well adter a bit of time and asking eveyone i see i got my restulits from my consultant yesterday hope you can make sent of them for me lol
diagnosis severe copd
severe emphysema
exercise related desaturation
borderline daytime hypoxemia
spirometry
fev1 1,08 (34% predicted) fvc 3.17(81% predicted)fev1/fvc ratio 34%
then he go on to say on the 6 of june full lung tests fvc3.34(84% predicted) giving a ratio of 38% tolal lung capacity was 108% well there you all go hope you can tell me how am doing now
Although extremely helpful and supportive this forum is not really the place to get clarity on your results. I would advise you ask your GP, Consultant or Respiratory Nurse to explain. Never be afraid to ask for a clear explanation tigers69. I could probably interpret your results and give you my opinion, but I'm not qualified to do that. I also wouldn't want to interpret them wrong (as you are an individual and these results are specific to you) and give you wrong advice.
I am a bit perturbed how many people do come on to the forum asking for help interpreting their results. It frustrates me no end that patients come away from consultations feeling completely adrift and unaware of their status when it comes to the staging of their disease.
Always ask questions, and never feel you are a nuisance for doing so. Wishing you the very best moving forward...
An excellent response cosykitty,it is easy to try and give a diagnosis and even to agree with a diagnosis,but as you state non of us are qualified to do so,As much as we all want to help you Tigers you really do need to demand a consultation that clearly leaves you with a better understanding of the progression of your condition.i know that is not always possible to achieve but i wish you the very best success in doing so................skis
thank for your reply and i was not trying to say people on here was professionals in any way it just that i have seen a few on here telling everyone there resulit and just though now i have mine i would do the same am sorry if this upset you but then again we cant not piz everyone all the time
Tigers you have in no way upset anyone,i personaly would not like to give you a possibly uninformed,unqualified opinion on your results for fear that it might alarm you that is why i believe it is better for that to come from your consutant,Please do feel free to contribute and share your experiences and we will endeavour to support you.best wishes...skis
My response was never intended to offend tigers69. Perhaps you've read it wrong, as it was meant with sincerity and concern. I am an advocate for patients with Lung Disease. I watched my Mother die 6 months ago from COPD, so believe me I would not want you to feel ostracised from this group for asking questions. If I were your friend or relative I would happily speak up for you on this matter, so rest assured I am not here to upset.
I am angry with the system, certainly NOT you! As you say others have come onto the forum asking for similar help in interpreting their results. That's a worry for me, hence why I chose to respond to you in this way. Quite clearly things need to change in Respiratory care, but moreover in the NHS with the way patients are educated about their disease. It should be explained in layman's terms, and despite lack of time or resources, patients should be asked explicitly 'do you understand?'.
And perhaps followed up the day after a consultation with a phone call to ask if they are clear on what's happening regards their test results, diagnosis, treatment plan etc. After all, how many of us can digest the jargon they often bamboozle you with. The numbers, the medical terminology, it can be quite intimidating. And if you're anything like my mother was, a doctor wasn't someone to be questioned, hassled or their time wasted with asking them to break things down into bite sized chunks.
My Mum came from a generation where Doctors are put on a pedestal. So I get why people often leave the consultation no clearer than when they went in. Purely because they are too afraid to ask the eminent professionals to spend time explaining things clearly.
My experience and that of many others who frequent these boards proves to me that if GPs, Consultants and Support Staff did their job thoroughly then people like you wouldn't need to ask for help in understanding their results here. That was my point. Nothing more. If you choose to withdraw from participating in this forum now because of some sound advice, I am very very sad.
And like I said at the end of my original response to your post (which perhaps you overlooked), I am genuinely wishing you the very best moving forward...
Hi,tigers69 I'm from the state of Missouri and these people on this site are the bomb they just tell it like it is and are very sweet they can only tell you what they are going threw and how they feel I hope its all good news for you
You are exactly right that's why I always take my husband with me just incase I get confused about things I'm glad that I have a wonderful lung specialist who answers every question on my list that I take and stays in the room as long as I need her to answer any questions good luck to you all
Thank you for sharing you experience Betsyrose. I'm really pleased you are receiving exemplary care from your lung specialist. Your proactive approach in taking a list of questions to your consultation, along with having your supportive husband alongside, is a wonderful example.
So important to feel your specialist cares enough to spend time with you till you are fully satisfied. Best wishes to you....
Thank you I wouldn't have it any other way I have to pay for the Dr's visits and I need to know what's going on with me and my life not only for myself but for my family and friends I wish everyone the best and I would change Dr's if I wasn't getting results
Wow Betsyrose, you make a very interesting point there. Perhaps if we were paying to see a Doctor here in the UK we may be more inclined to ask more questions, and expect more. After all, if you're paying for something, and we all know how expensive medical care is in America, then of course you would want value for money from your specialist. Thus demanding more clarity, because let's face it, you're paying for it.
As you know we pay into the NHS through making contributions during our working lives here in the UK, but because we don't have to actually hand over that money in physical terms in the form of having an insurance policy to cover those costs, it can feel as though you don't have the right to demand more time from your specialist team. When it's "free" you don't always feel justified in asking for extra time, care or treatment.
Cosykitty, weather it's free or not you worked your whole life for your insurance so why not ask your Dr what you need to find out I'm sure its hard to get a appt there since it's free as you say if you want to truly understand what is going on with you dont be afraid to ask it's your life
I wholeheartedly agree Betsy Rose! The system is what it is here, and like you say whether you're paying into a third party insurance policy or paying through taxation, you should be given the same level of care.
I watched a documentary here recently on doctors who work in the NHS but also do private consultations. I hasten to add in the SAME hospital. For example; they will see NHS patients in a clinic on one floor in the morning and then go to a private ward on a different floor which is dedicated to members of the public who are willing to pay.
The time and attention the consultant gave to the private patient was markedly different. A sad fact that if you've got the wherewithal to pay, you would obviously expect the best level of care and treatment and (usually) get it.
am sorry i see i must have got the wrong iader about this site as here i was thinking it a site where you could put down how you was feeling and ask if people was in the same way not a site where people have a go at you for putting stuf in the room i well never ask anything again so bye
Don't worry... you do have the right idea... we are all here to offer support (and seek support) . All that was being said is that no one can interpret scan results. It sounds like you are having a tough time.... please don't be offended!
• in reply to
hi tiger69.. you are right, people have been posting there spirometor results on this forum for many years and there are some very knowledgeable members who very happy to interprete them if they see the post.
your fev1 is at 34% (that is stage 3) and your oxygen levals drop when you try to exercise, your doctor will have got a full report on your test and is best placed to advice you if you now need oxygen when exercising. please go through everything you are concerned about with him/her. i dont think your doing to bad with your fev1 at 34%... and no doubt can be improved. id like to know how your getting on.
take care.
• in reply to
Hi Tigers69
It's all complicated to begin with numbers and ratios lung volume capacity lol ... You are right to think that people post their results to this site and others endeavour to interpret them when asked. I personally wouldn't even try for there is that risk of adding fear especially if it's all new to them.
As individual as we all are with our numbers and percentages are defined by other things age gender other underlying health conditions. As Betsy Rose said in another part of the post you do pay. you have probably worked most of your life and paid insurances taxes etc so that contributes to our health care system funding.
Go armed with questions to your appointment with your nurses doctors and consultants and ask them everything you need to know after all its about you and your health. You can come on here and ask anything you like in moderation of course lol and somone will always give you an answer .
I'm stage 3 copd I exercise daily walk run workout at the gym. I also have a friend who is stage 3 and a few years older but she is on oxygen and very much tied to the house due to other health problems so that's how different we are ...and really it's how we feel that matters inside mentally and physically.
Welcome. I sincerely believe no one was having a go at you. I think it was just being pointed out that hospitals often don't go to great lengths to make sure patients understand their test results.
I remember asking the exact same question when I first came here. Please don't take it the wrong way. You can ask whatever you like. I know it's a scary situation to be in not knowing really what's going on.
It is difficult for anyone to tell you about your condition as I am sure you understand. Please don't leave. We all need support and although we don't have all the answers we are a supportive group, willing to listen even when we don't know the answers.
Reading your post, you probably answered the question yourself. I would seek further information on exercise related desaturation and borderline daytime hypoxemia or in lay mans terms low oxygen levels.
Well said stone-UK . We all ask questions that maybe others can`t answer. Who can we turn to if not others with the the same complaint. You gave access to an information site but also pointed out the very things that should be asked about. Good for you, Sheila xx
If they was my nummbers i would think am at stage 4 lung disease but i surspect you already know that.
Even tho site is not diagnostic everyone should beable to ask and have a resonble rational response to there questions.
As to qualafactiins well we are all going threw same process and sure some might shy hide away but you cant silance others who ask want to know.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
xx
Totally confused???
Just quick question.
FEV1/FVC Improvement!
Confusing spirometry results!
