Medical Equiptment

justmumcookcleanertaxi

Hi does anybody know where you can get refurbished/ second-hand medical equipment. I am after a oximeter as a have a little one with asthma and it is just for my own piece of mind. The cheapest I have found is on ebay but they are around £100 with delivery.
P.S I am a trained nurse so do know how to use one if anybody is worried about that side of things.

hollydays

Would you advise a worried parent though to buy medical equipment in the same situation? Is it your own worries you need to look at?I well remember how anxious I felt when my eldest was diagnosed with asthma,but tried to keep things as normal as possible.

islandannie

I am sure you know how to use it.

But are you aware that oxygen saturation levels are a poor indicator of the severity of an Asthma attack?

Many Asthmatics have died with Sats in the high 90s ie normal blood oxygenation

Far better in my opinion to to learn to recognise accepted signs of severe attacks and then seek the appropriate medical attention.

This is not a criticism merely an observation,you may find the following links useful.

http://www.asthma.org.uk/

http://www.lunguk.org/

justmumcookcleanertaxi

Thanks for the comment and advise. I have taken them on board. I will just stick to looking at his condition. I know when he is unwell and do no need any extra equipment to even surgest if he needs medical help, you are quite right. Also thanks for the links will have a read of them later. Thanks again

beadysam

Wouldn't you be better checking peak flow? Try talking to the asthma specialist nurse and asking for a loan of equipment. I don't know much about asthma but the asthma societies should be able to help? Or you could talk to the stores/estates dept at your hospital and ask if they are getting rid of any dated equipment....

justmumcookcleanertaxi

hi I agree that peak flows would be a good indicator but at the minute he is too small to be able to use one. He tried a few months ago for some reasearch they were doing at the chemist where we get his medication from but wasn't able to grasp it.

islandannie

justmumcookcleanertaxi wrote:

hi I agree that peak flows would be a good indicator but at the minute he is too small to be able to use one. He tried a few months ago for some reasearch they were doing at the chemist where we get his medication from but wasn't able to grasp it.

Exactly the reason I didn`t mention Peak Flow in my previous post.

It is notoriously difficult if not impossible to get an accurate reading form an infant or young child so it`s a case of being aware of the usual signs of a severe attack and wasting NO TIME seeking medical help.

I hope you found the links useful if you search the Asthma forums you will find lots of people in a similar position who can offer sensible support and advice.

Good Luck and be reassured most little Uns do grow out of it.