Peak flow meter

[Guest guest]

There is a big offering on asthma in the MSN home page tonight. In it, it speaks

of a peak

flow meter. I have read several members of this Xolair group refer to their peak

flow

readings. My Dr has never mentioned one, I have never used one, are they

beneficial in

tracking my breathing? With taking Xolair, Nebulizer couple times a day, two

inhalers,

Prednisone, etc, etc, daily, am I beyond the peak flow meter or do you think I

should explore

it, or are they basically Voodoo? Is one brand/type better then the other?

Thanks

Ron

[Guest guest]

Peak Flow meters are a great tool when used properly. So physicians know that

the results are dependant on effort and if you cheat. Basing treatment solely

on the result of the peak flow meter is ill advised. But, it really is a great

tool Ron. Those of us who know how to use it properly and really want to be

better & not on evil candy & antibiotics will use it correctly. Believe it or

not, there are people who use the peak flow meter to get antibiotics and

prednisone from their physicians. Crazy I know, but it happens.

Monoghan medical out of New York, Plattsburg I think, has the best peak flow

meter ni my opinion. It is cylindrical and makes more sense physically than a

square one. But, those of you who have sqaure ones, don't toss them. They

still are a good tool. Just answering Rons question for hte best in my opinion.

They are to be used when you get up in the morning. They can be used before and

after nebulizer to see how much restriction is gone. They can be used before

exercise. And, should be used before bed. The first 2 weeks you have it, do it

3 times a day. Record the numbers. Average the numbers for one day. Add up

the 14 numbers & divide by 14 to give your " average " . You can add up all 42

numbers and divide by 42 if you are a mathematical purist. This average

represents how your lungs are every day. If you are 20% below average, your

physician may say to take a neb treatment. At 50% below average you are in

trouble. This all reflects on an asthma action

plan. If you decide to get a peak flow meter (average cost $15), have your

physician give you an action plan to go with it.

Mine is very specific. My average was 220. Now is 400. At 220 - 44 = 176 I

used an extra neb with albuterol and atrovent. At 220 - 66 = 154 I used neb

w/alb/atrovent & pulmicort. At 220 - 110 = 110 I was in serious trouble.

Prednisone burst 2 extra nebs with all 3 drugs and below 110 was a hospital

trip. I have been intubated twice for status asthmaticus (asthma attack that

won't subside). I never want a tube shoved down my throat again!

I am sure that those who use the peak flow as they are supposed to use it, an

adjunct to asthma management, they have had an increase in their numbers,

meaning that there is less restriction mucous & other schmutz in their lungs so

more air gets through. That all means more oxygen to tissues, less edema in the

lung fields, more clarity of thought, less healing time because all tissues have

more oxygen to work with, less fatigue etc.....

In my opinion, it is a great tool when used properly and not only as a single

asthma management tool. Don't cheat with it as you are only cheating yourself.

Kids use it wrong alot to stay home from school etc...

Pat

---------------------------------

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

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[Guest guest]

Ron,

I know every time I go into the dr's office I am asked to blow into the

peak flow meter. It tests how much force and gives a good idea of how

much your lungs can expand. I believe the metering on the side of the

tube measures flow from as little as nothing to around 800. I have

never gone higher than 520 on a good day. I really don't think unless

you are a muscle builder in great shape you could not reach the max on

the side of the meter.

There are different styles you can get depending on what the dr

recommends and your personal taste.

~ Steve Zimmerman, CPM, CVOM ~

________________________________

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of ronaldcrpntr

Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 3:03 AM

Subject: [ ] Peak flow meter

There is a big offering on asthma in the MSN home page tonight. In it,

it speaks of a peak

flow meter. I have read several members of this Xolair group refer to

their peak flow

readings. My Dr has never mentioned one, I have never used one, are they

beneficial in

tracking my breathing? With taking Xolair, Nebulizer couple times a day,

two inhalers,

Prednisone, etc, etc, daily, am I beyond the peak flow meter or do you

think I should explore

it, or are they basically Voodoo? Is one brand/type better then the

other?

Thanks

Ron

[Guest guest]

hi ron,

for me, a peak flow (PF) meter seems somewhat useless. as a kid, i used it

twice a day, every day, and charted the numbers (mom's rules!!). as an adult, i

just stopped using it, and felt no less informed.

my dr asked me to again chart my numbers for a few weeks. i asked her why my

PF was still good when i felt like poopy, and she just shrugged her shoulders. i

dunno if i'm doing it wrong ( i don't think so - they never correct me for a PFT

in the office- its the same " blow " right??) .

for some people, they work and they help. for me, i don't see much of a point.

i pacify my dr and do it, but i have to admit, i'm becoming quite lax on it. i

did do it last week when i was having a lot of trouble (numbers went from 430

down to about 250).

i have a piko something or other. its electronic.

heather

ronaldcrpntr <cowtrail@...> wrote:

There is a big offering on asthma in the MSN home page tonight. In it, it

speaks of a peak

flow meter. I have read several members of this Xolair group refer to their peak

flow

readings. My Dr has never mentioned one, I have never used one, are they

beneficial in

tracking my breathing? With taking Xolair, Nebulizer couple times a day, two

inhalers,

Prednisone, etc, etc, daily, am I beyond the peak flow meter or do you think I

should explore

it, or are they basically Voodoo? Is one brand/type better then the other?

Thanks

Ron

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the reply.

After " everything " I have decided I better " get serious " about my

asthma before it kills me, and not just rely on the Dr and Hospital

to fix things after the fact.

The operative word here being before it kills me, and the Dr said it

would, if I didn't change my evil ways LOL. (reality has never been

my strong point!)

Ron

On Apr 19, 2006, at 10:43 AM, MommaA wrote:

> Peak Flow meters are a great tool when used properly. So

> physicians know that the results are dependant on effort and if you

> cheat. Basing treatment solely on the result of the peak flow

> meter is ill advised. But, it really is a great tool Ron. Those

> of us who know how to use it properly and really want to be better

> & not on evil candy & antibiotics will use it correctly. Believe

> it or not, there are people who use the peak flow meter to get

> antibiotics and prednisone from their physicians. Crazy I know,

> but it happens.

> Monoghan medical out of New York, Plattsburg I think, has the

> best peak flow meter ni my opinion. It is cylindrical and makes

> more sense physically than a square one. But, those of you who

> have sqaure ones, don't toss them. They still are a good tool.

> Just answering Rons question for hte best in my opinion. They are

> to be used when you get up in the morning. They can be used before

> and after nebulizer to see how much restriction is gone. They can

> be used before exercise. And, should be used before bed. The

> first 2 weeks you have it, do it 3 times a day. Record the

> numbers. Average the numbers for one day. Add up the 14 numbers &

> divide by 14 to give your " average " . You can add up all 42 numbers

> and divide by 42 if you are a mathematical purist. This average

> represents how your lungs are every day. If you are 20% below

> average, your physician may say to take a neb treatment. At 50%

> below average you are in trouble. This all reflects on an asthma

> action

> plan. If you decide to get a peak flow meter (average cost $15),

> have your physician give you an action plan to go with it.

> Mine is very specific. My average was 220. Now is 400. At 220

> - 44 = 176 I used an extra neb with albuterol and atrovent. At 220

> - 66 = 154 I used neb w/alb/atrovent & pulmicort. At 220 - 110 =

> 110 I was in serious trouble. Prednisone burst 2 extra nebs with

> all 3 drugs and below 110 was a hospital trip. I have been

> intubated twice for status asthmaticus (asthma attack that won't

> subside). I never want a tube shoved down my throat again!

> I am sure that those who use the peak flow as they are supposed

> to use it, an adjunct to asthma management, they have had an

> increase in their numbers, meaning that there is less restriction

> mucous & other schmutz in their lungs so more air gets through.

> That all means more oxygen to tissues, less edema in the lung

> fields, more clarity of thought, less healing time because all

> tissues have more oxygen to work with, less fatigue etc.....

> In my opinion, it is a great tool when used properly and not only

> as a single asthma management tool. Don't cheat with it as you are

> only cheating yourself. Kids use it wrong alot to stay home from

> school etc...

>

> Pat

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and

> 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Ron,

>

> I know every time I go into the dr's office I am asked to blow into the

> peak flow meter. It tests how much force and gives a good idea of how

> much your lungs can expand. I believe the metering on the side of the

> tube measures flow from as little as nothing to around 800. I have

> never gone higher than 520 on a good day. I really don't think unless

> you are a muscle builder in great shape you could not reach the max on

> the side of the meter.

>

> There are different styles you can get depending on what the dr

> recommends and your personal taste.

>

> ~ Steve Zimmerman, CPM, CVOM ~

>

Steve,

Every time I used to blow into the meter, I blew it off the scale. The

nurse was puzzled until I told her that I have a degree in vocal music

and am trained to use my diaphram while singing.

Now, I my lungs do the work instead of my diaphram when using the

meter. Before Xolair, I was blowing 350-400. Now I am up to 750.

Doug

[Guest guest]

Get one, what can it hurt? I asked my pharmacy (Publix) if they sold them.

They don't but they had some given to them by a drug company and gave me 2. I

use it periodically to check my status. They're quite simple. Even if you have

to buy one, they cost from $10 to $15.

Carol

There is a big offering on asthma in the MSN home page tonight. In it, it

speaks of a peak

flow meter. I have read several members of this Xolair group refer to their

peak flow

readings. My Dr has never mentioned one, I have never used one, are they

beneficial in

tracking my breathing? With taking Xolair, Nebulizer couple times a day, two

inhalers,

Prednisone, etc, etc, daily, am I beyond the peak flow meter or do you think I

should explore

it, or are they basically Voodoo? Is one brand/type better then the other?

Thanks

Ron

[Guest guest]

I have a digital one that won't let you cheat. LOL. It knows when

you are doing it right. If you do it wrong it puts a little

exclimation point on it. I wasn't trying to cheat, but just wasn't

paying attention. It also gives your FEV1 readings. Which my doctor

just loves. It keep I think 40 readings on the meter, then you can

also download it to the computer and print off really nice graphs and

your readings. It's rather handy. My doctor has me doing mine once

every day. " An asthma attack caught early is one prevented " he says.