Covi-19 Symptoms in the Elderly

[RWebb]

Seniors may NOT have a fever, an insistent cough or shortness of breath if infected.

Instead, they:
- may seem unusually apathetic or confused,
- lose orientation to their surroundings
- then may become dizzy and fall.
- they may stop speaking or simply collapse

https://khn.org/news/seniors-with-covid-19-show-unusual-symptoms-doctors-say/


So, if you have an elderly relative acting like a PARFer, have them tested.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Seniors may NOT have a fever, an insistent cough or shortness of breath if infected.

Instead, they:
- may seem unusually apathetic or confused,
- lose orientation to their surroundings
- then may become dizzy and fall.
- they may stop speaking or simply collapse

https://khn.org/news/seniors-with-covid-19-show-unusual-symptoms-doctors-say/


So, if you have an elderly relative acting like a PARFer, have them tested.

I'm doomed

[Rodsrsr]

This just in...Breathing is a symptom of Covid.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Seniors may NOT have a fever, an insistent cough or shortness of breath if infected.

Instead, they:
- may seem unusually apathetic or confused,
- lose orientation to their surroundings
- then may become dizzy and fall.
- they may stop speaking or simply collapse

https://khn.org/news/seniors-with-covid-19-show-unusual-symptoms-doctors-say/


So, if you have an elderly relative acting like a PARFer, have them tested.

that's my usual day

[RWebb]

somebody needs to go sailing...

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by RWebb

somebody needs to go sailing...

is that an invite?

[RWebb]

ask Bill

[petrolhead611]

Heard today from my niece in Singapore that many people there are currently using an instrument on their fingertip to measure oxygen absorbtion.Think it's called a Pulsimometer. Apparently if the reading is below 80 percent they call the doctor. I ordered off eBay to try one.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Seniors may NOT have a fever, an insistent cough or shortness of breath if infected.

Instead, they:
- may seem unusually apathetic or confused,
- lose orientation to their surroundings
- then may become dizzy and fall.
- they may stop speaking or simply collapse

That could be MrsWD at any time before 6 AM and/or a cup of coffee.

[93nav]

Pulse oximeter. They are not all created equal. Nonin is a good brand (or was) and last I looked, REI had one for $100. Will show heart rate and O2 level (percent). Any O2 level below 90% is bad, not normal, normal readings are more likely to be in the mid 90's. If someone had a lot of exposure to polluted air over a long time, could read in the low 90's. I know an old time car mechanic who's O2 levels were on the low end of normal.

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

Heard today from my niece in Singapore that many people there are currently using an instrument on their fingertip to measure oxygen absorbtion.Think it's called a Pulsimometer. Apparently if the reading is below 80 percent they call the doctor. I ordered off eBay to try one.

[Mahler9th]

"Heard today from my niece in Singapore that many people there are currently using an instrument on their fingertip to measure oxygen absorbtion.Think it's called a Pulsimometer. Apparently if the reading is below 80 percent they call the doctor. I ordered off eBay to try one. "

Pulse oximeters are class 2 medical devices-- regulated by FDA. One of the pioneers in the commercialization of pulse ox was a company called Nellcor here in the SF Bay Area... famous 80's start-up that did quite well, founded by three gentlemen-- one a Stanford anesthesiologist. I have worked for/with two of the original founders in other companies.

About 10-15 years ago, non-medically regulated pulse ox devices started showing up. The company called Nonin, mentioned here, made one that at the time that was sold by REI. They had a similar version that was class 2 (prescription only). Identical except for the labeling/product claims.

I caution anyone that gets a pulse ox intended for consumers from places like Amazon, Alibaba, Ebay, et cetera to be very careful. You could be buying junk and not know it.

The only consumer unit that I would trust would be if Nonin still made one... again they used to (and may still do) sell these... intended for pilots and climbers, et cetera.

Be careful.

[Cajundaddy]

I may have had this bug. Went to Maui for daughter's wedding in Jan and flew back Jan 15th. Our scheduled flight to LA got cancelled so they routed us through Seattle with a 5 hr layover (thanks American!). Apparently that was the same day WA state patient zero flew back from Wuhan to Seattle. There was a large group of Asian travelers of unknown origin on our plane from Seattle to LA.

Roughly a week later I had a slight fever and felt aches but it was mid flu season so ignored it. Had a regular physical and blood test done 1st week of Feb. and Doc noticed an unusually high red blood count. He sent me to the hematologist just to rule out anything serious and after a second blood test the RBC was back within normal range in early March. Doc said they see this with altitude sickness or sometimes decompression sickness and there was no indication of further issues.

In reading yesterday I discover that high RBC and symptoms associated with altitude sickness are becoming common among Covid-19 patients along with a high incidence of stroke and heart attack. Apparently it attacks the blood cells causing clotting. This is a nasty beast!

Beyond what I described I had no other symptoms and at some point I will get the antibody test just to confirm. Perhaps I dodged a big bullet.

[jyl]

My wife gave me a pulse oximeter for my birthday. Yes, we’re quite the romantics, I’ll get her an urn for hers. Anyway, I played with it. Reads 97-98. Maybe I’ll take it bike riding someday.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by Mahler9th

"Heard today from my niece in Singapore that many people there are currently using an instrument on their fingertip to measure oxygen absorbtion.Think it's called a Pulsimometer. Apparently if the reading is below 80 percent they call the doctor. I ordered off eBay to try one. "

Pulse oximeters are class 2 medical devices-- regulated by FDA. One of the pioneers in the commercialization of pulse ox was a company called Nellcor here in the SF Bay Area... famous 80's start-up that did quite well, founded by three gentlemen-- one a Stanford anesthesiologist. I have worked for/with two of the original founders in other companies.

About 10-15 years ago, non-medically regulated pulse ox devices started showing up. The company called Nonin, mentioned here, made one that at the time that was sold by REI. They had a similar version that was class 2 (prescription only). Identical except for the labeling/product claims.

I caution anyone that gets a pulse ox intended for consumers from places like Amazon, Alibaba, Ebay, et cetera to be very careful. You could be buying junk and not know it.

The only consumer unit that I would trust would be if Nonin still made one... again they used to (and may still do) sell these... intended for pilots and climbers, et cetera.

Be careful.

You left out Masimo. Sued Nellcor/ Puritan Bennet for stealing their technology and won a multi million dollar lawsuit.

Currently suing Apple for stealing the technology for the iWatch.

This was the company I've been speaking of on the stock market threads. Back in late March it dropped to $153 a share. Today it's at $215. First quarter report is tomorrow. Expecting a decent bump.

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/masi?ltr=1

They also make personal home units. I have one that attaches to my iPhone.. https://www.masimopersonalhealth.com

[Mahler9th]

I knew many at Nellcor/Puritan Bennet and Masimo in management positions back in the day. And I have close contacts in the legal profession that were involved in helping them resolve their "disagreement(s)."

Lots of critical care equipment will be sold above company estimates... not just vents.

We'll see what happens to/with Apple.

There are likely now plenty of choices that have gone through the regulatory process are are manufactured, marketed, sold and supported in the regulatory framework. Those solutions would be my first choice.

I remember that you could buy a $10 pulse ox device via mail order from newspaper ads a few years ago.

I suggest caution.

[tabs]

I may have had it to...

[Sunroof]

- may seem unusually apathetic or confused, = as you get older, you begin to stop giving a damn!
- lose orientation to their surroundings = aging persons navigation system withering away (I tend to face true north more often)
- then may become dizzy and fall. = dizzy? yes. Fall? I will take that seriously
- they may stop speaking or simply collapse = stop speaking? of course, especially when you are listening to psycho babble to a point you want to collapse!

All seems to be a normal day for me!

[KFC911]

I've been elderly for several decades now...who knew ?

[flipper35]

I started reading the thread but it was too confusing. Don't care anyway. Maybe I need more coffee when the room stops spinning.

[Rikao4]

Originally Posted by Mahler9th

" if the reading is below 80 percent they call the doctor. I ordered off eBay
The only consumer unit that I would trust would be if Nonin still made one... again they used to (and may still do) sell these... intended for pilots and climbers, et cetera.

Be careful.

if it's below 80 you won't know..
you'l be confused and slurring your speech..
and on your way out the door....
you waited to long...
hopefully someone get's you of the floor..

Rika