Failed Feno test

[Nectarin]

Hello everyone,I just had my appointment with asthma nurse. She wanted me to do Feno test which I treid like 5 times but couldn't breath as requested ( especially breathing out) I've got very short of breath and dizzy, black in front of my eyes. She said I failed the test. Could somebody please explain me what does it mean a failed Feno test? Thank you very much.

[Homely2 Administrator]

You can not fail a feno test, your lungs were just too unhappy to allow you to complete the test.

As to what not completing it means, in itself it means nothing. However it does mean that the medic who asked you to complete the test, does not receive the information he or she was wanting from having the test done.

[Nectarin in reply to Homely2]

Thank you.

[Chip_y2kuk]

You can't fail a feno test its a measure of exhaled nitrous oxide... the higher the number the higher the level of inflammation

So I wouldn't be able to take a supposed medical professional thst told me I had "failed" one seriously.

As homely said on this occasion your airways where just too irritated to allow you to complete it .... it just needs rebooking for a better time

[Nectarin in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thank you.

[Patk1]

It is a measure of inflammation in lungs.

[Nectarin in reply to Patk1]

Thank you.

[Patk1 in reply to Nectarin]

I hope they book u another test.youll know what to expect nx time.x

[Pipsqueak77]

Hi Nectarin

Whilst I agree you can’t really ‘fail’ a FeNO test you do need to be able to control your breathing for about 45secs and this is not always easy to do with asthma.

If you struggle (even when well) to maintain a constant breath out then you should explain this to your nurse. Maybe they will then try something else to help aid diagnosis.

Hope you get on ok..👍🤞

[Nectarin in reply to Pipsqueak77]

Thank you very much. I think it should be done something else, I don't feel asthma is well controlled because I get very short of breath even while speaking or walking few steps. I am on Spiriva 2 puffs/ morning and Fostair 100/6 - 2 puffs/ morning, 2 puffs evening + as a preventer when required (max 4 puffs) and Montelukast 10 mg evening. I was on Ventolin as a preventer but didn't helped so last time I saw them the nurse stopped it and changed to Fostair as a preventer too. I asked the nurse to change my treatment as I don't think it is normal to be so short of breath, I can't do any effort as it triggers asthma attack but she said the treatment looks very well and if it doesn't help it's not asthma. This was the 3rd time I couldn't do the Feno test and when I went for lung function tests I fainted from trying hard to do them, so they wheeled me to A&E as Dr said they can't let me go home like this.

[Patk1 in reply to Nectarin]

I'd ask to b referred to asthma specialist.u can't carry on like that.salbutamol is a reliever,to help ease bronchospasm/constriction etc

[Nectarin in reply to Patk1]

Thank you.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Nectarin]

That was a ridiculous comment from the nurse. Not all asthma treatments help everyone and sometimes they need changing or more adding. It doesn't automatically mean it's not asthma if a treatment doesn't work for you just because it works for other people, or worked for the majority of people in a clinical trial.

[Dawnie333 in reply to Pipsqueak77]

This is what happened to me I can’t control my breathing for the the time so I’m now doing spirometer test at home for 3 months 4 times a week and also they found I don’t breathe through my nose

[hilary39]

Was it the test where you had to blow and then hold it in this tiny little green box on the screen? I tried that a bunch of times last week before it worked too. From what I've seen on this site, the FeNO is commonly used in the UK but not necessarily accurate in the sense that a ton of people still feel symptomatic even if it's showing low inflammation.

[Nectarin]

Yes Hilary39, that's the test.