[Help] Pulse Oxymeter - COVID

[MJsGhost]

My wife, who’s a nurse, says below 94% is on the low side. Not to panic as age, co-morbidities etc all make a difference but you’re fully justified and well-advised to call 111.

Can you please tell your wife that she's a superstar for doing what she does?

IMO the people working in the NHS are just incredible.

Best of luck @jcdenton08!

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Told to go straight to A&E, do not pass go - I’m still in my bloody 30’s…

Good luck - hope everything is OK

 

[Weststander]

Another (my wife is a nurse) here … the better half says if you’re having difficulty breathing, or your fingertips or around the mouth are blue … go to A&E.

The oximeter readings themselves vary significantly eg after taking a deep breath.

Good luck.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Best wishes and I’m sure hospital is the best place to get it checked over, Fwiw , my wife is also a nurse and said 92 is low for a young fit person but not worrying low (sub 90).

Hope you are fit and well for Thursday. If not, remember to speed dial PBOBE to tell him why you can’t go .

 

[Littlemo]

Told to go straight to A&E, do not pass go - I’m still in my bloody 30’s…

I had blood oxygen of 78% at one point and I am completely fine and recovered now. You will be fine, just get the proper meds in you and care from the hospital.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

you will be fine at your age. Does show the value of owning an oximeter though thats for sure. And also shows why the government shouldnt be pretending that covid is just like a regular cold/flu. It isnt.

They've literally fast tracked a vaccination programme, have reintroduced the ONS survey and still have a whole heap of guidance on Covid. The idea that they are "pretending" is a myth best saved for the blue heart twitter crowd and left leaning media i think.

Hope the OP gets well soon

 

[Bozza]

I don't know where you're based - but I'm sure there'll be someone close by if you need help with anything. Shout if you need anything.

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

 

[Zeberdi]

92% is too low, it should be over 94%. I’d go to A&E

No need to panic - 92 is not dangerously low - mine went down to 84-5 regularly during and straight after Covid ( in hospital) and was told even that wasn’t dangerous (apparently Covid patients were coming in with 65-80!)- for months it averaged at 92/3 after that and staff weren’t too concerned. Someone with lung diseases/asthma can often have an average of 90 also - They tend not to give oxygen for chronic low 02 if it’s above 87.

Worth remembering too Oximeters are not always accurate- can vary every time you do it, depend on body position, sweat on hands, if you’re smoking, body temperature, just woken up etc etc. (My 02 is back up to 94-98 now on a regular basis but still drops to 85-90 at times ( long Covid!)

So yes, contact 111 and they will likely send paramedics to check you and if it’s still low take you to get checked out - they will want to make sure it is not continuing to drop further in the next 24hrs ( I was told by ambulance crew there is a set protocol which they follow here - anything below 94 ) but in meantime take a few deep breaths and relax - rapid shallowing breathing caused by anxiety will drive O2 levels down as will any chest infection not just Covid.

I was in hospital for months with mine at 87-93 and generally felt fine and didn’t need O2 just nebuliser for asthma so DONT PANIC CAPT I was told if it was consistently below 87 or started dropping lower and not going back up again then I would need supplemental O2 - but I only did periodically once over the original Covid Infection.

Covid is not to be messed with - it can still make you very unwell so get well soon!

Let us know how you get on.

 

[jcdenton08]

I don't know where you're based - but I'm sure there'll be someone close by if you need help with anything. Shout if you need anything.

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

Cheers mate - I’ve got a mate on call and a brother around in an emergency, but I appreciate that. Been told to expect to be there until morning and they’re waiting for a bed.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and advice

 

[GT49er]

My wife, who’s a nurse, says below 94% is on the low side. Not to panic as age, co-morbidities etc all make a difference but you’re fully justified and well-advised to call 111.

Yes, that will give you superb information as to what you can find "if you go to our website on www.nhs, ..........................."

 

[ManOfSussex]

All the best to you @jcdenton08

(I'll have some Alan Partridge quotes ready for you when you're out.)

 

[seagullsausage3]

They've literally fast tracked a vaccination programme, have reintroduced the ONS survey and still have a whole heap of guidance on Covid. The idea that they are "pretending" is a myth best saved for the blue heart twitter crowd and left leaning media i think.

Hope the OP gets well soon

They used old leftover vaccines not the up to date ones for new varients and only offered the vaccine to the elderly and clinically vulnerable not the whole population.. They shouldnt have taken the ons survey away. They are telling NHS staff not to test so that they can pretend covid is not serious. Added to that there is no proper guidance on self isolation or masking.

 

[Zeberdi]

They used old leftover vaccines not the up to date ones for new varients and only offered the vaccine to the elderly and clinically vulnerable not the whole population.. They shouldnt have taken the ons survey away. They are telling NHS staff not to test so that they can pretend covid is not serious. Added to that there is no proper guidance on self isolation or masking.

Are you talking about the original Covid variants during the pandemic ? I was told by the Covid clinic that there are no new vaccines since the Omricon variants of 2022 and there have been so many mutations that it’s been hard to keep up - but the majority of the population is in a better place with vaccinations and herd immunity- I don’t know anyone ( apart from me ) who has been hospitalised for a significant amount of time or in ICU since last winter ( not under 75 anyway)- it is personal choice to wear a mask or socially distance yourself now - which works ok without it being imposed by the government.

 

[Weststander]

They used old leftover vaccines not the up to date ones for new varients and only offered the vaccine to the elderly and clinically vulnerable not the whole population.. They shouldnt have taken the ons survey away. They are telling NHS staff not to test so that they can pretend covid is not serious. Added to that there is no proper guidance on self isolation or masking.

We’re not doctors or apolitical epidemiologists. This thread is about the OP. Plenty of other places to pass on your inside knowledge.

 

[LamieRobertson]

We’re not doctors or apolitical epidemiologists. This thread is about the OP. Plenty of other places to pass on your inside knowledge.

Absolutely right….if the person you replied to wants to discuss it further he should shove it over to the relevant forum….the point of this thread is helping the OP …whom we all wish well

 

[seagullsausage3]

Are you talking about the original Covid variants during the pandemic ? I was told by the Covid clinic that there are no new vaccines since the Omricon variants of 2022 and there have been so many mutations that it’s been hard to keep up -

I am talking about this recent vaccination this autumn over the last couple of months. to start with Britain used vaccines which were targeted at previous varients and leftover from the previous vaccination effort. Whereas most european countries and also USA used the newest Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. I think now Britain is finally using the latest vacccines but most eligible people did not receive it.

I agree with a lot of your points by the way. My general way of thinking is that much more should and could be done by government to prevent covid spreading then most of the other problems like long covid and pressure on the NHS are greatly reduced.

 

[seagullsausage3]

Absolutely right….if the person you replied to wants to discuss it further he should shove it over to the relevant forum….the point of this thread is helping the OP …whom we all wish well

Thats what threads do they kind of ebb and flow the thread will go back that way as other people reply.

 

[drew]

Absolutely right….if the person you replied to wants to discuss it further he should shove it over to the relevant forum….the point of this thread is helping the OP …whom we all wish well

Of course we wish him well and whilst we're waiting for an update what's the harm in a discussion?

 

[Eric the meek]

I also have Covid, but maybe not as bad as @jcdenton08. Not yet anyway. I am on day 8. Ironically, I was about to get my booster jab tomorrow, and have had to cancel the appointment. I now have to wait 28 days before having the booster.

I got an oxymeter as well, before I caught Covid for the first time last March. My usual, non Covid oxygen level is 96-97%. Although it is a good bit of kit, and useful for putting your mind at rest (or otherwise...), you do need to take the average of several readings. After reading this thread, I thought I would test myself again. Readings on different fingers were 96,97,96,96,96,and then 92. I left it on the finger that read 92, and watched the reading climb from 92 to 96. You also need to be sure your finger is completely over the sensor. If not, resullts can be unpredictable.

A mate of mine has lung cancer, and his breathing is compromised. One oxygen reading he had at hospital a good year ago, was 40%. He is still with us.

@jcdenton08, best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. When you are ready, please let us know how you are.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Of course we wish him well and whilst we're waiting for an update what's the harm in a discussion?

Out of politeness I am replying…but only to say I’ve made my point and I’ll comment no further unless it’s regarding the OP

Have a great evening