Coronavirus April 2020: look for low blood oxygen?

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LondonAndy

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London, UK
I thought time to start a fresh thread as the February one has got pretty long.

After all the global concern about having enough ventilators available in hospitals, I have read several articles that suggest they may not be the best way to treat someone with Covid-19. The problem is claimed to be low blood oxygen without symptoms, such that by the time you get to hospital hypoxia is well advanced. This New York Times article explains the thinking, and recommends to use those cheap blood oximeters that you can buy for about £20 ($24) and clip on the end of your finger to check your own blood oxygen saturation, which should normally be 94% or more. If you have a cough, fever or fatigue keep an eye for a noticeable drop and seek treatment.

What do you guys think?

Hopeful news here in the UK today: clinical trials of a possible vaccine start on Thursday, though lots of caution given the lack of vaccines for other Coronaviruses.
 
I've thought of buying an oximeter but the trouble is which one is reliable? Previously I've looked at these and found very mixed reviews. Does anyone one have a recommendation ?
 
LondonAndy said:
I've had this one for the last few years, and results have been consistent with hospital checks.
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It's a bit weird Andy - that link and all the other N/R ones on Amazon are despatched from China and take till end of May or early June to get here. Things I've bought in the past from Amazon from China have all been poor quality and I don't think they're so well covered with Amazon Marketplace as they're not located in the UK. I'd get one from our local Chemist if I was allowed out.
 
Paleowoman said:
I'd get one from our local Chemist if I was allowed out.
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Hi Anne

This is the one I’ve been using for a year or so (sold in the UK but Chinese made):
Had pretty consistent results. Out of stock, it seems. But they have another model that ships within 5 days:
​
Also been using a Braun ear thermometer since my op in August and it’s proved a pretty useful indicator that something was amiss a couple of times since then.

Hope you find what you’re looking for.
 
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I too read this article and immediately went to Amazon and saw many are sold out so I suppose we're late to the game. I did place an order for one that said it was 'fulfilled by Amazon.' We'll see how it goes.
 
I read that article yesterday; very interesting. I have a good friend in NYC working in a Mt Sinai program which tracks people at home after their initial contact with the health system, monitoring several key metrics to determine if and when they need to come in for higher level care. Pulse oximetry is one of those key metrics reported every day. As for a good source of the units, you might try aviation suppliers; pilots use these devices regularly in conjunction with supplemental oxygen to set proper flow rates in the air. You might try the people who make and sell the oxygen systems, like Mountain High, SkyOx, Precise Flight, or Aerox, as well as sellers such as Sporty's Pilot Shop, Aircraft Spruce and Specialty, and AntiSplat Aero (which is who I bought mine from a few years ago). They may well have stock and most people won't think to look there.
 
There are some videos on youtube on how to breath if you get covid-19. These are breathing exercises you should start now. At least one is by a respiratory specialist. I also read that you should stay as active as possible and not sleep on your back if you do get Covid-19. The idea is to try to protect your lungs as much as possible.

The info on low blood oxygen level has been out there for at least a month. I check mine daily because the oxymeter also checks heart rate.
 
My hospital was supposed to give me a pulse oximeter, but they may have not gotten theirs in yet. As with Rich01, I'm more interested in an accurate pulse measure than in blood oxygen levels. (Although I trust my Fitbit, I'd still be more confident with a device that is designed to measure my pulse).

Although an earl thermometer -- one that takes the temperature inside my ear - sounds like a good idea, and I DO need some kind of thermometer, for me, this would seem to be overkill, a bit obsessive, and a great tool for a person who obsesses about the virus (or other ailment). I have enough trouble just taking my blood presssure daily. My Fitbit, with the ability to sort of monitor my heart rate, and that gives me a resting heart rate, is probably enough for me, I still may need a more accurate way to measure my heart rate.

In my case, one of my medications - Verapamil - shouldn't be taken if my heart rate is below 50. If my resting heart rate is 52 (which, fortunately, isn't any more), this would mean that at times it probably drops below 50 (counterindicating that I should take the drug,) and above 52. A pulseoximeter could give me a snapshot of my current heart rate (as can the FItbit with an unknown degree of accuracy).

Too much attention to temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc,. etc,. would, to me, seem to be a bit too much.
 
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I don’t need to know my heart rate but my blood pressure monitor (A&D) gives an accurate heart rate along with blood pressure. I also have a Polar heart rate monitor which is pretty accurate, it’s a chest monitor which beams the result to my iphone, but I don’t often use that these days, it was for when I was doing specific fitness exercises that were reviewed by cardiac exercise physiologists. And I have a pretty accurate App on my iphone which measures heart rate using the camera thing, it’s called Heart Rate PRO, that was what I used when I was being prescribed a medication to lower my heart rate. The oximeter would be especially good I think though - even my GP asked me if I had one to refer to. I've seen one for the iphone but it doesn't appear to be accurate at lower than 94%.
 
gerrychuck said:
You might try the people who make and sell the oxygen systems, like Mountain High, SkyOx, Precise Flight, or Aerox, as well as sellers such as Sporty's Pilot Shop, Aircraft Spruce and Specialty, and AntiSplat Aero (which is who I bought mine from a few years ago).
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AntiSplatAero - what a great name for a flying safety company!
 
gerrychuck said:
and AntiSplat Aero
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just wondering ... did they start in parachuting supplies?

Ahh ... a quick google shows me this:

Our biggest concern that started us off on this experimental aircraft journey, was the multiple failures of the nose gear on the Vans RV-A models of aircraft.
 
I have a Samsung galaxy s8 phone. It has a Samsung Galaxy health app. The stress measures your oxygen rate and pulse rate. It also has a breathing exercise. Before a up date you could just measure your oxygen level and save the data. We all liked it better and it also showed your oxygen level on a line that was red, yellow, green. I also have a oximeter. Years ago when I was out of town my husband called me. Now he has had a heart attack in the past. I am having chest pains. I told him to get the oximeter and check his oxygen rate. At a oxygen rate of 100% it's most likely not from your heart. The pain was from kidneys stones.
 
pellicle said:
just wondering ... did they start in parachuting supplies?

Ahh ... a quick google shows me this:

Our biggest concern that started us off on this experimental aircraft journey, was the multiple failures of the nose gear on the Vans RV-A models of aircraft.
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Bingo. That's what I fly. Nosewheel RVs have a bad habit of summersaulting on the ground when the nose gear fails. A friend of mine had it happen and ended up with neck fractures and other badness, but survived to rebuild his plane and fly another day. AntiSplat sell several products that decrease the chance of that happening, and decrease the severity of the outcome if it does. I have all of them on my nose gear!
 
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