Owning a personal Oximeter

We're in the middle of a heat wave here in Ontario, and the humidity is something else the past few days!

During times such as these when indoor living and ultra dependence on air conditioning enters the big picture, there are little reminders everywhere on how this type of climate affects folks with respiratory diseases.

The topic of air quality fills my husband's respiratory physiotherapy ward. Cautions are at the helm of his days to keep indoors.

Today, another little reminder remains in our focal point on our bathroom counter, right next to the blood pressure cuff machine.

The FED Ex man brought a little package. Such a fast delivery considering I only ordered it yesterday and it came all the way from Montreal, Quebec today.

Impressive!

This cute little device is modern technology at its best! So small and so cute! Can you guess what it is?

It's a finger oximeter machine.

Told you it was new and smaller, a wee one that rests on a finger and can calculate both oxygen levels and pulse rates.

It was strongly recommended, suggested in a stern way in fact, that my husband now requires the use of one at home to keep an eye on his oxygen levels at any given moment. Morning, noon or evening, we are going to be investigating why he plummets suddenly and hope to be able to begin charting differences in oxygen readings from various times of the day.

If anyone out there has a respiratory disease and can benefit from this little baby, here's the information for you below.

This is product number; NN9570 - GO-2 Oximeter, blue.

We found them available from both the Proresp company, and Roxon Medi-tech. For a store near you, contact Proresp using their website or to place a FED Ex order right from the company directly to your home, try;

Roxon Medi-tech
(514) 326-7780

Just a warning though, both companies preferred a referral by way of a hospital, doctor of any sort, something likened to a prescription before they would sell one to assure a necessity on the patient's part.

The cost was steep. It was 183.00 Canadian with shipping and taxes included. But for a little peace of mind and a whole lot of respiratory care, this medical device is a health staple, offering incredible benefits to the user.

We've all tried it on for size, and numbers. Standing or laying down seem to produce changes in the numbers, so all have also tried both. Normal is 98-100% just in case you don't know that. (wink)

When I tried it on, I guess I was so excited about this cute bug, and trying to take the photos, my husband told me my pulse was a bit too high. smiles...

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Hand hygiene, a forgotten art.

Every time I attend one of my husband's hospital tests and specialty appointments, there are copious amounts of signage to direct folks towards hand washing stations or antiseptic and/or antibacterial hand pumps. 

There have been instances while enduring long waits, either for myself, my husband or both of us, when we sit quietly and observe the activity around doorways and biways, and especially elevator entrances. 

Much to my chagrin, I can honestly report, the worst offenders are not those who are attending appointments because they are suffering from disease, rather I have found some clerical hospital staff will use preventative measures in donning a mask if you dare go near to them with a lung disease induced cough, because they aren't aware one is not contagious. 

Still worse, and on the flip side, many of the doctors and most hospital staff I've observed are completely ignorant to their own preaching about the importance of washing their hands in hospital and patient settings. 

Three weeks ago, I took our visiting daughter to emergency for a bug bite when a severe reaction became out of control. While waiting in the emergency department to be seen by a doctor, I was able to observe the flurry of activity and the hubbub of hustle and bustle as patients entered and hospital staff attended to those in their midst. 

Rather than to throw caution to the wind, I was amazed once again to note attending physicians roaming from curtain to curtain and not washing their hands in between, before touching the next patient when deemed necessary. 

I suppose I've earned a loving reputation for asking a doctor not to touch anyone requiring care who happens to be in my midst before moving to the sink and washing up. It used to be the rule, no touching and observing a patient unless you wash your hands first. These days, many do not. 

Superbugs aside, what about the respiratory wards then, when hospital staff run amock and not pay attention to the signage themselves? 

As the wife to a man suffering from lung disease, might I suggest to you or yours that the discomfort of uninvited (polite) confrontation is a necessary evil when one is looking out for their loved one. In fact, silence could be mistaken as acceptance when nothing is uttered. 

Oh sure, admittedly it's not the most comfortable process to be placed in a position to forge forth and kindly request they please mind washing up before examination, noting it is nothing personal of course to them, rather you're just trying to keep up the protection of your loved one. 

Smile lots and be sure to keep a cheery voice. And to be sure, there is absolutely nothing lost but plenty is gained when avoiding possible in-hospital illness and other disease through germ carriers within medical staff. 

If you're not certain on the importance of this little tidbit of attention to health detailing, here is a link directing you over to the Canadian Lung Association's article entitled; Fight germs and wash hands properly.