Aa
My Spirometry Results Range From Very Bad to Normal!
I was a smoker of 1 pack a day for 15 years. I am 44, 50 pounds overweight and in bad shape. I have always been in bad shape since im a couch potato.
I had a spirometry test done about a year ago at the doctors office. First reading of set of 3 the printout read "severe pulmonary obstruction" I say no way, this cant be right, I beg to try again. so on the second round I got one that said "moderate obstruction" and another that said "mild obstruction"
Doctor said to stop smoking and come back in a month.
I did that, and I made sure I had an empty stomach when I went back.
I blow 3 times. first one said "mild obstruction, second one said "mild RESTRICTION"
Now Im really determined and the last blow read "NORMAL SPIROMETRY"
Mind you, I had to blow every single of drop oof air out of my lungs to get to the normal, I think I was even spitting. I thought I was going to pass out or collapse a lung doing this final blow.
By the way I used an inhaler on all days and there was no difference with the inhaler.
Doctor wasnt too concerned. I was very nervous about the poor results and asked him how could I have a severe obstruction. He said that if I indeed had a severe obstruction I wouldnt be able to walk across the room with being winded.
My question to you here is, how could so many tests result in so many different readings from severe to normal, and what exactly is my diagnosos?
Do I have COPD?
I had a spirometry test done about a year ago at the doctors office. First reading of set of 3 the printout read "severe pulmonary obstruction" I say no way, this cant be right, I beg to try again. so on the second round I got one that said "moderate obstruction" and another that said "mild obstruction"
Doctor said to stop smoking and come back in a month.
I did that, and I made sure I had an empty stomach when I went back.
I blow 3 times. first one said "mild obstruction, second one said "mild RESTRICTION"
Now Im really determined and the last blow read "NORMAL SPIROMETRY"
Mind you, I had to blow every single of drop oof air out of my lungs to get to the normal, I think I was even spitting. I thought I was going to pass out or collapse a lung doing this final blow.
By the way I used an inhaler on all days and there was no difference with the inhaler.
Doctor wasnt too concerned. I was very nervous about the poor results and asked him how could I have a severe obstruction. He said that if I indeed had a severe obstruction I wouldnt be able to walk across the room with being winded.
My question to you here is, how could so many tests result in so many different readings from severe to normal, and what exactly is my diagnosos?
Do I have COPD?
Wow - you had so many different results it is hard to say..........Yes, I would say you do have COPD, and so do I even though I do not want to believe I do!
Have your doctor do a CT Scan on you to find out if you have emphysema. You are still young - you can do something about this problem - BUT HAVE YOU QUIT SMOKING?
Do not smoke - give it up and please see a pulmonary doctor ...
Julie
Have your doctor do a CT Scan on you to find out if you have emphysema. You are still young - you can do something about this problem - BUT HAVE YOU QUIT SMOKING?
Do not smoke - give it up and please see a pulmonary doctor ...
Julie
My test were alll normal (the spirometry test) but MY CT SCAN showed I had emphysema (moderate) I have no problems - but my CT says I do. Please have your doctor do a CT Scan. You will know much more after that test.
Yes - Please quit smoking - you will NEVER get better or live a full life unless you quit smoking - that is the most important thing you can do is QUIT SMOKING. Even if you have to use the gum or patches - you have to quit - or you will not get better - you will get worse - so please quit smoking.
Did your Spirometry test actually print out with "mild obstruction", "severe obstruction" etc etc???? or am I taking you too literally?
Usually they give out readings that are then interpreted eg FV1 etc.
I had a spirometry done at the GP's, then when I was referred to the Hospital, they re-did the spirometry test, using much more sophisticated equipment. I was sent for blood tests, and now I've just had "diffussion" tests and other complex testing, all of which come under the umbrella term of Lung Function Tests, or Pulmonary Funcion Tests.
I will be called back when the consultant gets these last ones and then I will be given the full diagnosis of how bad my emphesema is.
Initially the GP told me, on the strength of the Xray result 6 months ago I had COPD. Emphesema has been brought into the equation by the consultant on my first visit. But to me, being told I had COPD, was like being told I had emphesema anyway. I'm not daft.
The hospital staff are lovely and tell you in black and white, which is what I want, and need, to plan my future.
My GP's don't want to call COPD anything but that, and are not prepared to consider emphesema as even existing. Not because they know differently, they just don't want to tell you what's what.
My problem, now I've got over the shock of the news, is stopping smoking, which I am finding impossible.
Good luck!
Usually they give out readings that are then interpreted eg FV1 etc.
I had a spirometry done at the GP's, then when I was referred to the Hospital, they re-did the spirometry test, using much more sophisticated equipment. I was sent for blood tests, and now I've just had "diffussion" tests and other complex testing, all of which come under the umbrella term of Lung Function Tests, or Pulmonary Funcion Tests.
I will be called back when the consultant gets these last ones and then I will be given the full diagnosis of how bad my emphesema is.
Initially the GP told me, on the strength of the Xray result 6 months ago I had COPD. Emphesema has been brought into the equation by the consultant on my first visit. But to me, being told I had COPD, was like being told I had emphesema anyway. I'm not daft.
The hospital staff are lovely and tell you in black and white, which is what I want, and need, to plan my future.
My GP's don't want to call COPD anything but that, and are not prepared to consider emphesema as even existing. Not because they know differently, they just don't want to tell you what's what.
My problem, now I've got over the shock of the news, is stopping smoking, which I am finding impossible.
Good luck!
Yes the computer printed the reports out, which had the numbers and then had the interpretations that I posted above.I just dont understand how one can be normal, one can say restrictivion and another say obstruction. a restriction is NOT OCD an obstruction is. From my research, a restriction is determined when your lungs can not hold the normal amount of air that they are supposed to hold, hence your chest is restricted from expanding and an obstruction is when your lungs can not fully empty.
I stopped smoking. I get out of breath walking up lots of stairs and stuff like that, but I have always been out of shape and out of breath going up too many stairs.
Im not going to worry about it.
I see no point in CT scans. even if I do all those scans (against doctors advice I might add) and they tell me I have mild or moderate or whatever COPD, with no real symptoms there is nothing to treat.
Im just going to assume I have some form of it and not smoke and get the flu shot and be careful.
My dad got stomach cancer at 77 years old, he was a heavy pipe smoker all his life. When he had the cancer he had to get a CT of the chest and it said "mild COPD" ! The Dr never even mentioned it and no one was concerned. He probably had the COPD 20 plus years. the stomach cancer killed him.
If I get to the point where I ever do have breathing issues then Il go to a pulmonologist for medications.
when I read "severe pulmonary obstruction" I panicked. My Dr said if I truly had severe pulmonary obstruction I wouldnt be able to walk across the room without being out of breath, Kind of makes sense, dont ya think?
I stopped smoking. I get out of breath walking up lots of stairs and stuff like that, but I have always been out of shape and out of breath going up too many stairs.
Im not going to worry about it.
I see no point in CT scans. even if I do all those scans (against doctors advice I might add) and they tell me I have mild or moderate or whatever COPD, with no real symptoms there is nothing to treat.
Im just going to assume I have some form of it and not smoke and get the flu shot and be careful.
My dad got stomach cancer at 77 years old, he was a heavy pipe smoker all his life. When he had the cancer he had to get a CT of the chest and it said "mild COPD" ! The Dr never even mentioned it and no one was concerned. He probably had the COPD 20 plus years. the stomach cancer killed him.
If I get to the point where I ever do have breathing issues then Il go to a pulmonologist for medications.
when I read "severe pulmonary obstruction" I panicked. My Dr said if I truly had severe pulmonary obstruction I wouldnt be able to walk across the room without being out of breath, Kind of makes sense, dont ya think?
Little weed how out of breath are you? Is it very bad?
By the way, I dont cough, I have no wheeze and no flem or congestion.
I do remember for the last 25 years my dad constantly clearing his throat especially in the morning, no i realize that must have been the COPD he never knew he had!
By the way, I dont cough, I have no wheeze and no flem or congestion.
I do remember for the last 25 years my dad constantly clearing his throat especially in the morning, no i realize that must have been the COPD he never knew he had!
Oh sorry, just want to add one more thing, I did have a chest X ray about 2 years ago right after the spirometry and it came back normal.
Forgive me Jonkob, but do you not think that getting out of breath going up the stairs is a breathing issue?
I work outdoors in a very physical job. Problem is I work at the bottom of a hill, and rest breaks and tools, exit etc are all up the hill. I become out of breath about half way up and have to stop.
That's when I went to see the doc. initially.
Then in the mornings, I began to get a crushing feeling in the middle of my chest, like an elephant was sitting on my chest. This, I was then told by the nurse, was "hyperinflation" and was given two inhalers, Seretide to take daily in the morning, and Salamol (a reliever) to use as and when required. They worked a treat. The elephant went back to the circus, lol.
I did notice a difference. The only problem I had was the Seretide gave me terrible nausea in the mornings, which is a rare side effect according to the hospital consultant, who took me off it, and gave me Spiriva, which I've had no probs with.
You should really go by their advice. I think you would benefit from inhalers.
I am sorry about your dad. I lost my mum last year to colon cancer, which she had been told had been successfully treated 5 years ago. Then out of the blue, last Feb she was told it had come back, and gone to the lung and brain. She was given three months, but died after two.
I get a hint from you that you do want this sorted, because you are asking the
questions. but like me, perhaps after seeing your dad die, you think what the hell - cancer will get me or something else. Done it, worn the Tshirt.
Then I looked at my partner, knowing how much he is devoted to me, and think how can I not try to go on as long as possible. Do I want to destroy him too??
All I want is to know the facts in black and white so I can make informed decisions. For example, I don't know how long I can work for. Do I want to wait until I'm carting around an oxygen cylinder before packing in my job? I want some quality time left with my partner, not save it for working my butt off for peanuts.
I work outdoors in a very physical job. Problem is I work at the bottom of a hill, and rest breaks and tools, exit etc are all up the hill. I become out of breath about half way up and have to stop.
That's when I went to see the doc. initially.
Then in the mornings, I began to get a crushing feeling in the middle of my chest, like an elephant was sitting on my chest. This, I was then told by the nurse, was "hyperinflation" and was given two inhalers, Seretide to take daily in the morning, and Salamol (a reliever) to use as and when required. They worked a treat. The elephant went back to the circus, lol.
I did notice a difference. The only problem I had was the Seretide gave me terrible nausea in the mornings, which is a rare side effect according to the hospital consultant, who took me off it, and gave me Spiriva, which I've had no probs with.
You should really go by their advice. I think you would benefit from inhalers.
I am sorry about your dad. I lost my mum last year to colon cancer, which she had been told had been successfully treated 5 years ago. Then out of the blue, last Feb she was told it had come back, and gone to the lung and brain. She was given three months, but died after two.
I get a hint from you that you do want this sorted, because you are asking the
questions. but like me, perhaps after seeing your dad die, you think what the hell - cancer will get me or something else. Done it, worn the Tshirt.
Then I looked at my partner, knowing how much he is devoted to me, and think how can I not try to go on as long as possible. Do I want to destroy him too??
All I want is to know the facts in black and white so I can make informed decisions. For example, I don't know how long I can work for. Do I want to wait until I'm carting around an oxygen cylinder before packing in my job? I want some quality time left with my partner, not save it for working my butt off for peanuts.
Blimey, you did 3 posts while I did the 1 !!!
Sorry, I only use three fingers.
I think I have answered them all in my one.
I will say that I had a chest xray 12 months ago that was normal, so in only one year the xray has gone from normal, to showing evidence of COPD.
I don't often cough, and don't have much in the way of plegm or mucus, only if I have picked up a cold or am feeling a bit "chesty".
The docs also gave me what they call a "red envelope" which is an emergency supply of steroids and anti-biotics, to be taken at the first sign of a chest infection. To be renewed after use, so they are always available.
Sorry, I only use three fingers.
I think I have answered them all in my one.
I will say that I had a chest xray 12 months ago that was normal, so in only one year the xray has gone from normal, to showing evidence of COPD.
I don't often cough, and don't have much in the way of plegm or mucus, only if I have picked up a cold or am feeling a bit "chesty".
The docs also gave me what they call a "red envelope" which is an emergency supply of steroids and anti-biotics, to be taken at the first sign of a chest infection. To be renewed after use, so they are always available.
Little Weed may I ask your age?
Wow your story sounds very scary. Noof course I realize that going up a flight od stairs is not supposed to make you winded, but I have always been winding going up the stairs at the subway for as long as I can ever remember. I mean, even before I was ever a smoker!
To put it plain and simple, im fat. Im 5' 11" and weigh 245 pounds. So I guessmy ideal weight is 180 so im 65 pounds overweight. I live in NYC and I do alot of walking and I'm fine, I donly get winded with flights of stairs, like the subway etc. But as I said, thats nothing new. I couldnt run 1 block with out passing out, but even 20 years ago I couldnt run one block.
You still smoke? I quit for 5 years, then last year while having a few drinks I made the mistake of having one cigarette and then I was right back to a pack a day, for about a year, I quit again about 3 weeks ago.
My GP doctor who did the spirometry said dont worry about it, you dont need an inhaler based on these tests, and if you had severe COPD you would be out of breath walking across the room. When I asked him in a panicky tone "do I have COPD" ? he no. But then when I looked at the chart I see he did write it in the findings.
Maybe I dont want to face the possibility of having this, or maybe I dont want to go to a pulmonary doctor and hear bad news?
Maybe its my hope that if I do have COPD it will be dormant and not require any medical do intervention (medication, inhalers etc) until Im in my 60s.
This is supposed to be a slow disease.
Do you know if yours is severe , mild, or moderate?
Wow your story sounds very scary. Noof course I realize that going up a flight od stairs is not supposed to make you winded, but I have always been winding going up the stairs at the subway for as long as I can ever remember. I mean, even before I was ever a smoker!
To put it plain and simple, im fat. Im 5' 11" and weigh 245 pounds. So I guessmy ideal weight is 180 so im 65 pounds overweight. I live in NYC and I do alot of walking and I'm fine, I donly get winded with flights of stairs, like the subway etc. But as I said, thats nothing new. I couldnt run 1 block with out passing out, but even 20 years ago I couldnt run one block.
You still smoke? I quit for 5 years, then last year while having a few drinks I made the mistake of having one cigarette and then I was right back to a pack a day, for about a year, I quit again about 3 weeks ago.
My GP doctor who did the spirometry said dont worry about it, you dont need an inhaler based on these tests, and if you had severe COPD you would be out of breath walking across the room. When I asked him in a panicky tone "do I have COPD" ? he no. But then when I looked at the chart I see he did write it in the findings.
Maybe I dont want to face the possibility of having this, or maybe I dont want to go to a pulmonary doctor and hear bad news?
Maybe its my hope that if I do have COPD it will be dormant and not require any medical do intervention (medication, inhalers etc) until Im in my 60s.
This is supposed to be a slow disease.
Do you know if yours is severe , mild, or moderate?
Hi Jonkob,
Morning from the south coast in the UK, well, it's lunch time!
I totally understand where you are coming from! That's how I feel! But believe me, when I was first told by my own doctor that I had COPD, I didn't know whether to take it as a death sentence (my grandfather had emphesema) or be relieved that I didn't have lung cancer!
Is the glass half empty or half full????
I am just 54, (acting like a thirty year old) with a partner of 44, who is devoted to me, and is distraught at all this. While he is supportive, he can't handle the bad stuff, so who do you talk to? That's why I came on here.
My partner and I have had a **** 5 years, travelling up and down the UK to be with my parents, who had, and have, cancer. My mum and dad were divorced 30 years, mum remarried, and so now we also have step-father to keep an eye on. As I mentioned, we lost mum last year, dad was classed as terminal four years ago, but is still hanging on.
My partner and I were hoping to get our lives back on track this year, and now this. It is almost like we are doomed not to be together!
You and I have some similarities. I don't get winded walking either, so I disagree with your doc on that one. There is a scale, I forget the name of it just now, but you and I fall into the catagory of "breathless on exertion" - you with the stairs, me with hills etc. (I live in a bungalow, so don't know about the stairs)
My weight is an issue, too, but in the opposite direction. I am very underweight, and this creates difficulties for the lungs and heart, I believe. Also the prognosis is poorer for underweight people with COPD, so I have been desperately trying to gain weight.
I don't want to think that I have this either, After the initial shock, I have been burying my head in the sand a bit, hoping it will go away. I feel too young. There's a lot I want to achieve.
I will get to hear whether it is mild, moderate or severe when I get called back to the hospital when the pulmonary consultant gets the results of these last tests I had done on Friday. Apparently, she will look then at all the test results and will evaluate it from that.
A bit worrying, as I didn't feel these last ones I did too well.
After all the complex tests I have had done at the hospital, compared to the basic one spirometry at the GP's (the hospital spirometry was more more sophisticated and actually easier to blow into) I really think you HAVE TO see a lung specialist doctor, or whatever you call them over there, and be tested properly. To put your mind at rest one way or the other, if nothing else.
Your GP sounds a bit complacent to me. Surely if there was the slightest hint that you have COPD, be it emphesema, asthma, or severe bronchitis, you need to see a specialist to find out exactly which so you can get the treatment.
Yes, you feel a prat with an inhaler to begin with, crippled almost as well, but after a few times, you don't even think about it. And there's so many kids now with asthma that people don't take any notice if they were to see you, which they won't.
You will need to have the inhalers, JK, the main thing that I can gather, is to ease things now, avoid all irritants, and infections, to SLOW the progression of the disease. If you sit on your butt and do nothing, it will progress QUICKER! Which do you want???
You've done the hard bit - you've stopped smoking! I haven't cracked that one yet!!!!
We can get each other through this.
Morning from the south coast in the UK, well, it's lunch time!
I totally understand where you are coming from! That's how I feel! But believe me, when I was first told by my own doctor that I had COPD, I didn't know whether to take it as a death sentence (my grandfather had emphesema) or be relieved that I didn't have lung cancer!
Is the glass half empty or half full????
I am just 54, (acting like a thirty year old) with a partner of 44, who is devoted to me, and is distraught at all this. While he is supportive, he can't handle the bad stuff, so who do you talk to? That's why I came on here.
My partner and I have had a **** 5 years, travelling up and down the UK to be with my parents, who had, and have, cancer. My mum and dad were divorced 30 years, mum remarried, and so now we also have step-father to keep an eye on. As I mentioned, we lost mum last year, dad was classed as terminal four years ago, but is still hanging on.
My partner and I were hoping to get our lives back on track this year, and now this. It is almost like we are doomed not to be together!
You and I have some similarities. I don't get winded walking either, so I disagree with your doc on that one. There is a scale, I forget the name of it just now, but you and I fall into the catagory of "breathless on exertion" - you with the stairs, me with hills etc. (I live in a bungalow, so don't know about the stairs)
My weight is an issue, too, but in the opposite direction. I am very underweight, and this creates difficulties for the lungs and heart, I believe. Also the prognosis is poorer for underweight people with COPD, so I have been desperately trying to gain weight.
I don't want to think that I have this either, After the initial shock, I have been burying my head in the sand a bit, hoping it will go away. I feel too young. There's a lot I want to achieve.
I will get to hear whether it is mild, moderate or severe when I get called back to the hospital when the pulmonary consultant gets the results of these last tests I had done on Friday. Apparently, she will look then at all the test results and will evaluate it from that.
A bit worrying, as I didn't feel these last ones I did too well.
After all the complex tests I have had done at the hospital, compared to the basic one spirometry at the GP's (the hospital spirometry was more more sophisticated and actually easier to blow into) I really think you HAVE TO see a lung specialist doctor, or whatever you call them over there, and be tested properly. To put your mind at rest one way or the other, if nothing else.
Your GP sounds a bit complacent to me. Surely if there was the slightest hint that you have COPD, be it emphesema, asthma, or severe bronchitis, you need to see a specialist to find out exactly which so you can get the treatment.
Yes, you feel a prat with an inhaler to begin with, crippled almost as well, but after a few times, you don't even think about it. And there's so many kids now with asthma that people don't take any notice if they were to see you, which they won't.
You will need to have the inhalers, JK, the main thing that I can gather, is to ease things now, avoid all irritants, and infections, to SLOW the progression of the disease. If you sit on your butt and do nothing, it will progress QUICKER! Which do you want???
You've done the hard bit - you've stopped smoking! I haven't cracked that one yet!!!!
We can get each other through this.
Hi ... I am 53 and diagnosed with COPD about two years ago with FEV1 of 58% ... then about a year later another spirometry said 61% and I was pleased with that ... and recently one year on from that my last spirometry said 55%. So I have dropped 6% in just one year and I dont smoke. At that rate I wont survive long. I was hoping that it would slow down since I stopped smoking 2 years ago.
When I was diagnosed I asked my doctor if copd was emphysema and he said no its copd .... I now know he was lying. He said that if I stopped smoking I would lose lung function at a normal rate and showed me a chart .... again he was lying or just plain wrong. I know there is nothing that can be done and I know that I have only myself to blame but I just want to know the truth so I can make plans for whatever future I have left and make arrangements.
When I was diagnosed I asked my doctor if copd was emphysema and he said no its copd .... I now know he was lying. He said that if I stopped smoking I would lose lung function at a normal rate and showed me a chart .... again he was lying or just plain wrong. I know there is nothing that can be done and I know that I have only myself to blame but I just want to know the truth so I can make plans for whatever future I have left and make arrangements.
Just because one test said 55% and the one a couple years earlier said 61 doesnt mean anything, in my opinion. Remember that test is not like an Xray, blood test, or CT scan, its dependent upon your EFFORT.
Maybe you were tired that day, maybe you didnt blow as hard, too many variables to just assume you will be loosing 6% of lung capacity every 2 years
Maybe you were tired that day, maybe you didnt blow as hard, too many variables to just assume you will be loosing 6% of lung capacity every 2 years
I read my previous post again and apologise for being so pessimistic ... I tend to panic. You are correct in what you say jonkob ... thanks for the wise words.
Hi dismayed,
Listen to jonkob he is so right. He is becoming very wise and objective on all of this. But don't beat yourself up about being pessimistic either - it's an easy trap to fall into. I know, believe me.
What you have to remember as well is that COPD is an umbrella term for chronic lung conditions, be it emphesema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis.
You need to see a lung specialist to determine exactly what your particular problem is. This can only be done by re-doing your spirometry with more sophisticated equipment, and a full range of lung function tests, known as PFT's, or LFT's, including diffusion tests to determine the volume capacity.
My GP, like yours, does not want to call COPD emphesema, even though that is in fact what I have been diagnosed with, much to the surprise of the hospital to which I was referred.
Why, I do not know. But for whatever reason, you need to ask to be referred to a specialist who will determine exactly what you do have and treat you accordingly.
The treatment is important, whichever your particular problem turns out to be. (asthma for example, will be treated differently to emphesema etc etc)
Well done for stopping smoking!
Good Luck!
Listen to jonkob he is so right. He is becoming very wise and objective on all of this. But don't beat yourself up about being pessimistic either - it's an easy trap to fall into. I know, believe me.
What you have to remember as well is that COPD is an umbrella term for chronic lung conditions, be it emphesema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis.
You need to see a lung specialist to determine exactly what your particular problem is. This can only be done by re-doing your spirometry with more sophisticated equipment, and a full range of lung function tests, known as PFT's, or LFT's, including diffusion tests to determine the volume capacity.
My GP, like yours, does not want to call COPD emphesema, even though that is in fact what I have been diagnosed with, much to the surprise of the hospital to which I was referred.
Why, I do not know. But for whatever reason, you need to ask to be referred to a specialist who will determine exactly what you do have and treat you accordingly.
The treatment is important, whichever your particular problem turns out to be. (asthma for example, will be treated differently to emphesema etc etc)
Well done for stopping smoking!
Good Luck!
By the way, I have an appointment with a Pulmonary specialist tomorrow morning. I would like to repeat the Spirometry in a specialists office and get a better understanding of whats really going on, if anything. I want to ask him how I can blow six different times and get six way different readings from normal to severe. I will report back tomorrow evening.
Little weed did you get your results?
Little weed did you get your results?
I am so glad you are seeing (have seen?) the specialist. He should answer all your questions, but should also do the full range of other lung function tests, to determine exactly what your problem is.
Fingers crossed for you.
You may turn out to have asthma, which would be common enough with your wieght issue, and there is some reversibilty with that.
I'm still waiting to get my appointment through. The system in the UK is much slower than yours. If I'm lucky, I'll get the letter this week, but god knows when the appointment will be - in 2 weeks or maybe three.
Boy, will my anxiety levels go through te roof! I'll have to start biting my nails, instead of reaching for a cigarette!
Let me know when you have got some news. I'm going to be nervous for you! (You seem to have got your head round all this a bit better now)
Good Luck!
Fingers crossed for you.
You may turn out to have asthma, which would be common enough with your wieght issue, and there is some reversibilty with that.
I'm still waiting to get my appointment through. The system in the UK is much slower than yours. If I'm lucky, I'll get the letter this week, but god knows when the appointment will be - in 2 weeks or maybe three.
Boy, will my anxiety levels go through te roof! I'll have to start biting my nails, instead of reaching for a cigarette!
Let me know when you have got some news. I'm going to be nervous for you! (You seem to have got your head round all this a bit better now)
Good Luck!
Well I went to a specialist (pulmonary) as promised, and I am glad I did!
As I explained earlier, about 3 years ago in my family doctors office my spirometry results stated "severe pulmonary obstruction" with very low fev1 numbers. I was sure I had COPD. I since quit smoking for about 2 years and last year resumed smoking but only about 4 cigs a day.
So yesterday this doctor (whos office is in NYU Medical Center) in NYC performs a complete PFT with EKG, Spirometry, and chest x-rays.
My spirometry was normal, I was shocked. When I questioned him about my fev1 he said I was at 98% :)
My chest X-rays were also normal as well as EKG.
Doc said I most certainly do not have COPD.
SoI am very happy, and my only conclusion about the results from 3 years ago are that the family doc had faulty equipment.
But I still plan to quit smoking.
Good luck to all of you
As I explained earlier, about 3 years ago in my family doctors office my spirometry results stated "severe pulmonary obstruction" with very low fev1 numbers. I was sure I had COPD. I since quit smoking for about 2 years and last year resumed smoking but only about 4 cigs a day.
So yesterday this doctor (whos office is in NYU Medical Center) in NYC performs a complete PFT with EKG, Spirometry, and chest x-rays.
My spirometry was normal, I was shocked. When I questioned him about my fev1 he said I was at 98% :)
My chest X-rays were also normal as well as EKG.
Doc said I most certainly do not have COPD.
SoI am very happy, and my only conclusion about the results from 3 years ago are that the family doc had faulty equipment.
But I still plan to quit smoking.
Good luck to all of you
PS-when I asked why I get out of breath going up stairs doc said to loose 40 pounds :)
I am so oo pleased for you, jonkob! You must be so relieved!
Lose those few pounds and you will be the fittest man on the planet! You can always chuck a few in my direction!
I've been chewing my nails waiting to hear how you got on!
I feel almost as if it might be a good omen for me too . . .
Good Luck JK, and keep up with the giving up smoking. (then tell me how you cracked that one!)
Lose those few pounds and you will be the fittest man on the planet! You can always chuck a few in my direction!
I've been chewing my nails waiting to hear how you got on!
I feel almost as if it might be a good omen for me too . . .
Good Luck JK, and keep up with the giving up smoking. (then tell me how you cracked that one!)
Congratulations jonkob ... you are safe now if you dont smoke ... you can go out and live your life and never look back.
Its nice to read some good news.
Its nice to read some good news.
Now then, dismayed, it's your turn!
Get to the specialist and get ALL tests done again, especially the full funtion tests. Get the specialists opinion!
The equipment in docs offices can be unreliable, especially if someone has not been specifically trained to use and interpret the readings.
You and I may not be as lucky as jonkob, but that's no reason to not get properly assessed!
Get going and good luck!
Get to the specialist and get ALL tests done again, especially the full funtion tests. Get the specialists opinion!
The equipment in docs offices can be unreliable, especially if someone has not been specifically trained to use and interpret the readings.
You and I may not be as lucky as jonkob, but that's no reason to not get properly assessed!
Get going and good luck!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder Community
Find out what causes asthma, and how to take control of your symptoms.
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Tricks to help you quit for good.
Is your area one of the dirtiest-air cities in the nation?
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
