How much trapped air?

[wheezyof]

I've been looking at the results of my lung function test. I don't really understand them One result and another seem at odds to me.

FEV 32% FVC66% I thought they would be similar.

I have 1.7litres of gas trapping is that average or good or bad?

My spirometry shows severe airflow limitation - that one I can understand as I struggle to breathe.

I would ask my consultant but he never answers questions.

Thank you to anyone who can help.

[hypercat54]

Hi the most important figure is your FEV1 as this is your lung function and is how much air you can blow out in 1 second. Is this the figure of 32%? If so you are at the severe level. x

[wheezyof in reply to hypercat54]

Yes, except It's a typo and should be 30.2%. I never was good at numbers or typing. Thanks for your answer.

[Katinka46]

Good morning fellow OB Zebra

In the section of the PFT that deals with lung capacity there should be a reading for Total Lung Capacity (TLC), that is likely to be over 100% predicted. And there should also be a reading for Residual Volume (RV). That again will be over 100%. Then there will also be RV/TLC, which is the proportion of trapped air in the TLC. I should be interested to look at those if you were happy with us looking at them?

I am sorry that your consultant is not a communicator, not good enough. Can you be more gently insistent?

All the best

Kate xxx I usually add a Zebra or two but I haven't figured how to get emojis on my big iMac.

[wheezyof in reply to Katinka46]

I've found RV 171.7 TLC 110% RV/TLC 149.2%

It all might as well be in Clingon as far as my brain allows. I'd really appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

I like cryptic crosswords and scrabble but these numbers,,,

[Katinka46 in reply to wheezyof]

Thanks for those numbers. RV 171, is high. Mine is 178% at St James's but over 200% at Royal Brompton !! Anything over 125% is considered abnormal. If we had emphysema and were suitable candidates for lung volume reduction surgery we would be considered for it. Unfortunately OB is not operable. A right bugger.

Are you on any medication?

Love and hugs to a fellow Zebra

Kate xx

[wheezyof in reply to Katinka46]

Thank you.

Medication :-

Ventolin, Fostair and spiriva respimat. Azithromycin x3 days weekly ciprofloxacin as standby. (Also omeprozole, adcal and risedronate sodium, betnovate cream and aqueous cream to sort out problems cased by steroids) No steroids because they affect me so badly.

I use a flutter to help with mucus.

I have bi lateral brochiectasis as well as OB.

Looks a lot written down xx

My avatar is turkey feathers, I chose them 'cos they are lovely to look at but may because I'm a turkey at maths.

[Hidden in reply to wheezyof]

I do not have my results yet, ca n I ask "what is a flutter"?

Thank you

[wheezyof in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

A flutter is a gadget to help loosen sticky mucus. It's shaped like a short stubby bubble pipe. Inside is a cup holding a heavy ball. You blow through it against the ball. This causes a vibration in your airways.

Mine was recommended by the people who did my lung function test and issued on prescription by my gp.

You can ask your medical team if it would be helpful to you.

[Katinka46 in reply to wheezyof]

P.S. What are your numbers for FEF 75-25? It may be called MEF. These show obstruction in the medium and smaller airways. It may be shown as one number or three separate numbers. They are likely to be very low.

[wheezyof in reply to Katinka46]

MEF 75 -8.3 MEF 50- 5.5 MEF 25 -6.0 Is that good or bad? x

[stone-UK in reply to Katinka46]

Hi

May help.

imore.com/how-to-use-emoji-...

[Katinka46 in reply to stone-UK]

Dear, dear Stone, you have taught me in the past but I am a Zebra of very little brain. I will try to do better. I tried it once and it seemed absurdly complicated. Like all these things once you do it a few times it all falls into place.

Thanks from an embarrassed Kate and an imageless Zebra.

[wheezyof in reply to Katinka46]

Hi Zebra of not such a little brain, we none of us know everything, we are all good at different things. Look at how you are helping me xx

[Katinka46 in reply to wheezyof]

Dear, dear Wheezyof, what a cauldron if nasties you have in your ribcage. Mine is simpler: CTED and OB. I was interested in your meds as I am on Azithromycin, (with no effect as far as I can see) and Warfarin for the CTED. Weirdly less medication than I have ever been on. Mainly because my asthma is taking a very distant back seat, practically at vanishing point. I don’t have any congestion, wheezing, coughing. My upper airways feel wide open as if I’ve overdosed on Salbutamol.

Did your Bronchiectasis come before or after the OB?

Sorry, I should have commented on your MEF readings. Can’t in all honesty say they are good but probably on a par with the other numbers.

Love and hugs and as I am on my phone I can add a Zebra. I can’t get them to face each other but I am sure they are friendly. Kate xxxx 🦓🦓

[wheezyof in reply to Katinka46]

Hello lovely Katinka and of course the friendly Zebras at the end of your post,

The bronchiectasis was first, then my breathing got much worse, GP sent me back to consultant, bronchoscopy, high res ct scan and lung function tests found the ob.

My lungs are a bit of a mess but I wasn't sure how bad.

I think from your answers bad enough for me to stop feeling guilty when I feel too tired to do a lot.

Of course I do what I can but nowhere near what I used to do or what I thought I should be doing.

Your readings sound worse than mine - scary.

However we shall carry on.

Thank you for your help xx

[Katinka46 in reply to wheezyof]

Not worse but everyone is different. I was interested in which came first because OB can develop into Bronch. And you must stop feeling guilty about not doing things. One of the huge advantages of this for me is the absence of any pressure. As a freelance writer I used to beat myself up for not doing more. Alan Ayckbourn was my constant goad. He’s written eighty plays!!! Now I don’t give tinkers cuss, just pleased with what I can do. Liberation...

love

Kate xxx

[Juliette011]

Hi wheezyof...sorry to be a pain but could you tell me what OB stands for? I have COPD and was interested in reading about your lung function results but couldn't add anything useful as I still can't work out what all of them mean!! I just know I suck at breathing!! lol. Hope you can put my curiosity at rest over the letters OB. Cheers, Jules

[wheezyof]

Hi Juliette,

Sorry, I should really take the time to type the full name, nothing worse than people in the know using jargon or acronyms.

OB is obliterative bronchiolitis, sometimes called bronchiolitis obliterans. It's a fairly rare disease of the lungs. As the variations of the name suggest the small airways of the lung are being obliterated, well damaged by scarring.

There's a few of us on here, the one who is best for information about it is Katinka46. A knowledgeable lady and a good artist.

Hope that helps Wheezyof x

[soulboy118]

Google the results one by one wheezy