Has anybody else managed to reverse there FEV/1 reading by 10 percent in 5 months ? Any answers appreciated .thanks,Alan
Spirometers: Has anybody else managed... - Lung Conditions C...
Spirometers
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Alan55
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I haven't had a spirometery test for a year and a half so don't even know what mine is now ( and don't want to know) . I'd love to hear how you've tackled this project and what results you got.
Hi argana diagnosed with copd last July but was not convinced. Packed up smoking that day using an ecig.Had spirometry test done but no one told me the reading.at respitory clinic in November my FEV/1 reading was 55 percent.had another in January 61 percent,the latest at end of March 65 percent.i thought copd was an irreversible lung disease . When I told my dr this she just shrugged her shoulders. Don't know what to think now. Good thing is it broke my 30 a day 44 year smoking habit.Alan
If you look up the precise definition of COPD you would find that it very specifically states it is "not completely reversible" - meaning that most patients do have some degree of reversibility on spirometry with bronchodialators. The reversibility aspect is referring to reversal by medication or treatments - not lung regeneration. The lung is a very dynamic organ and it is very common for daily variations in pulmonary functioning so what you describe is not at all uncommon. That said the anatomical emphysema and/or airway scaring within your lungs has likely not improved by any dramatic degree. However with smoking cessation you probably reduced some degree of the small airway inflammation which could account for your improvements. Furthermore, your percent predicted which you cite is directly dependent on which reference equations were utilized in the prediction, there are many, and these often vary between differing pulmonary labs and clinicians which would result in differing percent predicted even though the actual volumes may be identical. It would be more accurate to compare the actual liters value rather than the percent predicted. Beyond that there is the possibility that the machines used were different between each of the tests you took or that they were calibrated differently.
There are many possible explanations for what you have described but it's great that you quit smoking. Keep it up!!
When I was diagnosed with copd my fev1 was 63%. The nurse gave me symbicort and spiriva and next time it was 73%. She told me it was probably poorly controlled asthma and I was out of the copd range (that is until the scale changed from under 70% for copd to under 80%). But fev1 can vary by a few points depending on other things like pollution or air quality on a certain day. x
Thanks for that coughalot 1 maybe I am reading things wrong just don't seem to get any bad chest (touch wood) long may it continue . I do seem to have some autoimmune issues which might be causing muscle problems.was not sure if this was affecting my breathing.cheers ,Alan
That's great Alan, keep up what ever you're doing. Work hard to keep good health. Everyone says how an exercise regime, deep breathing exercises and healthy diet /lifestyle will keep you as well as poss for the future. Brilliant you gave up the cigs, well done you. 
Hi Alan, sounds to me that as you are obviously quite healthy, that the lung capacity has gone from you giving up smoking. At 61% you shouldn't be experiencing nasty COPD symptoms and I hope this continues for you. I also LOVE to hear about anybody increasing their lung function as it gives me hope and a more positive attitude.
I don't know about that Argana. My last reading was 66% and I do experience some nasty symptoms such as sob (short of breath), coughing, more serious chest infections and lack of energy. I think it depends on the individual. x
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Yes, that was rather a sweeping statement I made. It's just that my figures are so low compared with this, that anything in the 50s or 60s sounds like being superman to me. Sounds like you're having a hard time and I hope things improve soon.
Hi alan. I can make a comparison with spirometry and photography. When you take a photo of someone, he/she may look good at the time or sad, according to the circumstances. The same is true for spirometry. For the doctors, they need to compare several spirometry over a long time to appreciate what's going on.
But, in a way, you know far better than the spirometry, because you know yourself on a day to day basis.
I have noticed that exercise improves how we feel, that's a fact. Have you asked your consultant to refer you to a pulmonary nurse and Pulmonary Rehabilitation? In this scheme, the nurses assess your abilities, put you in a 6 weeks group. this is so they can teach you all about lung conditions; they can talk about drugs and about problems when you encounter them and how to manage them. They also put you through exercises, as according to your abilities. That is the best you could do for yourself, and get to know the nurses who really know about lung disease and help you help yourself.
hi alan55 my spirometry had reversed over 14 months at just over 20% please have a look at my past posts has i cant understand how this has happend but it has so is great news for me and i have not been on any meds now fo 2 months and still feel ok has my readings went normal but i think i may have gone back in to the mild stage i just dont know in fact i i will try and get another test done on myself anyway the answer to your question is yes it happend to me
It also happened to me but I put it down to different machines. The high reading was at the Hospital and the lower one (also having given up smoking) was in the local clinic on an old type machine.I choose to believe that I have improved as I certainly feel a lot better. In between chest infections I feel pretty normal and do everything that a woman of 65 should be doing.I did go to pulmonary rehab and when that finished they referred me to the gym. So I think all that helps along with my Spirivia and nose spray. I find I don't need to use the salbutomol except during an infection.
