Update re lung function test

[lynisa48]

Well my husband had his lung function test yesterday (first one ever) and the guy doing the test said his lung function was at 70% surgery said after testing it was 54% now of course we are over the moon if consultant confirms the 70% but my worry now is why such a difference in the readings if it’s happened to my husband how many others are getting possible incorrect readings and thinking there condition is a lot worse than it is grrrrrrr will update again when I get confirmation from consultant but will be talking to surgery as this is not acceptable

[christina1947]

Hi Lynisa I don’t understand just 1 test 2 results the surgery gave different % to the place he had the test done is that it. Take care xxx

[Kristicats]

It may be that your husband has had improvement in his Fev1 scores . Which can happen after I.e rehab, being on inhalers that work for him, stopping smoking etc. Also he could have been a little chesty and not blown as well at the surgery. It’s good news lyniss48. I started off at 56% when diagnosed but now it’s 70+

[Schmicter]

Those are just numbers, the important thing is how does he feel? Can he walk a half a mile ? Why did he go for the test? Was it because of difficulty or SOB? Just try to make sure you get the treatment that actually makes you feel better, and if it takes a 54%....so be it.

[lynisa48]

We requested a full lung function test because he’s had c.o.p.d for approximately 6 years and never saw gp only nurse who’s not a respiratory nurse so he asked to see consultant as his breathing was getting bad and his fev 1 was falling fast

[Hidden]

Spirometry results can vary for lots of different reasons between tests, but the results do have a lot to do with technique too. I’d argue you can’t be sure your technique is correct - and therefore your numbers accurate - until you’ve been regularly doing it. There are reasons that the numbers can improve - in some cases increased exercise can help, or if you’ve cleared an exacerbation, or started chest clearance, new meds etc - but saying a lung function of 70% doesn’t actually mean much. Whether that was your husband’s fvc (which could be described as overall lung function) or his fev1 (the number most people focus on), what might be helpful to know is that anything over 80% for either value is considered normal, and therefore if it was his fev1, 70% for someone with a lung condition would be pretty good going. The most reassuring thing I’ve learnt about spirometry is that whilst you can get a false low, you can’t get a false high - if the machine tells you 70%, then that’s actually as a minimum.

[lynisa48]

Thanks Charlie my concern is that he had been having spirometory testing the last six years and his results have dropped heavily each year he has been very lucky never having had a chest infection but my thoughts are that other people are going to the surgery getting incorrect results and getting wrong treatment but we will wait till we get hospital results and compare to the results from g.p and see how they differ but thanks everyone for replies