racing heartbeats, low oxygen and infection

That is an interesting idea!

Yes, to your oximeter readings all over the place question, and my husband, too, gets steady readings. Mine can be as low as 85, but with some deep breaths I can get it into the nineties. Doctors don't seem concerned.
Anna

The oximeters used by my pulmonary rehab program, very high tech, are always all over the place and obviously inaccurate. I have a basic one at home that we must have bought years ago from the drug store that seems more reliable. Also keep in mind, according to my pulmonary rehab therapists, if hands are cold will impact readings, nail polish, movement both also impact readings. Sometimes it can just be about fit. For heart rate, I use a Polar chest strap monitor which is very accurate (I have a low resting HR, about 50-55, and take it up above 80% max, 140-155, during exercise). My oxygen levels are still pretty good (95-98%), so I haven’t spent time researching more reliable oximeters but if/when I do, I will report back anything interesting.

@wangling have you and your doctor discussed short term supplemental oxygen while you are battling your current infection? A low dose may help with your heart rate. I believe for most insurers you have to be below 89 to qualify, but if you are borderline it might be something to consider with your doctor. I am not on oxygen at this time but have a resource for an online vendor that comes highly recommended for those paying privately. Let me know if interested and I will dig it out (resource from my pulmonary therapists).

@bayarea58, thank you.
It is interesting that you mentioned. I have been thinking about the same thing. I mentioned it to my pulmonologist. He doesn't think I need it now. But I think it is something nice to have just in case. I wonder if we purchase by ourselves, where to get the oxygen? Anybody use it occasionally to share the experiences?

Ling

expensive:
Nonin Onyx Vantage 9590
Independently vetted and FDA-cleared

inexpensive, I use this
Innovo Deluxe iP900AP

@wangling in the meantime maybe try one of the breathing apps. The ones where you follow the circles on inhaling, hold, exhaling. They might force you to remember to take a deep breath. Some people use them for anxiety. When we are suffering from a chest infection, it’s easy to stay in a cycle of shallow breathing. I’ve observed when I’m on an O2 monitor and I do lots of deep breathing the numbers improve. Just a thought. Hope it’s helpful.

Really good points about the variables involved in taking O2 readings. Adding, having to go to the bathroom to the list! I’m sure there are others like the ones for getting a proper blood pressure reading.

@wangling my pulmonary rehab suggested this website: oximedical.com. They specifically recommended for travel oxygen, as I guess airlines have very specific requirements to fly which is more than what people have at home. From the brochure, which I don’t see anyway of posting, it looks like they have both travel and at home units, and they do rentals which may be more economical if using for a short time. The units are pretty expensive so to buy for short term use would probably not be a first choice. The website has a lot of useful information though it looks like you need a prescription from your doctor which makes sense. It’s not clear to me if your doctor doesn’t think supplemental oxygen would be helpful because you do not yet qualify for it under your insurance, or if it is a medical opinion. Sometimes parsing medical opinions from decisions based on coverage can be tricky for us patients. I will say many in my pulmonary rehab class would use supplemental oxygen provided by the facility occasionally to get their saturation levels up, maybe on days of congestion or bad weather, when they were not on oxygen regularly. It seemed like a really helpful tool. Again, just food for thought. I am not on oxygen and have no personal experience with the oximedical website. If you do reach out to oximedical, I was told to ask for Leo, who is apparently just a superb human being.

I have a DeVilbiss 5l , about $700, works fine