According to my pulse oximeter, I should be dead :) Buy an oxygen concentrator?

[simon43]

Right now, my blood oxygen level is around 88%, heart rate normal.

 

I have bronchiectasis (widening of the lung bronchi, caused typically by previous pneumonia).  Because my bronchi are very sensitive to air irritants, I moved to Khanom Beach, with clean, salty air, and that suited my lungs.

 

Last week I had to go to Jomtien Beach to finish up my rented condo.  The location was nice, the condo was cheap, but the smell of cannabis was everywhere, and my lungs definitely didn't like it!

 

I came back to Khanom with bad bronchitis, which I've had dozens of times previously.  Bad cough, tons of thick mucus in my lungs, very tired, and I still need to teach online 🙂 I had to abandon some lessons due to uncontrolleable coughing attacks.

 

Today, things seem a little better, after taking anti-biotics and mucus thinners and 'huffing' exercise.  But I bought a pulse oximeter from Lazada to check my oxygen % level.

 

88%, sometimes 90%.  Hmm...... Dr Google told me to get to the nearest hospital!

 

I have been short of breath, due to the mucus partly blocking my bronchi, but no worse than what I've experienced with this poxy illness over the past 25 years.

 

Does anyone with a lung condition use an oxygen concentrator?  I might buy one to help me a little during these flare ups.  Does anyone have experience of these?  Thanks.

[ukrules]

I would pick up another Oxymeter just to be sure, but that's easy for me to say as I have 2 on my desk in front of me.

[NewGuy]

Chok dee.

[scubascuba3]

Apparently some of those oximeters are fake

[johng]

I would try to stop being such a hypocondriac.

[simon43]

2 minutes ago, johng said:

I would try to stop being such a hypocondriac.

Ah, an answer from a moron!!  Living with a serious lung condition requires regular monitoring of my state of health, and one aid is a pulse oxymeter......

[Magictoad]

20 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Right now, my blood oxygen level is around 88%, heart rate normal.

 

I have bronchiectasis (widening of the lung bronchi, caused typically by previous pneumonia).  Because my bronchi are very sensitive to air irritants, I moved to Khanom Beach, with clean, salty air, and that suited my lungs.

 

Last week I had to go to Jomtien Beach to finish up my rented condo.  The location was nice, the condo was cheap, but the smell of cannabis was everywhere, and my lungs definitely didn't like it!

 

I came back to Khanom with bad bronchitis, which I've had dozens of times previously.  Bad cough, tons of thick mucus in my lungs, very tired, and I still need to teach online 🙂 I had to abandon some lessons due to uncontrolleable coughing attacks.

 

Today, things seem a little better, after taking anti-biotics and mucus thinners and 'huffing' exercise.  But I bought a pulse oximeter from Lazada to check my oxygen % level.

 

88%, sometimes 90%.  Hmm...... Dr Google told me to get to the nearest hospital!

 

I have been short of breath, due to the mucus partly blocking my bronchi, but no worse than what I've experienced with this poxy illness over the past 25 years.

 

Does anyone with a lung condition use an oxygen concentrator?  I might buy one to help me a little during these flare ups.  Does anyone have experience of these?  Thanks.

Go to a doctor! An expensive one at BPH. DON'T dick around with google because it will only provide nonsense. 

[johng]

Just now, simon43 said:

Ah, an answer from a moron!!

Surely you know if you are dead or not ?

the oximeter said you should be dead who's the moron.

get on with life and stop worrying about death...IMHO of course.

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

Go to a doctor! An expensive one at BPH. DON'T dick around with google because it will only provide nonsense. 

Bit of a stretch from Khanom Beach.  But a decent hospital nearby could be an idea.

[Ralf001]

yeah apparently anything below 95% ya should go see a doc.

 

I was at 60% when I finally dragged myself off to hospital.

 

These days i'm rock solid at 98%

[simon43]

1 minute ago, Upnotover said:

Bit of a stretch from Khanom Beach.  But a decent hospital nearby could be an idea.

Apart from the bronchitis, I feel normal, only a little short of breath.  Bear in mind that I've had these bronchitis flare-ups for the past 25 years and this time it's same same.  But previously I never bothered checking my blood oxygen levels.

 

I'll wait until the bronchitis/mucus has minimised in a few days and then check again.  If my % level still reads low, then time to buy a new oxymeter 🙂

[simon43]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

yeah apparently anything below 95% ya should go see a doc.

 

I was at 60% when I finally dragged myself off to hospital.

 

These days i'm rock solid at 98%

Why were you at 60% if you don't mind saying?

[Callmeishmael]

When you have low readings or if you feel faint, you might try 'slow breathing'.  Breath in while you count slowly to 3 to 5 - whatever feels comfortable for - then hold your breath for the same count, then breath out for the same count.  

I found that my blood oxygen levels would shoot up by about 5% when I did.  

 

I spent four days in an ICU after a heart attack and so I had plenty of time to watch my blood oxygen meter!

[simon43]

19 minutes ago, Callmeishmael said:

When you have low readings or if you feel faint, you might try 'slow breathing'.  Breath in while you count slowly to 3 to 5 - whatever feels comfortable for - then hold your breath for the same count, then breath out for the same count.  

I found that my blood oxygen levels would shoot up by about 5% when I did.  

 

I spent four days in an ICU after a heart attack and so I had plenty of time to watch my blood oxygen meter!

Thanks!  Happily I have never felt faint at any time.  My typical heart rate is rather slow at 45-55 beats/minute, but doctors have attributed this to a healthy heart as a result of the daily exercise that I do (5-10km brisk walking every day for the past 25 years!) to keep my lungs clear.  At night, my heart rate can drop to 35, but doctors have checked and said that this is not due to any heart problems, but is solely because of my good heart health. I only feel slightly short of breath when the damn mucus sticks in my bronchi 🙂

 

As an aside, many years ago I took up playing the Lao khaen musical instrument to help my lungs, since one can play songs by breathing in and out without needing to take an 'external' breath.  I can't say that my ability to play the khaen has improved though!

[impulse]

I'd go see a doctor and ask before I'd pony up for an oxygen concentrator.  They're too spendy to try them on a lark.  

 

Edit:  And I'd get at least 2-3 O2 finger sensors and try them out on different fingers to make sure they're at least reading consistently.  They're cheap.

 

 

[simon43]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

I'd go see a doctor and ask before I'd pony up for an oxygen concentrator.  They're too spendy to try them on a lark.  

 

Edit:  And I'd get at least 2-3 O2 finger sensors and try them out on different fingers to make sure they're at least reading consistently.  They're cheap.

 

 

They seem to be about 4,000 baht on Lazada.  Regardless of what the oxymeter reads, the fact is that I do get a little short of breath during a flare-up, and Dr Google suggests that use of an oxygen concentrator can certainly be an aid at this time.

[VocalNeal]

22 minutes ago, simon43 said:

They seem to be about 4,000 baht on Lazada. 

 

How much is a medial oxygen bottle? If all you need is a couple of puffs a month? 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, simon43 said:

Ah, an answer from a moron!!  Living with a serious lung condition requires regular monitoring of my state of health, and one aid is a pulse oxymeter......

 

Just put him on ignore - the vapid monotonous idiocy of so many of his replies through various threads highlights he rarely if ever adds anything constructive or any value to any discussion... 

 

Its easier to simply pretend such fools don't exist.... 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

I'd go see a doctor and ask before I'd pony up for an oxygen concentrator.  They're too spendy to try them on a lark.  

 

Edit:  And I'd get at least 2-3 O2 finger sensors and try them out on different fingers to make sure they're at least reading consistently.  They're cheap.

 

+1 on this...    the 'finger monitors' that work through infra-red are used by the hospitals...   getting a couple of different models will give you a good idea of accuracy.

 

See what that reads, but also get it cross checked at a hospital / clinic. 

 

 

Though note: Calibrations can vary...  the Blood Pressure machines in the hospitals vary a lot.

On one machine I was 149 / 98... I didn't buy it (never had high BP)...  same hospital, different machine 121/89 (very similar to a medical I recently took)... 

 

 

You should also be able to tell - if you are getting light headed, then your blood oxygen is badly impacted.

 

If you know you have issues - there's no harm in getting an O2 concentrator...  it can only help.

 

 

[VocalNeal]

2 hours ago, simon43 said:

I have bronchiectasis (widening of the lung bronchi, caused typically by previous pneumonia). 

 

Could this be a cautionary tale for those who thing vaccination against pneumonia is silly or not worth the money?

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, simon43 said:

Why were you at 60% if you don't mind saying?

Severe pnuemonia, both lungs.

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, simon43 said:

Right now, my blood oxygen level is around 88%, heart rate normal.

 

I have bronchiectasis (widening of the lung bronchi, caused typically by previous pneumonia).  Because my bronchi are very sensitive to air irritants, I moved to Khanom Beach, with clean, salty air, and that suited my lungs.

 

Last week I had to go to Jomtien Beach to finish up my rented condo.  The location was nice, the condo was cheap, but the smell of cannabis was everywhere, and my lungs definitely didn't like it!

 

I came back to Khanom with bad bronchitis, which I've had dozens of times previously.  Bad cough, tons of thick mucus in my lungs, very tired, and I still need to teach online 🙂 I had to abandon some lessons due to uncontrolleable coughing attacks.

 

Today, things seem a little better, after taking anti-biotics and mucus thinners and 'huffing' exercise.  But I bought a pulse oximeter from Lazada to check my oxygen % level.

 

88%, sometimes 90%.  Hmm...... Dr Google told me to get to the nearest hospital!

 

I have been short of breath, due to the mucus partly blocking my bronchi, but no worse than what I've experienced with this poxy illness over the past 25 years.

 

Does anyone with a lung condition use an oxygen concentrator?  I might buy one to help me a little during these flare ups.  Does anyone have experience of these?  Thanks.

Is the oximeter calibrated ???

If not it's crap. For the bin

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Is the oximeter calibrated ???

If not it's crap. For the bin

 

mine was 1000b of lazada.

 

I have checked it against the ones used at hospital (I visit every 6 weeks).. it reads the same.

[marin]

Get to a hospital, Last year I had what I thought was a bad cold like so many before. 4 days later I had to ask the wife to take me to the hospital I could not breath. I got winded going to my ensuite bathroom. I walk 8-10k everyday and had never felt that in my life.  To hospital, double pneumonia and admitted in 30 minutes.

 

Three days of 94-90 blood oxygen but not getting better, even with oxygen.  3rd night it went below 90 to 89. there was concern, and it was taken every 20 minutes. 86...... 84, on the phone the nurses were and there was the wheelchair to transfer me to ICU, where I spent that night and the next on more meds and a bigger mask for more oxygen. Got better fast after that.   

 

Just go checked if its pneumonia Dr. Google cant do sh*t. 

[johng]

41 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Its easier to simply pretend such fools don't exist.... 

Yeah pretend as much as you want "fools" such as me will still be here calling out  your "foolishness"

[newbee2022]

52 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

mine was 1000b of lazada.

 

I have checked it against the ones used at hospital (I visit every 6 weeks).. it reads the same.

Lucky coincidence at that moment.

Calibration is different.

[newbee2022]

This will help you:

 

I took it from internet because they explain it more easily as I would do

 

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform pursed-lip breathing:

Relax your neck and shoulder muscles: Sit or stand with good posture. 

Inhale slowly through your nose: Count to two while inhaling, feeling your belly expand. 

Purse your lips: Pucker your lips as if you were going to whistle or blow out a candle. 

Exhale slowly through pursed lips: Count to four or longer while exhaling, making the exhalation longer than the inhalation. 

Repeat: Continue this cycle for several minutes, or until your breathing returns to normal. 

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, Callmeishmael said:

When you have low readings or if you feel faint, you might try 'slow breathing'.  Breath in while you count slowly to 3 to 5 - whatever feels comfortable for - then hold your breath for the same count, then breath out for the same count.  

I found that my blood oxygen levels would shoot up by about 5% when I did.  

 

I spent four days in an ICU after a heart attack and so I had plenty of time to watch my blood oxygen meter!

Not really

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Is the oximeter calibrated ???

If not it's crap. For the bin

This.

 

Might also be fake or substandard model. 

[cjinchiangrai]

An Oxygen concentrator sounds like a scam. The only way to get more oxygen in your air is to add Oxygen.