copd

[rubyred777]

Hi everyone, this is a really great site. i have copd also. my fev 1 is 62 . my peak flow is usually around 300. I am curious about other peoples #s and how they improve their copd . Also, my oxygen level is 97-98, but when sitting i go down to 95-97. Doesnt make sense to me. How about you.

[Hidden]

Hi rubyred, and welcome, wish I could blow 300 on a peak flow I'm lucky if I blow a 175 lol. Anyway I'm not great at understanding the fev1 readings but there lots on here that can. Take care x Sonia x

[LF57]

Hi. My levels are almost the same as you and I have kept them stable for a few years unless I get a cold when my peak flow drops very quickly to under 200. I don't really understand them as I can be struggling to get breath and yet still get steady readings. I feel better when I excercise and find even armchair excercise helps. I have discovered that I can even walk on a treadmill slowly indoors. I struggle walking outdoors but this could be down to allergies.

[LF57]

Hi. My levels are almost the same as you and I have kept them stable for a few years unless I get a cold when my peak flow drops very quickly to under 200. I don't really understand them as I can be struggling to get breath and yet still get steady readings. I feel better when I excercise and find even armchair excercise helps. I have discovered that I can even walk on a treadmill slowly indoors. I struggle walking outdoors but this could be down to allergies.

[Colours23]

Blimey you seem well,my oxy levels are 90 rest, walk 83-88 ,the other no.dont have a clue,take every day. As it comes really study and keep up with meds.

[katieoxo60]

Hi Rubyred777, welcome to the site, your readings are good for COPD but healthy people have better ones than that, best thing to do is try to keep them the same or better if possible. I don't worry to much about my readings I judge more by how well I feel which is a better guide line. Hope to see more of you in the future.

[basher62]

hi you don,t say how long you have had this ...my hubby has had copd for around 6 years now and he still smokes ,,,won,t give up his fev 1 differs from day to day can be as low as 49 sometimes 69 ...

fev 2 usually low as well ...from what i know is ..your fev 1 is the most important and a normal reading is around 72 % for people without copd ....you can go on here and download a chart to compare the readings called a spirometry chart ..he does a walk everyday with the dog , sometimes 3 or 4 miles ...

take care viv xxx

[Hidden in reply to basher62]

Not sure that is quite right basher. I think for COPD to be diagnosed the FEV1 level has to be under 80% compared to the norm for people of the same age, weight etc.

For example if you are say 50 and the average FEV1 for 'normal' people is 90% lung function and yours is say 80% then you would be diagnosed with possible COPD.

If yours is 70% and the average is 90% then you will be diagnosed with COPD at a mild level.

coughalot x

[andmikel]

I have COPD, trouble is that is a catch all diagnosis. My problem is emphysema for the last 20 years and I struggled at first. The turning point was being prescribed Tiotripium every morning Inhalation of 80 micrograms and twice daily inhalation of symbicort. Along with walking every morning for an hour this has helped to maintain my peak flow around 380 + or - 20. I started walking for 10 minutes and built up to the hour over a couple of months and took a camera with me to keep the interest and record where I had been. Exercise of some sort is essential and it must make you out of breath a few times during the activity.

All I can say is that it works for me and is not necessarily suitable for everyone. Good luck.

[andmikel in reply to andmikel]

Correction - Tiotropium dose is 18micro grams daily not 80 - apologies

[Offcut]

Not wanting to pry to much but do you have a plumper midriff? If so it will be obstructing your diaphragm when sitting down.

I blow 350 on the peak but I have RLD which in my case means that is all I have. COPD should mean there is some left to play with.

What you will find is we are all so different in the way we feel and respond to exercise etc. COPD is a wide spectrum of issues that have been banded together. I also have "heart failure" but I have 3 different heart issues just another group to define were the problem lays.

If you still smoke give up! That will be your best first step.

Be Well

[soulsaver]

Fev 1 declines as you age... for everyone, fit or copd. And is dependent for 'normality' on the volume of your lungs.. so 62 will be normal for someone with small lungs and obstructed for someone with large volume, dependant on age.

The number you should focus is fev1/fvc.

Peak flow similarly - men blow significantly higher than women - you're female?

Mine is 520, after ventolin 570 - but I have COPD.

[Hidden]

Hi rubyred nice to meet you and welcome to the site. I am virtually identical to you with a FEV1 of 66% and an average peak and flow of 300-350 so I am just in the moderate range from the mild.

My sats usually vary between 92-95 so yours are slightly better.

x

[frances21]

Hi there. I got mild COPD diagnosis 6 months ago, with FEV1 61. I read on this site that exercise can really help, so started swimming as far and as fast as I could every day. retested recently and FEV1 now 89. I'm really pleased. finding swimming hard as it gets colder, anxious about getting chest infections, so am getting inducted at my local gym today and plan to run through the winter. I also use a salt pipe every day. check the threads on this site about this simple gadget. I reckon it's good.

Good luck with it. This is a brilliant site, full of positive people working to keep themselves well.

[rubyred777 in reply to frances21]

Hi Francis 21,

How are you? I was rereading your post to me 23 days ago. I found it pretty amazing you increased your fev 1 from 61 to 89. Wouldnt that be normal? What is your peak flow and oxygen?

[frances21 in reply to rubyred777]

.hey ruby red good to hear from you. Yup, normal! Don't know my peak flow, but oxygen varies from 96 to 99%. The graph of my FEV1 readings shows the wrongs curve, apparently, which is the COPD damage, but the extreme exercise combined with salt pipe seems to be having an amazing effect. I'm working hard to fend off a chest infection, which wouldn't help at all, but so far so good. How are you?

[Louisiana]

Wow! my peak flow is like Sonia's - my nurse has a great big smile if I hit 190!!! I am a joke in the surgery, and I always have an audience when I try it out I don't know for sure, but not moving around doesn't help anything so It probably doesn't help oxygen levels....I am dreadful at exercising, but always feel better if I do actually do something. WELCOME TO THE SITE!!!

[onamission]

Hi and welcome to this site I also have COPD and my oxygen level was 97 when I went for my PR assessment. I was not the only one with this sort of level we were told this had nothing to do with our breathing and when Doctors use this as a guide she found it annoying