I lost my dear mother due to Covid-19 — Importance of oximeter

The title says ‘all’ about this article. Yes, I lost my mother recently (October 28, 2020) due to Covid-19. Upfront, this article is not a thesis on Covid-19; you could take this as awareness or data (my personal experience) sharing and written with intention of making people realize the importance of Oximeter and how it can help in asymptotic cases too.

My mother (age 68) was a diabetes patient; recently got infected with Covid-19 and kind of asymptotic, which means she didn’t show any symptoms (or) with mild symptoms like slight body pain. At first, we consulted a doctor and took some medicines for body pain. She recovered from that but not able to consume food normally for 2 days. Again we visited the hospital and took some medicines. In these visits temperature was normal, the heartbeat was normal, the pressure was normal and the sugar level was under control with insulin (as usual); unfortunately, there is no test done on Oxygen levels using Oximeters meantime she DIDN’T show any breathing difficulty. Probably she might be feeling something internally but couldn’t convey it with any of us in better words.

On the 4th day, we had decided to do the Covid-19 test, it eventually came as positive. We reached Covid-19 care center and got her admitted, while that process; we found that her Oxygen level is `dipping down to 65` ;

For the record; the normal oximeter reading should be 95–100; 90 is considered to be a lower range. Anything touches 80's considers critical (based on what I heard from some doctors).

If it goes below 90; probably the person might start showing symptoms like trouble in breathing. But there has been some study/research that our brain fails to detect low oxygen levels but gives the assumption that we are normal. So no breathing trouble at all even if it is alarmingly low(contradicts what would show on the device). You can google and get many articles on this to understand what happens scientifically.

Here’s the role of Oximeters, we could identify the low Oxygen levels using this simple and ‘easy to use’ device that costs ~2000 INR (Indian rupees).

Buy it if you can, check regularly even if you are not showing symptoms, and consult with doctors in case of any doubts or if the reading shows less (less than 90?). If not for covid19 it can help in others aspects.

Bottom line: If you are proactively detecting the problem (at the early stage) could help in faster recovery. Plus, be bold and co-operate in the medical process. For Covid-19, being proactive, and getting treatment with proper co-operation can help in winning the race against the Virus!

God blesses all of you and stay strong, wear the mask, sanitize well and be cautious.