more, then call your doc.

I believe a cheapo model will still be accurate +/- 2%.