Re: pulmo appt

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,Thanks Ann 39 haha. 

You sound busy.

I'm glad you're pleased with your PFT results. I had to cancell my first test because of a cold.  I didn't think I coulddo the spirometry without coughing.  I will compare my FEV numbers with yours. Is there anything else about the test I should know.

I'm practicing inhaling and exhaling fast by playing a harmonica.  

Thanks,

donachi39

 

 

ould know.thing   e test

First...thanks to the folks that mentioned NOT to do meds before a PFT, b/c my pulmonologist decided to do spirometry today and I did not take my meds b/c of the discussion and the possibility that he might do a PFT.  

Second, todays appointment was quite productive!  I am more and more glad that I switched my primary doc back in June.  I think it might be one of the better moves I made.  My FEV was 3.14 which is 79% of the reference they used...but considering Id had a head cold in the last 2 weeks my doc was happy with that.  We also discussed the fact that says my snoring has gotten much worse over the past 6 months..so I am going to do a sleep study for sleep apnea.  We also discussed my weight issues, which hopefully this year I can get back on track b/c Im not having so many issues since I dropped my hours at burger king to 2 days a week while Im in school.  

Another thing that got mentioned is that my tonsils are rather swollen. The doc said that it could be due to the cold I just had, but if they do not shrink, I might be looking at a tonsillectomy in the future.

Lastly, I explained to him that I dont seem to get relief from the HFA inhalers when Im sick and asked about a neb for home use when Im having issues.  And....he said no problem!  So after a year and a half of being jerked around by the other doc that I dropped after he suggested that gastric bypass is NO BIG DEAL (did he really say that?????) who also believed inhalers are just as effective as a neb, I finally have my own!  Now I just have to pick up my meds for it..but I wasnt going to do that today b/c the base pharmacy is slammed...there was a line 10ppl long just to get a number to go to the window.  Ill try back tomorrow after school...

So...today, 1/11/11 is a good day!  (plus my test that we were supposed to have tomorrow got postponed b/c we missed 2 days of classes this week so its next week now.)

Ann

[Guest guest]

Dont worry about coughing...they only want you to try your best. This PFT is to get an idea of how well your lungs are working, so if you should end up coughing, its not necessarily a bad thing. However, if you have a cold, thats probably not the best time to do your first one ever.

You will be in a booth with a chair and a mouth piece. They will put a clip on your nose, it doesnt hurt at all. They left the booth open and they will talk you through the test. I could see out the window of the office so I picked a place to focus on outside and listened to the tech as he told me when to deep breathe. They will also check your regular breathing. The test is done several times and they take the best numbers. Ironically, it may not be the first test. You get a rest period in between..

Now, for your test, they might also give you methacholine which is an inhalant that may trigger your asthma. If there is any problem they will give you albuterol right away with that. A positive reaction to the methacholine helps confirm the asthma diagnosis. I barely reacted to it, but my lung function did decrease with it when I had it last year. Again you will be just fine. I think for the methacholine part they closed the door, but its a clear booth, and you can still see and hear everything going on..

Its a little wierd, but just relax when your in there and listen to them talking to you through the test. Im sure you will do the best you can!!

Ann

Re: pulmo appt

Hi Ann,

Thanks Ann 39 haha.

You sound busy.

I'm glad you're pleased with your PFT results. I had to cancell my first test because of a cold. I didn't think I could

do the spirometry without coughing. I will compare my FEV numbers with yours. Is there anything else about the test I should know.

I'm practicing inhaling and exhaling fast by playing a harmonica.

Thanks,

donachi39

ould know.

thing e test

First...thanks to the folks that mentioned NOT to do meds before a PFT, b/c my pulmonologist decided to do spirometry today and I did not take my meds b/c of the discussion and the possibility that he might do a PFT.

Second, todays appointment was quite productive! I am more and more glad that I switched my primary doc back in June. I think it might be one of the better moves I made. My FEV was 3.14 which is 79% of the reference they used...but considering Id had a head cold in the last 2 weeks my doc was happy with that. We also discussed the fact that says my snoring has gotten much worse over the past 6 months..so I am going to do a sleep study for sleep apnea. We also discussed my weight issues, which hopefully this year I can get back on track b/c Im not having so many issues since I dropped my hours at burger king to 2 days a week while Im in school.

Another thing that got mentioned is that my tonsils are rather swollen. The doc said that it could be due to the cold I just had, but if they do not shrink, I might be looking at a tonsillectomy in the future.

Lastly, I explained to him that I dont seem to get relief from the HFA inhalers when Im sick and asked about a neb for home use when Im having issues. And....he said no problem! So after a year and a half of being jerked around by the other doc that I dropped after he suggested that gastric bypass is NO BIG DEAL (did he really say that?????) who also believed inhalers are just as effective as a neb, I finally have my own! Now I just have to pick up my meds for it..but I wasnt going to do that today b/c the base pharmacy is slammed...there was a line 10ppl long just to get a number to go to the window. Ill try back tomorrow after school...

So...today, 1/11/11 is a good day! (plus my test that we were supposed to have tomorrow got postponed b/c we missed 2 days of classes this week so its next week now.)

Ann

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

Thanks for the information.

It just makes me uneasy if they want to give me something to iniitiate an asthma attack.  I try hold to keep that from happeneing.

donacji39

 Jan 11, 2011 at 10:04 PM, ANN wrote:

 

Dont worry about coughing...they only want you to try your best.  This PFT is to get an idea of how well your lungs are working, so if you should end up coughing, its not necessarily a bad thing.  However, if you have a cold, thats probably not the best time to do your first one ever. You will be in a booth with a chair and a mouth piece.  They will put a clip on your nose, it doesnt hurt at all.  They left the booth open and they will talk you through the test.  I could see out the window of the office so I picked a place to focus on outside and listened to the tech as he told me when to deep breathe.  They will also check your regular breathing.  The test is done several times and they take the best numbers.  Ironically, it may not be the first test.  You get a rest period in between..

Now, for your test, they might also give you methacholine which is an inhalant that may trigger your asthma.  If there is any problem they will give you albuterol right away with that.  A positive reaction to the methacholine helps confirm the asthma diagnosis.  I barely reacted to it, but my lung function did decrease with it when I had it last year.  Again you will be just fine.  I think for the methacholine part they closed the door, but its a clear booth, and you can still see and hear everything going on..

Its a little wierd, but just relax when your in there and listen to them talking to you through the test.  Im sure you will do the best you can!!

Ann

Re: pulmo appt

 

Hi Ann,Thanks Ann 39 haha. 

You sound busy.

I'm glad you're pleased with your PFT results. I had to cancell my first test because of a cold.  I didn't think I coulddo the spirometry without coughing.  I will compare my FEV numbers with yours. Is there anything else about the test I should know.

I'm practicing inhaling and exhaling fast by playing a harmonica.  

Thanks,

donachi39

 

 

ould know.thing   e test

First...thanks to the folks that mentioned NOT to do meds before a PFT, b/c my pulmonologist decided to do spirometry today and I did not take my meds b/c of the discussion and the possibility that he might do a PFT.  

Second, todays appointment was quite productive!  I am more and more glad that I switched my primary doc back in June.  I think it might be one of the better moves I made.  My FEV was 3.14 which is 79% of the reference they used...but considering Id had a head cold in the last 2 weeks my doc was happy with that.  We also discussed the fact that says my snoring has gotten much worse over the past 6 months..so I am going to do a sleep study for sleep apnea.  We also discussed my weight issues, which hopefully this year I can get back on track b/c Im not having so many issues since I dropped my hours at burger king to 2 days a week while Im in school.  

Another thing that got mentioned is that my tonsils are rather swollen. The doc said that it could be due to the cold I just had, but if they do not shrink, I might be looking at a tonsillectomy in the future.

Lastly, I explained to him that I dont seem to get relief from the HFA inhalers when Im sick and asked about a neb for home use when Im having issues.  And....he said no problem!  So after a year and a half of being jerked around by the other doc that I dropped after he suggested that gastric bypass is NO BIG DEAL (did he really say that?????) who also believed inhalers are just as effective as a neb, I finally have my own!  Now I just have to pick up my meds for it..but I wasnt going to do that today b/c the base pharmacy is slammed...there was a line 10ppl long just to get a number to go to the window.  Ill try back tomorrow after school...

So...today, 1/11/11 is a good day!  (plus my test that we were supposed to have tomorrow got postponed b/c we missed 2 days of classes this week so its next week now.)

Ann

[Guest guest]

The methacholine challenge is one of the definitive tests to diagnose asthma. Just try to think positive and dont let it scare you. You will be ok, and in the event that you do have a problem, theres people there that will be able to help you at the slightest hint of a problem. It is scary, but its not too bad.

Ann

Re: pulmo appt

Hi Ann,

Thanks Ann 39 haha.

You sound busy.

I'm glad you're pleased with your PFT results. I had to cancell my first test because of a cold. I didn't think I could

do the spirometry without coughing. I will compare my FEV numbers with yours. Is there anything else about the test I should know.

I'm practicing inhaling and exhaling fast by playing a harmonica.

Thanks,

donachi39

ould know.

thing e test

First...thanks to the folks that mentioned NOT to do meds before a PFT, b/c my pulmonologist decided to do spirometry today and I did not take my meds b/c of the discussion and the possibility that he might do a PFT.

Second, todays appointment was quite productive! I am more and more glad that I switched my primary doc back in June. I think it might be one of the better moves I made. My FEV was 3.14 which is 79% of the reference they used...but considering Id had a head cold in the last 2 weeks my doc was happy with that. We also discussed the fact that says my snoring has gotten much worse over the past 6 months..so I am going to do a sleep study for sleep apnea. We also discussed my weight issues, which hopefully this year I can get back on track b/c Im not having so many issues since I dropped my hours at burger king to 2 days a week while Im in school.

Another thing that got mentioned is that my tonsils are rather swollen. The doc said that it could be due to the cold I just had, but if they do not shrink, I might be looking at a tonsillectomy in the future.

Lastly, I explained to him that I dont seem to get relief from the HFA inhalers when Im sick and asked about a neb for home use when Im having issues. And....he said no problem! So after a year and a half of being jerked around by the other doc that I dropped after he suggested that gastric bypass is NO BIG DEAL (did he really say that?????) who also believed inhalers are just as effective as a neb, I finally have my own! Now I just have to pick up my meds for it..but I wasnt going to do that today b/c the base pharmacy is slammed...there was a line 10ppl long just to get a number to go to the window. Ill try back tomorrow after school...

So...today, 1/11/11 is a good day! (plus my test that we were supposed to have tomorrow got postponed b/c we missed 2 days of classes this week so its next week now.)

Ann