topic Re: Pulse Oximeter in Wellness

Pulse Oximeter

Lali1 — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 17:32:56 GMT

My husband bought one because I have asthma. The weird thing is when I feel I'm having trouble breathing my number is the same as usual. My chest gets that itchy feeling and I cough and I know it's an allergy situation but my lungs feel tight. Anyone else notice this?

Re: Pulse Oximeter

Pook — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 18:09:38 GMT

@Lali1 I was treated for asthma for years with no real relief from all the steroidal inhalers. Every time I went to the ER even though my peak/flow meter and oxyen levels were normal, no one seemed to know why or care. I finally went to an asthma specialist and found I have Vocal Chord Disfunction which differs from asthma in that I get air out so still can get air in but with tightening and slower breathes causing acid reflux which causes coughing and often sinus drainage. All the asthma meds were irritating my vocal more rather than helping.

Re: Pulse Oximeter

Lali1 — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 20:18:31 GMT

@Pook Thank you for your response. I have been to specialists most of my life but haven't lately because my insurance makes me jump through hoops to do so. ETA I odnKt know how I managed to quote myself 🤨

Re: Pulse Oximeter

hckynut — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 20:20:58 GMT

Hi @Lali1

Oxygen Saturation is not always low when one's breathing seems hard. I have checked mine while ice skating when my HR is at my max, which I limit to 150bpm. My Max is a lower number, because with my 2 heart attacks, a big portion of my lower heart no longer functions.

I always stop to check this, and I am breathing hard, but my Saturation is sometimes at 98%, which is pretty high. Then when sitting at home with my resting HR in the low 40's, my Saturation is 92-94%, and I have no issue breathing.

I find this varies at different times both at my resting HR and/or at my Max HR. Why? Neither my Cardiologist or my Pulmonologist know exactly why this is, but they have told me, it is not uncommon.

My Oximeter helped detect my 2nd heart attack, along with my BP Monitor. My right arm had zero BP, and my Oxygen Saturation was 40%. That is when I called 911 as my wife was working in 2007.

Can't give you anything other than my experiences and what my 2 doctors have told me.

hckynut 🏒

Re: Pulse Oximeter

Lali1 — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 20:28:34 GMT

@hckynut
Thank you for the info. I don't have nay heart issue as of yet. But with Type 1 diabetes I may eventually. It's good to know the little doo dad does some good. My doctor approved and said she was happy we got it with all that is going on. We check out temp every once in awhile too. Mine never goes above 97.4. But my oxygen level is always 98 or 99.

Re: Pulse Oximeter

Lali1 — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 22:47:05 GMT

@Lali1 wrote:
@hckynut
Thank you for the info. I don't have nay heart issue as of yet. But with Type 1 diabetes I may eventually. It's good to know the little doo dad does some good. My doctor approved and said she was happy we got it with all that is going on. We check out temp every once in awhile too. Mine never goes above 97.4. But my oxygen level is always 98 or 99.

@hckynut Sorry for the message all jumbled up. I quoted you but removed your comment because you mentioned you don't care for the quoting thing. It obviously used your font but was too crowded.

Re: Pulse Oximeter

hckynut — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 22:56:25 GMT

@Lali1

Your post wasn't jumbled to me. It looked just fine. As for "quoting"? I just don't like the quoting of a quote that turns into a half dozen quotes. I lose track of who quoted who and who the person writing the post, is even addressing with their comment.

Now what I just typed? That is jumbled.

=^..^=

hckynut 🏒

Re: Pulse Oximeter

Still Raining — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 17:41:02 GMT

Confirm with your doctor what your personal normal should be based on your medications. It will help to interpret the readings.