Fev 1

[rubyred777]

Hey everyone,

Hope your all doing well.

I had a piko to check my fev 1 and I returned it. It wasnt accurate at all.

Have any of you had any luck with maybe a different brand? I found that to be hard to get your mouth around it tight. Also, being around 62 fev 1 wouldnt you think I should be using inhalers? Have any of you brought your numbers up any? If so, how?

I really enjoy reading your posts. You all are wise beyond words. Plus, you really care about other people.

~ RUBY ~

[punkyb]

I don't know much of anything. What is a piko?

[stilltruckin in reply to punkyb]

amazon.co.uk/Piko-6-Digital...

[punkyb in reply to stilltruckin]

That is so cool! I didn't know we could do this.

[stilltruckin in reply to punkyb]

I have a Piko 6 and it works fine.

Measurements are in litres (of air), which can be converted to the usual percentage of normal by putting the numbers into an online converter, such as patient.co.uk/doctor/spirom...

It measures FEV6 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 6 seconds) rather than the better known FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), but these are essentially equivalent.

[punkyb in reply to stilltruckin]

Thank you! what great information!

[rubyred777 in reply to stilltruckin]

Thanks for the info. If you don't mind me asking; what is your fev 1. and do you exercise?

~ Ruby ~

[stilltruckin in reply to rubyred777]

My FEV1 is 24%, and I religiously clock up 1600 metres (a mile) a day on my cross-trainer - in stages of about 150 metres at a time (to the point of moderate breathlessness).

Usually up and down the stairs at least ten times a day as well.

[rubyred777 in reply to stilltruckin]

Thats great! Hows your oxygen? You seem really active. My fev 1 is 62 and I'm constantly worrying about it. I do office cleaning and obviously thats pretty active. Got any advice?

Thanks for your reply.

~ RUBY ~

[stilltruckin in reply to rubyred777]

Oximeter reading is usually 96/7 at rest. A trip up and down the stairs will see it fall to 93/4, a stint on the cross-trainer to 91/2.

This is a distinct improvement on what it was 14 months ago, before I'd started my regimen of daily exercise. My resting oximeter reading then was 94/5 and just climbing the stairs - slooowly - would take it down to 87/8.

I had an extremely sedentary life at that time, avoiding as much as possible any activity that might bring on the scary sensation of shortness of breath.

Then I read about the benefits of exercise for COPDers and decided to give it a go.

I began by doing 300 metres a day on the cross-trainer for the first week (so hard), then added 100 m/dy every passing week (easier and easier). I got up to 2200 m/day at one time, but that was simply too time-consuming to keep up indefinitely. 1600 m/dy suits my lifestyle nicely.

Any activity is good. Simply standing is better than sitting. But regular exercise to the point of moderate breathlessness is what conditions the body to use oxygen with maximum efficiency. And as a bonus, being short of breath will become a psychologically neutral sensation, like any other temporary discomfort - just as an athlete after a race may be breathing too hard to speak, yet does not find it distressing . . .

[rubyred777 in reply to stilltruckin]

Wow thats great!

[peege]

Several people on here have improved. I hope they'll be along soon to tell you themselves. P

[Hidden]

Hi, My piko was never accurate either and I chucked it out. I bought a COPD screener that tells me fev1, fev6, ration and lung age. Mine was off ebay but works fine and led to diagnosis after being ignored re breathlessness by docs.

I am doing breathing exercises and just started using a powerbreathe medic, which is a lung exercise gadget that you can get on NHS. Too soon for me to check figures, but I think theyre helping.

Carole

[punkyb]

This is such good information I am hopeful after reading it. One January 7 I begin pulmonary rehabilitation and I believe I will learn much there also. Thanks for the hope for improvement.