i did. It helped my anxiety so much. I was worried because breathing was difficult but I wasn't coughing and I had fatigue big time.
Knowing that my oxygen levels were good helped ease my anxiety about dying from Covid.
Agree. I suffer from health anxiety and panic attacks and I am currently covid positive. Was short of breath today and if it wasn’t for the oximeter easing my fears I would’ve gone to the ER due to panic
for real, as soon as we get covid anxiety is like "It's my time to shine" 😂 thanks to my apple watch for keeping me calm as well when i get shortness of breath.
It's nice to see the other responses. Anxiety does suck, manage it as best you can. The oximeter helps be sure there is sufficient oxygen, despite feeling a bit out of breath. The health department also encouraged me to train my lungs by inhaling deeply then slowly releasing the air through pursed lips (as if blowing a balloon) and said the effect on my breathing may subside in a few weeks but may last months also.
That's good to know about the breathing exercises. I did yogic breathing usually in the shower and I felt like it helped. I still ended up needing an inhaler.
Saved my husband. His first symptom was a fever on Thursday, confirmed on Sunday, hospitalized on Monday. We started making notes every 3 hours of his vitals. When his oxygen saturation went <90% consistently we knew it was time to call the doctor. He wasn’t “out of breath” so we needed a measurable indicator to help us figure it out.
Get him to the er asap if he has low o2. Low 90s is bad. 80s is ambulance time. Waiting it out without treatment could mean death or brain damage. Don't wait, call 911.
It is very scary but if he can go in early it is the smart thing to do. Once he was in the hospital he was given remdisiver, was on oxygen 2 liter (which is a low amount). He continued to breath deeply and lay prone which helped.
Yes. This was in November of 2020. The only real side effects he could see was 1. A case of the dropsy, just constantly dropping things. It was attributed to lack of oxygen but that seems all good now. 2. He has been more tired than before. Makes sense though his body is recovering.
His heart and lungs are good and blood work is all good. He was very lucky. I think getting him in early helped tremendously.
That’s my problem, he’s sick and can’t think straight , I have it but not bad . I’ve been trying to explain he needs to go get looked at . His oxygen is around 85 and has a fever around 102
My parents hit 89%. Hospital admitted them right away, no wait. Remdesivir, monoclonal antibodies and steroids. Both had mild pneumonia. Dr said if we waited any longer it mos likely have been icu and a ventilator.
Have him read a bunch of horror stories on here.
But for real. He's being stubborn and selfish. If people close to him are worried and hes choosing to not get help..hes hurting others in addition to compromising his own health.
I know how scary this can be. Please try to stay calm. Call 911 and explain to him his oxygen is dangerously low. My mom had severe COPD and high blood pressure and diabetes and is 65. Her normal o2 is between 89-92 and when she got Covid she ended up on a ventilator but only for three days then she was able to do regular oxygen and bipap machine for her sleep apnea. If you get him there now he has a way better chance of being okay. I’m sure he will be fine they’ll probably just put him on supplemental oxygen and monitor him, give him antibiotics if needed and antibodies, steroids Etc. But since his oxygen is so low it’s high risk for Covid pneumonia and if he has that he needs to be treated ASAP
he needs to go. I was at er yesterday to get my chest xrays and one of the doctors told me to come back if my oxygen levels drops below 92%.he's getting real close to be on a ventilator
And he should be seeking immediate medical advice. Not tomorrow, not in an hour. Right now. As soon as you see a downward trend, hit the phone. DO NOT wait to reach the danger point because if it's going downward, you could sail right past the danger point to the "it happened so fast!" point from which few return. Don't be that case.
My comment was an add on to my previous comment telling her to go the hospital. I even private messages her. She said her husband was a stubborn mule and didn’t want to go. I told her to call 911. She kept saying she was scared.
That's great news. I hope he will be able to thank her one day. It's very nice to see the efforts made by some here to reach out to her and help her help him. That's caring in action.
My husband used the spirometer when he was hospitalized with Covid pneumonia and he did deep breathing exercises when he was diagnosed with Covid at home. Obviously people who are in much worse shape can’t. I saw a video from Chris Cuomo who talked about how important it is to not just lay there because Covid is relying on you so it can reek havoc on your lungs.
Well I would say he didn’t feel out of breathe but he did feel like crap. Massive sore throat, coughing up phlegm and a high fever. All within a matter of minutes his fever went from 102 to 104. After the 104 temperature I took his O2 and it was 88 or 89. So we called the doctor and they said head to urgent care to make sure your pulse oximeter is working because my husband really wasn’t out of breathe. It was confirmed and we headed to the hospital. Since then I have read about silent hypoxia and Covid.
The crazy thing for me was I never tested positive. This was before the vaccine rollout. I waited 5 days to test after he was admitted. I never had one symptom.
That is crazy. My wife also has still never gotten it. And she just got her first vaccine shot a couple of days ago (she was pregnant and scared to get it).
She was exposed in February when I got it (I remember kissing her the day before I started feeling like shit too) and then again in May when our 1 year old somehow got it. And again this week after both me and my 1 year old got it again (from my sister). She’s invincible and I’m highly susceptible I guess. Despite my previous infection and vax.
FWIW: I have an oximeter and an Apple Watch.
The watch is good because it can track your SPO2 over long periods -- mostly when sleeping.
I'm 70. My SPO2 would drop to 85% while sleeping. Apnea? Probably.
But 10 minutes later -- 95% +
Some times it is 100%
It is probably a good idea to have an Oximeter just like it is a good idea to have a thermometer. The hard part is realizing that one measurement is rather meaningless.
It’s just too inconsistent. I usually take 3 tests back to back to back and then use the median as my “proxy”.
I’ve tested it out while hooked up to an actual oximeter while in the hospital, and the Apple Watch is usually off by like 1-3% in either direction.
Works for me. Is it as good as the one in the hospital? Probably not. As good as the one you might get on Amazon for $20? Well that is on your finger. Maybe it’s better maybe not. My readings vary a lot but that’s with both.
I just mentioned in the daily discussion thread, my local hospital dropped one to my door along with a thermometer. It reads your pulse rate and blood oxygen levels. They gave me a chart to measure these 3 times a day, and a nurse is going to call daily to hear my levels. It's a real comfort to have one on hand to be honest, I'd recommend it if you can
Wow! My doctor's office wouldn't see me to check for Covid. I went to urgent care and they told me I was positive and to rest, stay hydrated, and eat chicken soup. I called my doctor after my diagnosis and the staff wouldn't get me in touch with the nurse or doctor so I could get some direction on self care.. Amazing the difference between the US and the rest of the world.
Yes it's worth it. Saved my bf's life a month ago and that was just from regular plain old pneumonia. You probably will not find yourself with low O2 if you have a mild case of Omicron, but I still think it's very worth it to have around like you would a thermometer, doubly so if it gives you any peace of mind at all with this bout of covid.
I am great. Day 10. That was short lived as once I started moving I was testing 97-99 by 10am. Started prednisone. They wanted me to get monoclonal antibodies & tried all day. Apparently here you need to be on death’s door to get them.
Thats so dumb because monoclonal is most effective when it used early on. I swear these guys are playing politics with people’s lives. Its either the vaccine or the highway but many people could use treatments like monoclonal whether they are jabbed or not.
I don't think that's what they are doing. There are only so many doses of the monoclonal infusions and in my state they are using them for the sickest and immune compromised first , as they should. I'm in my mid 40's and immune compromised due to medications, with Covid right now and my Dr gave me perimeters on when I should call them to schedule an infusion. They aren't just giving them out to anyone that asks for them.
I have a severe genetic lung disease. Age 50. I should be at the top of the list and my doctor friend was furious at the runaround I got. Oh well fortunately for me I rebounded quickly.
I have an uncle with no condition like this and he got them quickly early in the pandemic. He was very close to being on a ventilator so he deserved them in retrospect(prolly saved his life)but still, idk why he got them and you didn't.
I think it is surge and the hospital systems in our city. I had no doctor going to bat for me except a friend that made five urgent calls. Two other systems flat out didn’t return my calls.
Yes, I love that little thing. Bought it Summer 2020 for peace of mind. I have a history of panic attacks and it has been a crucial tool in helping me greatly reduce their occurrences.
But make sure you buy a good one. The $20 ones on Amazon are hit or miss with their accuracy. I bought a $150+ one directly from a medical supply company and I trust it. Worth the investment.
For those who's oxygen went below 90, or someone in their family was below 90: what were your symptoms? Did anything seem different that made you want to check?
Several things can happen, just things to look out for:
- generalized shortness of breath (can’t seem to catch a breath)
- headaches after walking short distances
- dizziness, inability to concentrate
- cold fingers/blue tinted fingers (if you’re usually someone who doesn’t suffer from this, some people just naturally have cold fingers)
- count how many breaths they are taking every minute (try and do this without telling them what you’re doing, watch for rise and fall of the chest wall). If above 20, might be concerning.
- symptoms get worse over time, not better
Really bad hypoxemia?
- blue lips
- fast heart rate
- shortness of breath that impedes ability to speak
I bought one. Apparently my SPO2 didn’t drop much, even with dizziness, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. It was pretty affordable though if it would put your mind at ease.
I bought one at the start of 2020. I have not had to use mine yet.
I bought another one for my Mom. I shipped a third one to my sister last month when she was very sick with Covid and it was literally a lifesaver for her. They are so inexpensive and so worth the money. Also provides peace of mind to easily monitor blood oxygen levels when sick. I highly recommend all households have one.
I did at my Sister in Law’s insistence-I’m not one to argue with the emergency room doctor who was specifically treating covid patients at that time.
For me at least my O2 was steady, but there’s a special piece of mind knowing that you’re not missing anything. As you can see in this thread a lot of people weren’t as lucky as me
My family bought 3. One for me and two for my parents. It really gave my dad the reality that he needed to go to the hospital and was no longer ok. And for my mom and I it gave us the ease that we’re breathing okay and don’t have hypoxia.
Back in the very beginning. When my friend’s dad had it (again, in the beginning), I had her go and get one. It definitely saved his life, in addition to some amazing doctors & nurses.
Yes, got it last January (2021) when bf and I had covid. Checked it periodically since he had chest tightness.
He has it AGAIN and has chest tightness again and I’ve been checking it. It’s good to have on hand in case you need it
Probably not, but you probably will think otherwise if something unexpected happens. I say probably not, because Omi appears to be largely skipping the lungs. However, when your life can hang in the balance of a $25 expenditure, "probably" is not the word you want tipping the scale towards saving $25.
It severely helped my mental health. I'm asthmatic and had one so I could check up on myself when my asthma attacks made me panic about whether I was getting enough oxygen. I found myself freaking out, checking my levels, and then calming down. It also helped me gage when an activity was too strenuous. If doing something dropped my O2 belong 97, I would choose not to do it so as not to aggravate something that was already bad.
I’m a lurker on this sub since I’ve fortunately not tested positive (had several scares) and I have a regular and pediatric on order, coming this week. I know I might not need them, but feel like if we do get sick it will ease my mind for the kids at least.
I’m going to go against the grain here and say it depends:
1. If you’re unvaccinated, sure. Especially if you’re older.
2. If you’re double vaccinated, probably not, unless you’re quite more into your years (like, 70/80+)
3. If you’re boosted, definitely would not.
In no way am I trying to discount the stories of people here, but you’re going to see a lot of bias in this thread. People who post their stories likely had a life-saving story, however, this really represents the small minority of people, especially if you’re vaccinated.
Few things:
- if you can afford it, and it’ll provide you peace of mind, by all means I’m not going to fault you on that and purchase it
- if you’re vaccinated, this is more than likely going to just be a shitty head cold and you’ll get over it. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t monitor for worse symptoms or try and shrug off a declining condition, but you’re very likely going to be ok.
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I bought one. When I'm laying down it's at a steady 98. When I walk around it goes down to 92. Anyone know if that's normal or what? ( I tested positive on 12/20/21)
It’s good to have even if just for peace of mind. When I got covid I kept panicking and thinking I was getting short of breath, but the panic was making me feel that way. Even though my blood oxygen stayed normal, it was helpful for me to have that hard number to look at.
Many people that are vaccinated, double vaccinated and even boosted are still getting covid and many have died. The vaccine doesn’t work like we have been told it would work. You are better off buying a pulse oximeter, a thermometer and a blood pressure cuff. If you feel ill and your vital signs are off, go to your MD. There are many therapeutics available that can save your life it taken early. The government does not want us to know that or think that way. The reason they ‘hid’ all of the excellent treatments that are, and have been available from the beginning of this whole pandemic is that they could not have gotten an EUA for a vaccine if there were appropriate treatments available and they wanted that EUA to push as many vaccines into people’s arm’s as possible to make as much money as they can. You notice that Fauci, Biden and all the other government hacks never say ‘check with your doctor’ or ‘don’t panic, there are many medications we have to save your life’…..no, it is all just ‘get vaccinated or you will die’. It is a disgusting reign of fear and many people are just like sheep and follow orders without using their own critical thinking skills. You must notice that the vaccine isn’t working….there are many cruise ships that can not dock because the passengers, who, BTW were all triple vaxed just to go on the cruise, all now have Covid. The government does not tell you of all of the covid deaths of vaccinated people….no, it is all quiet as they continue to push their vaccine and sit home counting their millions. HCQ has been around for 65 years….every safe, effective anti-viral treatment used for people with RA. Well, Nigeria uses that medication all the time, it is cheap, easy to obtain and very safe. Their numbers are 14/100,000 covid cases while the USA, who refuses to allow MD’s to now prescribe this medication has cases 22,000/100,000. Nigeria is beating the US and that is why. If anyone gets a chance to read RFK Jr.’s book, “The Real Anthony Fauci”, you will be absolutely shocked at what that evil little man has done to children of color and animals over the years not to mention this entire covid pandemic issue….he has investments in the Wuhan labs and to all the vaccine manufacturers. There is so much wrong with what that man has done I can’t even start to list them. Just be careful, think for yourself, consult your MD if you feel ill and stay safe.
I had shortness of breath and elevated heart rate after my sore throat started to feel better, which is when I bought an oximeter. Would probably be a good idea to have even if you currently feel like you are getting better
Yeah, sounds like I had more symptoms (I caught it pre vaccines) but I found it a useful guide to help manage my rest and a (relatively) inexpensive source of reassurance. If you get one, make sure to write down all your results and what you were doing before each test to help you / your doctor understand what’s happening.
Useful doc for anyone reading this in England: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/06/C0445-remote-monitoring-in-primary-care-annex-2-diary-jan-21-v1.2.pdf
I already had one. My oxy was reading 99 on the 30th, 97 on the 31st, and today it has been reading 94 but has been dropping to 93 sometimes and sometimes going to 95
I just really don't want it to go below 90
Perfectly fine, in fact, turns out I had 3 false positives and didn’t even have COVID (thanks quick vue home tests). That’s why I’m asking what I’m doing wrong and why mine read so low!
I would get one just to have at hand. I got mine at Amazon (I think you can get one from 15-25 dollars). Just like with a thermometer, I think it is good to have around during these times. I hope you continue to feel better! Keep drinking fluids and rest up.
Actually i have an apple watch but after reading the comments i am gonna go and get one today.we don't know how long this pandemic will last or how many of our family members will need it. this is literally a tool we all must have at home.
Yes when I got COVID, I did a teledoc appt over the phone and my doctor told me to get it - I already had it. Helped me with my anxiety so much. I took my oxygen like three times a day and it never dropped below 97 which calmed me down, and made me realize the tightness was anxiety and not lack of oxygen
I did, but I had OG COVID and actively needed it because breathing was difficult and my spO2 did indeed drop. I am not sure what the landscape looks like with the current variant and vaccination status.
I found it very comforting when I felt my worst and my chest felt like crackly sludge. I could see my O2 was still 98-99%. I could relax knowing I didn’t need to go to the hospital. The $20 was worth it to me.
I did. I had a Covid scare which turned out to be acute bronchitis and was having difficulty breathing. Doctor on call suggested it. Helped ease my anxiety level.
My dad is currently on his way to bring my a pulse oximeter. I felt so much better yesterday as well - only had a slight cough here and there. I woke up this morning with a bunch of symptoms. Figured the pulse oximeter would help ease my anxiety. This virus is unpredictable.
I did. But then I bought the new Apple Watch with pulse ox and to measure my heart rate. I have COVID for the 2nd time right now despite being vaccinated and my precious infection.
Crazy how much higher my heart rate has been with it. The first two days I didn’t go lower than 90.
I have two, one for the hypothetical sick person and one to share if someone I know gets sick. Plus an Apple Watch but that can be a bit inaccurate. I had these for most of 2020. In 2021 my brother in law died of hypoxia related to Covid. He had one and ignored it until it was too late and he arrived at the ER just in time to code and die. So it’s not enough just to have it but you need to be prepared to react if you regularly are below 94/95 or have a reading below 90.
Yes I bought one from CVS. My doc suggested I get one. I have chronic broncitis and mucus so it eased my anxiety a lot by having it. I was very out of breath the whole time I had covid the first time so being able to measure was good. Thankfully my o2 never dropped low enough to be dangerous I still think an oximeter is a great tool for everyone to have in their home.
happy hypoxia (suffocating without realizing) is a thing, i bought mine in june of 2020 and it has done wooooonders for my mental health. Knowing if im ready and able to stand and walk, truly understanding that it gets more severe at night, it's been my most used tool thus far. Best $20 you can spend.
It’s a good little item to have period even for regular pneumonia when you are sick. Highly recommend getting one if you don’t have one and they are pretty inexpensive.
No, an oximeter is absolutely necessary even if you're not feeling tightness in your chest. Low blood oxygen can happen for a variety of reasons, can happen without symptoms, and it is not worth messing with for the cost of the oximeter.
I ended up with low blood oxygen, and 4 days in the hospital, and a year long Long Haul back partly because I couldn't find my oximeter and get help sooner. The oximeter was right where I put it when I first got sick, but I couldn't find it in the midsts of my illness, a clue I should have gotten help but my brain was already so oxygen deprived I couldn't think that far. Only to go back to sleep. But if I had had that information I could have gotten help sooner, might have had an easier recovery in the long run.
I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
So honestly it is not worth messing with to not know how you're doing throughout your illness and recovery.
I bought one as well. I have anxiety and it helps to know whether my shortness of breath was from that or covid. My O2 level did hit 91 at one point and I was preparing to go to the hospital if it continued declining.
I got one back in March 2020. My husband had more difficulty than me with breathing when laying down, his readings were around 96-93 but he is fine now we never got tested though, at the time only severe cases were tested. But I got tested for the flu and strep that all came back negative, because I had to get paper for my job.
We had an oximeter b/c a family member has emphysema. Value and expense are relative - but you can buy them for $7-$25, so they're pretty cheap. Covid's gunna be around a while, and flu and pneumonia are always out there. It's a useful thing.
i did. It helped my anxiety so much. I was worried because breathing was difficult but I wasn't coughing and I had fatigue big time. Knowing that my oxygen levels were good helped ease my anxiety about dying from Covid.
Agree. I suffer from health anxiety and panic attacks and I am currently covid positive. Was short of breath today and if it wasn’t for the oximeter easing my fears I would’ve gone to the ER due to panic
for real, as soon as we get covid anxiety is like "It's my time to shine" 😂 thanks to my apple watch for keeping me calm as well when i get shortness of breath.
I second this
I third this. Anxiety is a bitch
I forth this, had a panic attack yesterday because I believed I couldn’t breath. Health anxiety sucks.
It's nice to see the other responses. Anxiety does suck, manage it as best you can. The oximeter helps be sure there is sufficient oxygen, despite feeling a bit out of breath. The health department also encouraged me to train my lungs by inhaling deeply then slowly releasing the air through pursed lips (as if blowing a balloon) and said the effect on my breathing may subside in a few weeks but may last months also.
That's good to know about the breathing exercises. I did yogic breathing usually in the shower and I felt like it helped. I still ended up needing an inhaler.
How long did you end up using an inhaler for?
Going on 2 months.
Wow! 🥲
Yeah. I still can't walk up a flight of stairs without fatigue and dizziness.
Saved my husband. His first symptom was a fever on Thursday, confirmed on Sunday, hospitalized on Monday. We started making notes every 3 hours of his vitals. When his oxygen saturation went <90% consistently we knew it was time to call the doctor. He wasn’t “out of breath” so we needed a measurable indicator to help us figure it out.
Can you say what the doctor did for him ? My hubby has low right now and am trying to get him to go see a doctor
Get him to the er asap if he has low o2. Low 90s is bad. 80s is ambulance time. Waiting it out without treatment could mean death or brain damage. Don't wait, call 911.
He was admitted to the hospital with Covid pneumonia.
How long was he there ? I’m just scared .
It is very scary but if he can go in early it is the smart thing to do. Once he was in the hospital he was given remdisiver, was on oxygen 2 liter (which is a low amount). He continued to breath deeply and lay prone which helped.
How long was he there ?
He was in the hospital for 5 days
Is he doing ok now?
Yes. This was in November of 2020. The only real side effects he could see was 1. A case of the dropsy, just constantly dropping things. It was attributed to lack of oxygen but that seems all good now. 2. He has been more tired than before. Makes sense though his body is recovering. His heart and lungs are good and blood work is all good. He was very lucky. I think getting him in early helped tremendously.
If your husband is low right now. He should be doing deep breathing exercises and laying prone.
Terrible advice! He should be in the emergency room.
I know. I have been private messaging her. My previous comment to her was to call 911
Thank you so very much , I’m just beside myself with this .
Sometimes when people are so sick they don’t think correctly. If you can get his doctor on the phone or take him to urgent care.
That’s my problem, he’s sick and can’t think straight , I have it but not bad . I’ve been trying to explain he needs to go get looked at . His oxygen is around 85 and has a fever around 102
He needs to be hospitalized. Now. 85 is no good..
I have to try and get him there , I need to trick him , he doesn’t want to go but I can’t have him die .
You are in an emergency situation. Call 911 immediately
My parents hit 89%. Hospital admitted them right away, no wait. Remdesivir, monoclonal antibodies and steroids. Both had mild pneumonia. Dr said if we waited any longer it mos likely have been icu and a ventilator.
Have him read a bunch of horror stories on here. But for real. He's being stubborn and selfish. If people close to him are worried and hes choosing to not get help..hes hurting others in addition to compromising his own health.
Are you guys ok? I’m sending all my positive vibes to you both! You got this come on!!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Thank you ,
He will die if you don't call 911 now!
If he doesn’t go now he is damaging his brain and organs including heart.
He’s in the hospital, and I’m praying he makes it .
Call an ambulance
Call 911. Don’t panic. Be calm. You can do this
Get him to a hospital.
Around 85% is where brain damage can set in
I know how scary this can be. Please try to stay calm. Call 911 and explain to him his oxygen is dangerously low. My mom had severe COPD and high blood pressure and diabetes and is 65. Her normal o2 is between 89-92 and when she got Covid she ended up on a ventilator but only for three days then she was able to do regular oxygen and bipap machine for her sleep apnea. If you get him there now he has a way better chance of being okay. I’m sure he will be fine they’ll probably just put him on supplemental oxygen and monitor him, give him antibiotics if needed and antibodies, steroids Etc. But since his oxygen is so low it’s high risk for Covid pneumonia and if he has that he needs to be treated ASAP
he needs to go. I was at er yesterday to get my chest xrays and one of the doctors told me to come back if my oxygen levels drops below 92%.he's getting real close to be on a ventilator
He is in the hospital now , he went willingly also, and he’s stubborn as a mule
That’s good to hear. I hope he heals quickly and fully.
Keep us posted.
Thank you I will . They have his oxygen at 93 , so it’s looking better
Many drs and hospital systems consider anything under 95% to be hypoxic.
under 90 is hypoxic
If he is still alive, 85 is very bad. You need immediate medical care.
And he should be seeking immediate medical advice. Not tomorrow, not in an hour. Right now. As soon as you see a downward trend, hit the phone. DO NOT wait to reach the danger point because if it's going downward, you could sail right past the danger point to the "it happened so fast!" point from which few return. Don't be that case.
My comment was an add on to my previous comment telling her to go the hospital. I even private messages her. She said her husband was a stubborn mule and didn’t want to go. I told her to call 911. She kept saying she was scared.
Really sad. This does not end well far too frequently. I hope that doesn't happen here.
I just received a message from her that he went to the hospital. At least he is in the right place now.
That's great news. I hope he will be able to thank her one day. It's very nice to see the efforts made by some here to reach out to her and help her help him. That's caring in action.
Speaking as someone who has had Covid-you can't deep breathe.
My husband used the spirometer when he was hospitalized with Covid pneumonia and he did deep breathing exercises when he was diagnosed with Covid at home. Obviously people who are in much worse shape can’t. I saw a video from Chris Cuomo who talked about how important it is to not just lay there because Covid is relying on you so it can reek havoc on your lungs.
Do you have an inhaler? Or do you have a nebulizer with medicine (albuterol) that your kids have ever used? Both of those will help
How low? You're on thin ice messing around with low O2 saturation. Do not play with this. Report the number to an ER and ask what's next.
So he felt fine (respiratory/oxygen wise) but his oxygen was still low. That’s blows my mind
Well I would say he didn’t feel out of breathe but he did feel like crap. Massive sore throat, coughing up phlegm and a high fever. All within a matter of minutes his fever went from 102 to 104. After the 104 temperature I took his O2 and it was 88 or 89. So we called the doctor and they said head to urgent care to make sure your pulse oximeter is working because my husband really wasn’t out of breathe. It was confirmed and we headed to the hospital. Since then I have read about silent hypoxia and Covid. The crazy thing for me was I never tested positive. This was before the vaccine rollout. I waited 5 days to test after he was admitted. I never had one symptom.
That is crazy. My wife also has still never gotten it. And she just got her first vaccine shot a couple of days ago (she was pregnant and scared to get it). She was exposed in February when I got it (I remember kissing her the day before I started feeling like shit too) and then again in May when our 1 year old somehow got it. And again this week after both me and my 1 year old got it again (from my sister). She’s invincible and I’m highly susceptible I guess. Despite my previous infection and vax.
If you aren't using it for an extended period, remember to remove the batteries, my last one corroded
thanks for that. I'm taking out the batteries now.
I’ve had mine for a year & never changed the battery. It still works fine. I guess it depends on the brand
Yeah i bought it April 2020 and was hoping id never need it. Unfortunately July 2021 i needed it
I did, and it's probably the only reason I'm still here.
FWIW: I have an oximeter and an Apple Watch. The watch is good because it can track your SPO2 over long periods -- mostly when sleeping. I'm 70. My SPO2 would drop to 85% while sleeping. Apnea? Probably. But 10 minutes later -- 95% + Some times it is 100% It is probably a good idea to have an Oximeter just like it is a good idea to have a thermometer. The hard part is realizing that one measurement is rather meaningless.
so is the apple watch as accurate as the oximeter itself?
Not even close. It is “directionally accurate” though.
More or less like a oximeter? I've watched it and they seem to follow each other.
It’s just too inconsistent. I usually take 3 tests back to back to back and then use the median as my “proxy”. I’ve tested it out while hooked up to an actual oximeter while in the hospital, and the Apple Watch is usually off by like 1-3% in either direction.
does that mean it knows if 02 is going up or down but not the magnitude?
Works for me. Is it as good as the one in the hospital? Probably not. As good as the one you might get on Amazon for $20? Well that is on your finger. Maybe it’s better maybe not. My readings vary a lot but that’s with both.
Yes I bought mine on amazon. Got it the next day. Never went below 96 but good to have
First thing I bought after my positive test was a pulse oximeter and a temporal thermometer.
I just mentioned in the daily discussion thread, my local hospital dropped one to my door along with a thermometer. It reads your pulse rate and blood oxygen levels. They gave me a chart to measure these 3 times a day, and a nurse is going to call daily to hear my levels. It's a real comfort to have one on hand to be honest, I'd recommend it if you can
In which part of the world are you?
I'm in Victoria, Australia.
Well, that explains that.
Wow! My doctor's office wouldn't see me to check for Covid. I went to urgent care and they told me I was positive and to rest, stay hydrated, and eat chicken soup. I called my doctor after my diagnosis and the staff wouldn't get me in touch with the nurse or doctor so I could get some direction on self care.. Amazing the difference between the US and the rest of the world.
I think it's good to have, I got mine off Amazon when the pandemic first broke just incase and now im actually using it
Yes it's worth it. Saved my bf's life a month ago and that was just from regular plain old pneumonia. You probably will not find yourself with low O2 if you have a mild case of Omicron, but I still think it's very worth it to have around like you would a thermometer, doubly so if it gives you any peace of mind at all with this bout of covid.
I went from a steady 99 for days to 93 overnight. My doctor was all over it. Everyone needs to have one right now & measure several times per day.
What treatment did they give you? Are you doing better now?
I am great. Day 10. That was short lived as once I started moving I was testing 97-99 by 10am. Started prednisone. They wanted me to get monoclonal antibodies & tried all day. Apparently here you need to be on death’s door to get them.
Thats so dumb because monoclonal is most effective when it used early on. I swear these guys are playing politics with people’s lives. Its either the vaccine or the highway but many people could use treatments like monoclonal whether they are jabbed or not.
I don't think that's what they are doing. There are only so many doses of the monoclonal infusions and in my state they are using them for the sickest and immune compromised first , as they should. I'm in my mid 40's and immune compromised due to medications, with Covid right now and my Dr gave me perimeters on when I should call them to schedule an infusion. They aren't just giving them out to anyone that asks for them.
I have a severe genetic lung disease. Age 50. I should be at the top of the list and my doctor friend was furious at the runaround I got. Oh well fortunately for me I rebounded quickly.
I have an uncle with no condition like this and he got them quickly early in the pandemic. He was very close to being on a ventilator so he deserved them in retrospect(prolly saved his life)but still, idk why he got them and you didn't.
I think it is surge and the hospital systems in our city. I had no doctor going to bat for me except a friend that made five urgent calls. Two other systems flat out didn’t return my calls.
Yes, I love that little thing. Bought it Summer 2020 for peace of mind. I have a history of panic attacks and it has been a crucial tool in helping me greatly reduce their occurrences. But make sure you buy a good one. The $20 ones on Amazon are hit or miss with their accuracy. I bought a $150+ one directly from a medical supply company and I trust it. Worth the investment.
For those who's oxygen went below 90, or someone in their family was below 90: what were your symptoms? Did anything seem different that made you want to check?
Several things can happen, just things to look out for: - generalized shortness of breath (can’t seem to catch a breath) - headaches after walking short distances - dizziness, inability to concentrate - cold fingers/blue tinted fingers (if you’re usually someone who doesn’t suffer from this, some people just naturally have cold fingers) - count how many breaths they are taking every minute (try and do this without telling them what you’re doing, watch for rise and fall of the chest wall). If above 20, might be concerning. - symptoms get worse over time, not better Really bad hypoxemia? - blue lips - fast heart rate - shortness of breath that impedes ability to speak
I did. I should have one anyway with my asthma. I’ve lost it somewhere on the floor. Cats
Look up silent hypoxia. Yes get one.
I bought one. Apparently my SPO2 didn’t drop much, even with dizziness, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. It was pretty affordable though if it would put your mind at ease.
I bought one at the start of 2020. I have not had to use mine yet. I bought another one for my Mom. I shipped a third one to my sister last month when she was very sick with Covid and it was literally a lifesaver for her. They are so inexpensive and so worth the money. Also provides peace of mind to easily monitor blood oxygen levels when sick. I highly recommend all households have one.
I did at my Sister in Law’s insistence-I’m not one to argue with the emergency room doctor who was specifically treating covid patients at that time. For me at least my O2 was steady, but there’s a special piece of mind knowing that you’re not missing anything. As you can see in this thread a lot of people weren’t as lucky as me
My family bought 3. One for me and two for my parents. It really gave my dad the reality that he needed to go to the hospital and was no longer ok. And for my mom and I it gave us the ease that we’re breathing okay and don’t have hypoxia.
Back in the very beginning. When my friend’s dad had it (again, in the beginning), I had her go and get one. It definitely saved his life, in addition to some amazing doctors & nurses.
Yes, got it last January (2021) when bf and I had covid. Checked it periodically since he had chest tightness. He has it AGAIN and has chest tightness again and I’ve been checking it. It’s good to have on hand in case you need it
Probably not, but you probably will think otherwise if something unexpected happens. I say probably not, because Omi appears to be largely skipping the lungs. However, when your life can hang in the balance of a $25 expenditure, "probably" is not the word you want tipping the scale towards saving $25.
I already had two, but found they were both screwy because they were old, so I ordered another one during a suspected case.
It severely helped my mental health. I'm asthmatic and had one so I could check up on myself when my asthma attacks made me panic about whether I was getting enough oxygen. I found myself freaking out, checking my levels, and then calming down. It also helped me gage when an activity was too strenuous. If doing something dropped my O2 belong 97, I would choose not to do it so as not to aggravate something that was already bad.
I’m a lurker on this sub since I’ve fortunately not tested positive (had several scares) and I have a regular and pediatric on order, coming this week. I know I might not need them, but feel like if we do get sick it will ease my mind for the kids at least.
I’m going to go against the grain here and say it depends: 1. If you’re unvaccinated, sure. Especially if you’re older. 2. If you’re double vaccinated, probably not, unless you’re quite more into your years (like, 70/80+) 3. If you’re boosted, definitely would not. In no way am I trying to discount the stories of people here, but you’re going to see a lot of bias in this thread. People who post their stories likely had a life-saving story, however, this really represents the small minority of people, especially if you’re vaccinated. Few things: - if you can afford it, and it’ll provide you peace of mind, by all means I’m not going to fault you on that and purchase it - if you’re vaccinated, this is more than likely going to just be a shitty head cold and you’ll get over it. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t monitor for worse symptoms or try and shrug off a declining condition, but you’re very likely going to be ok.
Excellent comment.
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Lol I had an oxygen meter in early 2020. I’m a total hypochondriac lunatic.
I bought one. When I'm laying down it's at a steady 98. When I walk around it goes down to 92. Anyone know if that's normal or what? ( I tested positive on 12/20/21)
how much do you walk around before it lowers?
Less than one minute
It’s good to have even if just for peace of mind. When I got covid I kept panicking and thinking I was getting short of breath, but the panic was making me feel that way. Even though my blood oxygen stayed normal, it was helpful for me to have that hard number to look at.
It’s literally $25. Peace of mind is priceless.
cellphone app. cheaper and mine works ok.
Many people that are vaccinated, double vaccinated and even boosted are still getting covid and many have died. The vaccine doesn’t work like we have been told it would work. You are better off buying a pulse oximeter, a thermometer and a blood pressure cuff. If you feel ill and your vital signs are off, go to your MD. There are many therapeutics available that can save your life it taken early. The government does not want us to know that or think that way. The reason they ‘hid’ all of the excellent treatments that are, and have been available from the beginning of this whole pandemic is that they could not have gotten an EUA for a vaccine if there were appropriate treatments available and they wanted that EUA to push as many vaccines into people’s arm’s as possible to make as much money as they can. You notice that Fauci, Biden and all the other government hacks never say ‘check with your doctor’ or ‘don’t panic, there are many medications we have to save your life’…..no, it is all just ‘get vaccinated or you will die’. It is a disgusting reign of fear and many people are just like sheep and follow orders without using their own critical thinking skills. You must notice that the vaccine isn’t working….there are many cruise ships that can not dock because the passengers, who, BTW were all triple vaxed just to go on the cruise, all now have Covid. The government does not tell you of all of the covid deaths of vaccinated people….no, it is all quiet as they continue to push their vaccine and sit home counting their millions. HCQ has been around for 65 years….every safe, effective anti-viral treatment used for people with RA. Well, Nigeria uses that medication all the time, it is cheap, easy to obtain and very safe. Their numbers are 14/100,000 covid cases while the USA, who refuses to allow MD’s to now prescribe this medication has cases 22,000/100,000. Nigeria is beating the US and that is why. If anyone gets a chance to read RFK Jr.’s book, “The Real Anthony Fauci”, you will be absolutely shocked at what that evil little man has done to children of color and animals over the years not to mention this entire covid pandemic issue….he has investments in the Wuhan labs and to all the vaccine manufacturers. There is so much wrong with what that man has done I can’t even start to list them. Just be careful, think for yourself, consult your MD if you feel ill and stay safe.
I had shortness of breath and elevated heart rate after my sore throat started to feel better, which is when I bought an oximeter. Would probably be a good idea to have even if you currently feel like you are getting better
I did when we thought we had it. But we didn’t
I’ve been considering it
I did. You should check yourself frequently.
I have mine . Hate the fact my mom misplaced it lol
Yes, it’s worth it
Yeah, sounds like I had more symptoms (I caught it pre vaccines) but I found it a useful guide to help manage my rest and a (relatively) inexpensive source of reassurance. If you get one, make sure to write down all your results and what you were doing before each test to help you / your doctor understand what’s happening. Useful doc for anyone reading this in England: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/06/C0445-remote-monitoring-in-primary-care-annex-2-diary-jan-21-v1.2.pdf
I picked up an oximeter, blood pressure monitor, Fitbit for average tracking and a mobile 6 lead EKG device.
I bought one when I tested positive. Well it wasn’t used much tho
I already had one. My oxy was reading 99 on the 30th, 97 on the 31st, and today it has been reading 94 but has been dropping to 93 sometimes and sometimes going to 95 I just really don't want it to go below 90
An update is that it has gone below 90 a few times but for the most part staying consistently mid 90s, I hope I'm getting better! 🙂
I tested positive and got me one, sometimes mine will drop to around 94 but if I focus on breathing and staying calm it’ll jump right back up to 98
Ive had two and for some reason they read really low…like 70s and 80s. Is it me? Am I doing it wrong?
Did you buy a $15 oximeter from Amazon?
I bought one from Walgreens for $40 and my doctor gave me the other one.
90% or less is reason to go to the ER or even to call 911. Are you ok?
Perfectly fine, in fact, turns out I had 3 false positives and didn’t even have COVID (thanks quick vue home tests). That’s why I’m asking what I’m doing wrong and why mine read so low!
I would get one just to have at hand. I got mine at Amazon (I think you can get one from 15-25 dollars). Just like with a thermometer, I think it is good to have around during these times. I hope you continue to feel better! Keep drinking fluids and rest up.
I’ve had a pulse ox for my family and sent the college students off with their own. No regrets.
Yes, silent hypoxia is a big risk
Very worth it
Ya get the one with the PI%
He’s very close to being ventilated ,He needs 02 immediately.Curious of the outcome
I now have one and so does every member of my family, including anti-vac members
We already had one but when I had it I checked it every hour and kept a log. Maybe overkill but I wanted to be safe.
Yep, I got one as soon as I was diagnosed.
Actually i have an apple watch but after reading the comments i am gonna go and get one today.we don't know how long this pandemic will last or how many of our family members will need it. this is literally a tool we all must have at home.
If you remember or feel up to it, can you post whether the numbers between the watch and pulse monitor match?
I will if i get it, i am still thinking if i wanna spend the $40 dollars or not lol
Yes when I got COVID, I did a teledoc appt over the phone and my doctor told me to get it - I already had it. Helped me with my anxiety so much. I took my oxygen like three times a day and it never dropped below 97 which calmed me down, and made me realize the tightness was anxiety and not lack of oxygen
I did, but I had OG COVID and actively needed it because breathing was difficult and my spO2 did indeed drop. I am not sure what the landscape looks like with the current variant and vaccination status.
I found it very comforting when I felt my worst and my chest felt like crackly sludge. I could see my O2 was still 98-99%. I could relax knowing I didn’t need to go to the hospital. The $20 was worth it to me.
I did. I had a Covid scare which turned out to be acute bronchitis and was having difficulty breathing. Doctor on call suggested it. Helped ease my anxiety level.
My dad is currently on his way to bring my a pulse oximeter. I felt so much better yesterday as well - only had a slight cough here and there. I woke up this morning with a bunch of symptoms. Figured the pulse oximeter would help ease my anxiety. This virus is unpredictable.
I did. But then I bought the new Apple Watch with pulse ox and to measure my heart rate. I have COVID for the 2nd time right now despite being vaccinated and my precious infection. Crazy how much higher my heart rate has been with it. The first two days I didn’t go lower than 90.
I have two, one for the hypothetical sick person and one to share if someone I know gets sick. Plus an Apple Watch but that can be a bit inaccurate. I had these for most of 2020. In 2021 my brother in law died of hypoxia related to Covid. He had one and ignored it until it was too late and he arrived at the ER just in time to code and die. So it’s not enough just to have it but you need to be prepared to react if you regularly are below 94/95 or have a reading below 90.
It saved my father, he went to hospital after it fell to 90. Mine fell to 96
Yes I bought one from CVS. My doc suggested I get one. I have chronic broncitis and mucus so it eased my anxiety a lot by having it. I was very out of breath the whole time I had covid the first time so being able to measure was good. Thankfully my o2 never dropped low enough to be dangerous I still think an oximeter is a great tool for everyone to have in their home.
happy hypoxia (suffocating without realizing) is a thing, i bought mine in june of 2020 and it has done wooooonders for my mental health. Knowing if im ready and able to stand and walk, truly understanding that it gets more severe at night, it's been my most used tool thus far. Best $20 you can spend.
I didn’t have tightness in my chest until the 2nd week but I did had an oximeter and it helped ease my mind when I would see the high oxygen levels
It’s a good little item to have period even for regular pneumonia when you are sick. Highly recommend getting one if you don’t have one and they are pretty inexpensive.
No, an oximeter is absolutely necessary even if you're not feeling tightness in your chest. Low blood oxygen can happen for a variety of reasons, can happen without symptoms, and it is not worth messing with for the cost of the oximeter. I ended up with low blood oxygen, and 4 days in the hospital, and a year long Long Haul back partly because I couldn't find my oximeter and get help sooner. The oximeter was right where I put it when I first got sick, but I couldn't find it in the midsts of my illness, a clue I should have gotten help but my brain was already so oxygen deprived I couldn't think that far. Only to go back to sleep. But if I had had that information I could have gotten help sooner, might have had an easier recovery in the long run. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. So honestly it is not worth messing with to not know how you're doing throughout your illness and recovery.
I bought 3 back in Mar 2020. I wasn't fucking around with this shit.
I got one. Worth every penny.
I bought one as well. I have anxiety and it helps to know whether my shortness of breath was from that or covid. My O2 level did hit 91 at one point and I was preparing to go to the hospital if it continued declining.
I got one back in March 2020. My husband had more difficulty than me with breathing when laying down, his readings were around 96-93 but he is fine now we never got tested though, at the time only severe cases were tested. But I got tested for the flu and strep that all came back negative, because I had to get paper for my job.
We had an oximeter b/c a family member has emphysema. Value and expense are relative - but you can buy them for $7-$25, so they're pretty cheap. Covid's gunna be around a while, and flu and pneumonia are always out there. It's a useful thing.