My father in law tested positive for COVID. My FIL is rather stubborn. We have been trying to get him to eat, but he won’t eat. We try to get him to drink fluids, including Gatoraid, chicken broth, water, you name it. He won’t drink.

He has had diarrhea for the past two days, can’t take a deep breath without coughing, and has a fever of 102.2 degrees. The fact that he isn’t eating or drinking means that he is losing fluids and electrolytes, and that isn’t good for anyone, much less a 75 year old man with COVID.

I dropped off an Oxygen saturation meter so they can test his SpO2. There is evidence that lower blood oxygen levels in COVID patients is an indicator of reduced increased mortality- 90 percent or lower is the danger zone. So I told them to take their readings every 4 hours, record the result, and let me know if any reading went below 92 percent.

The mortality rate for Covid-19 patients depending on their blood oxygen levels. It shows that lower oxygen saturation conferred with higher a mortality rate within 30 days. However, even within the 'normal range' (94 to 98 per cent, according to the NHS), the mortality rate was higher

So today they sent me a list of the readings over the last 2 days, and my FIL was having a slow drift from the mid 90’s, dropping to 89 percent this afternoon. We contacted the doctor, and the doctor recommended that we send him to the hospital. Since there was no other way to get him there, we called an ambulance.

He is in the ER now, and we are waiting to hear if they will admit him or not. My wife, as you can imagine, is beside herself with worry.

Categories: COVIDMe

6 Comments

Sarin · February 3, 2021 at 9:45 pm

Prayers headed your way man. Fingers crossed too. And as my South African friends would say, “I’ll hold my thumbs for you.”

it's just Boris · February 4, 2021 at 12:06 am

Best hopes and prayers.

Wayne · February 4, 2021 at 1:34 am

Divemedic, I think maybe you meant to say that lower O2 sat levels are an indication of increased mortality risk, not reduced.

    Divemedic · February 4, 2021 at 6:43 am

    Yes, I did. Sorry. My only defense is muscle relaxers from my accident the other day.

Always On Watch · February 4, 2021 at 8:19 am

Thank you for that important information about the danger zone on the oximeter.

Big Country · February 4, 2021 at 7:20 pm

Brotherman, Prayers UP! You’re having a hell of a week. Stay strong

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