Today I got this small device to self test at home , I was hesitant to get it as I might get just busy with it way more than I want to.
I’m happy I got it , very easy to use
I was diagnosed with COPD April 9th this year and since then I did 2 PFT full test , best numbers I got so far from those tests are PEF 11.28 l/ minute and FEV 3.95 l/s
Today with this device best numbers I got out of 6 attempts are PEF 812 equal to 13.5 l/second , fev1 4.41l/s
My question , is that possible ? I have quit smoking everthing on April 9 , sports not as before but whenever I have the will I go swim or to gym . And didn’t change major things
Anybody used this device ? How accurate is it and can I consider these numbers quality as good as the lab ?is that normal to fev and pef to increase like that in such short time
Thank you
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Healthy24680
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I haven't a clue about the machine but I know you have said your copd is mild. Don't get too hung up on numbers as it's how you feel that's important. Do you feel fine? x
Well that is the issue you need to work on and not the copd. You have a chronic illness which is mild and you feel physically great! You are still the same person before you were diagnosed with copd aren't you?
Anxiety can be very disabling so you need to tackle this before it gets any worse. x
Thanks Bev I’m more than aware of that 🤦🏻♂️.. and working on it to with a therapist put me on anti depressant and I’m reading couple of amazing books that I recommend the first one I finished last night - power of now by Eckhart Tolle
Well that's good news so well done. Also try distraction theory. When you start getting anxious thoughts keep interrupting them and do something else ie read a book, wash up, go for a walk etc. The more you interrupt them the less anxious you will be. Not easy but well worthwhile. x
Hi it’s for 45 USD on amazon and 57 after tax. Granted by Amazon.
You are correct it measures PEF and FEV1 only and it has software where you can transfer those info on ur PC. You can’t enter any of your personal information. I’m taking the measures and comparing them to couple of tables of predicted values from CDC.gov and alpha1.uk
I’m doing the comparison to predicted values manually. But my main interest reallt it as you advised is to be able to monitor at home over a long period of time
i just connected it to laptop , you can enter you personal data , name, age , sex etc .. but nothing like in the spirometer , the software give you eventually graph showing your results periodically
I think as Hypercat says if i were only diagnosed as mild i would continue with the regimes mentioned previously of plenty of exercise and a healthy diet and live a life that's normal for an otherwise healthy young man.continuously monitoring your stats and fev levels as you indicate you may find yourself doing could lead to developing anxiety about an issue that shouldn't be controlling your life.........healthy24680 please get out there and live your life to the full you are only young once................good luck Ski's and Scruffs with the fev of a panther x
Yes please try to not get too wrapped up in numbers ...I unfortunately am very severe with my condition and on full time oxygen ...I bought an oxometer and was constantly checking my heart rate and oxygen levels which I must admit came a little obsessive as my heart rate was thru the roof and any movement from me would make it faster which would in turn get me all worked up and stressed ...I am only 43 now and I don't bother looking now except when I first wake up ...i really hope you work thru your anxiety and depression and have a life filled with happiness as believe me once you have that choice taken away it's soul destroying ...I wish you well and hope you can come to some happy balance xxx take care love mel 😊
Maybe you're confusing the 2 measures? So I hope this helps with your use:
The PEF is 'Peak Expiry Flow' ie speed, is measured in litres per minute, the standard measure for PEF.
So your first reported measure 11.28 l/minute is what? a typo? Or is 677 l/min which would seem plausible.. but you've divided by 60 it in the misconception that it's litres per second?.
FEV is a volume, Forced Expiry Volume - so FEV1 Forced Expiry Volume in 1 second. It's just in litres - not litres per second.
Fev1 varies by age, height and gender... and that you're reading & reporting it correctly and the device is functioning OK.
812 litres/m is HUGE on mechanical devices so may be a misreading, mis-reporting or malfunction?
Do they not provide a chart that shows what you should be achieving for a male of your age and height with their device?
Hi soulsaver , you are absolutely right I got mixed up with the units and conversions.
The lab report shows PEF 11 l/s while home device gave 812 l/ min. It was typo and I was so excited while typing here
Most of the attempts on the device gave me in mid 700’s and once touched the 812. On the microlife software you can go up to 900 on PEF as mentioned in the device specs
As for FEV again you are correct it’s just liters not liters per second
They don’t provide charts of what’s normal / predicted etc .. but I have those charts from CDC.gov and Alpha1.uk , you could also find many different types of chart form different organization , I’m using those as reference and with the readings I’m getting on microlife I feel pretty good
Just for information , I have just ordered this Microlife PF-100 on Amazon.com (us) delivery is by Amazon Global 7-9 business days, total cost £47 instead of £78 !!
I have had my Microlife since 2012 and find it is reasonably accurate from what I can tell anyway. It is obviously dependent on your effort in blowing but given your PEF reading I think it is safe to say you are giving a good effort. I don't use it as much as I used to but do use it if my breathing seems a bit off of normal just to see where things are at. I have never had it tested along side of a spirometer used my medical professionals but have used it after a PFT or spirometry to see how it compares and seems reasonably accurate. I don't know if you have used it several times throughout the day as I have found that my results can vary quite a bit throughout the day. If you are only mild, and it would seem you are given your results, I suspect your results would not vary nearly as much as mine do.
You mention that you are doing well physically but not emotionally, is that due to being diagnosed with COPD? Unless you are eight feet tall it would seem by your numbers that you are very mild but you did not say what your predicted numbers are so it is hard to tell. Given your results it would seem it will be a long time before COPD is going to materially change your life although it does effect everyone differently so there is never any guarantees.
Hi I just got it yesterday and used it at night many times in one session .. I’m 180 cm /5’11 . My predicted value for FEV1 as per the lab is 4.15 L , predicted PEF 10.53 = 631
I have very old struggle with anxiety and sometimes depression more than 20 years , I’m 41 yo. The diagnosis came out of blue as I had no problems / symptoms , my anxiety got triggered massively with the diagnosis
I’m glad to hear you think it’s accurate , I was reading the specs and it’s says PEF accuracy is +_ 12% and FEV +_ 0.1 or 5% whichever greater , pretty acceptable
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I’m more than aware of that 🤦🏻♂️.. and working on it to with a therapist put me on anti depressant and I’m reading couple of amazing books that I recommend the first one I finished last night - power of now by Eckhart Tolle
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