Spirometry results : My gp.phoned said... - Asthma Community ...

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Spirometry results

16 Replies

My gp.phoned said my results show both asthma which I knew and COPD said some of the results was good ...heard nothing else as I burst into tears...haven't stop crying since....guess my consultant appointment 25 Feb I will know more.

My Gp said he will speak to nurse at surgery Monday then maje appointment for me to see her

Feel my life is over

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16 Replies
paula66 profile image
paula66

It's not the best news but it's manageable..I felt and still feel.like this somedays..chronic asthmatic and copd take a lot of medication had to give my job up but my outlook is I'm alive..you will have good days and bad days .

Hope this helps you always here to chat xx

ChrissieMons profile image
ChrissieMons

Oh please don’t feel like that - it’s not a death sentence! Look after your general health, take inhalers properly and your life probably won’t change much for a long time. Try taking one day at a time and finding good things as the day goes on. Sounds cheesy, I know, but it could help you feel better about things. Take someone with you next time you have an appointment, to help you remember what’s said. Good luck!

in reply to ChrissieMons

I am going with my son on 25th I know you are right just so scared

At least you have the answers you was looking for. maybe not the ones you wanted. I am sure you are going to be alright. I know this might be hard but try and stay calm and try and avoid your trigger's until you get the full answers you are looking for. Good luck between now and then. Hopefully you will get the support you require now

Minushabens profile image
Minushabens

I was diagnosed with COPD in very similar circumstances a few years ago. Nobody really told me what that meant & what happened in reality was that the diagnosis 'evolved' as more tests were done. So it went from COPD to bronchiectasis to ABPA. At no point did anyone really talk me through this though.

Anyway, as others have said, whatever 'version' of COPD it looks like, most of these things are manageable & I'm sure you'll find ways to manage it.

Stay strong :)

in reply to Minushabens

Thank you for your support

If you visit the British Lung Foundation Community (healthunlocked.com/blf) You will find dozens of posts by people who have COPD who will put your mind at rest. They are truly wonderful and helpful folk. The BLF wbsite also have lots of leaflets to either doenload, or send away for, that you will find reassuring, XX

in reply to

Hi thank you ...I ha s phoned them sending me out stuff and have given me some advise for my appointment today. Making my way there now

Matman profile image
Matman

Assuming a Spirometry Test is what your Doc was commenting on, it’s not uncommon for GPs to sometimes interpret a Spirometry Reading as indicative of COPD, when the issue can be eosinophilic asthma (which often shows a similar Spirometry Indication). Look, I’m not saying your GP is wrong, but I know for sure that poor reversibility on a Spirometry Test can indicate either COPD or Eosinophilic asthma.

In such circumstances, given that my GP scared me by mentioning COPD as a possibility (and I was ultimately diagnosed with Eosinophilic Asthma) plus given also what I’ve since learned, I’d be expecting my Consultant to do some comprehensive testing including a CT Scan (possibly High Resolution CT) FeNO, Blood Tests for eosinophils and a repeat Spirometry.

Don’t want to leave you with false hope as far as the COPD is concerned, but if your Consultant doesn’t offer additional Tests you may want to press for some.

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to Matman

Hi spirometry won’t diagnose your phenotype of asthma (the physiological ‘cause’ of the asthma), just whether or not you have obstructive and/or restricted airways (and spotting the difference can be difficult!), however typically asthma has some reversibility, no matter the type.

The asthma ‘type’ you are is usually diagnosed through blood tests and skin prick tests, whilst FENO will say whether or not prednisolone will help. The phenotype you are just dictates what further drugs are available to you. Then severity is assessed by your level of symptoms/frequency of attacks and what medicine you are on.

There can be an overlap between asthma and COPD diagnosis, especially on objective tests such as spirometry and in those with slightly more severe/uncontrolled asthma, which is when as Matman said they bring in other tests. They’ll also take you’re past medicial history into account, and compare to previous/new spiros before diagnosing COPD, which is what the consultant will do better than the GP. For example on a bad day my spiro shows possible COPD but on a good day it shows nothing, in reality I have severe asthma (eosinophilic and atopic).

I’d suggest waiting til your cons appointment to see what they say before stressing out too much, especially if no-one has previously suggested COPD to you yet!

in reply to EmmaF91

Do you know until I came on here I never knew there were different types of asthma.

I have stated on here one of the respiratory nurses from the hospital who called back said indicative of moderate copd. She said there was some improvement after use of inhaler but non of this makes any sense to me.

You have provided a detailed account non of which I understand. I agree I do and am happy to wait to see my consultant. As either way I hope to have a better plan of care than I have had to date.

in reply to EmmaF91

This is the first spirometry test I have had since 2010

in reply to Matman

Hi as new to all of this as upon until December I never had to much of an issue with my asthma..although I did smoke and have done for over 30 years

in reply to Matman

What other test should I be asking for..had x-ray showed over inflated lung that's when I was in hospital December. I had blood test outcome was not told. I can't remember what else they did when I was in hospital as it was first admission

Matman profile image
Matman

Just the additional Tests I mentioned, though your Consultant might want to add one or two others. Obviously I don’t know what type of Tests / Images led up to your GPs Diagnosis. As I said earlier, your GP’s Diagnosis might be correct, but it’s probably not 100% Certain until your Consultant + Further Tests validate or overturn that diagnosis,

in reply to Matman

Thank you have made a note of tests. What ever my outcome just want correct treatment to help me.

Thank you

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