Fev1%

Hi so I'm new on here and I've recently had a lung function test which had shown my fev1% was 80% and my ratio was 55% age 25 male and struggling with chest pains feel very obstructed from chest no wheeze and struggling to breath and peak flow is always 650/700 any suggestions please????

[Ergendl]

Hi, Colby. I see you've also posted in the Asthma forum. Have you been diagnosed with asthma? Do you think you might be getting an infection, and have you tested for covid? When I get that sort of feeling you describe, I've usually been affected by one of my triggers: smoke, some perfumes, some cleaning products, high humidity, the pollen from winter-sown oil seed rape, being too energetic without taking two puffs of Ventolin before I start.

[Hidden in reply to Ergendl]

Hi bud got no infection been going on now for 3 years wake up every night with tight chest and very shirt breath in the morning and restricted just taking over my life

[Ergendl in reply to Hidden]

Could you have become allergic to house dust mites? Try giving all your bedding a good clean and see if it improves. Some people also struggle with feather and down pillows and duvets. What sort do you have?

[Troilus]

Hi Colby. Do you have an asthma nurse? If so, it might be an idea to get in touch. Ideally you shouldn’t be experiencing symptoms. This suggests you need your meds reviewing. Possibly a higher dose preventer or additional meds prescribed.I wouldn’t be too concerned about your fev1/fvc ratio at this point. If you are experiencing symptoms regularly, which you clearly are, then your ratio will be reduced. Once you get on a more even keel you will like as not see that increase.

Do you take your peak flow? If not, I would start. Drs and nurses like peak flows 😁

In the meantime, when you experience chest tightness etc bang in some Ventolin/salbutomol and see if it helps. If so, make a note of how many you have to take to get relief and how long it lasts. ( Taking your reliever using tidal breathing through a spacer might be a good idea. Not always easy to take a deep breath and hold when you are symptomatic)

Just done an edit as I see you have posted twice. I see from your reply to post below that you are on fairly basic asthma treatment, so definitely get in touch with your asthma nurse. There are other daily meds that can be added to your prescription.

[Hidden in reply to Troilus]

Thankyou so much just really worried why my fvc ratio % is low as I don't smoke

[Troilus in reply to Hidden]

Mine is like that in a flare Colby. It is mostly due to inflammation I think. My fvc is higher than “normal” fev1 about 80% ( can’t remember if that is normal or just below ) but ratio down in the mid 50s.Basically, I can push the air out, but not first enough.

[Troilus in reply to Troilus]

Or even fast enough 😁

[Hidden in reply to Troilus]

It makes me worry that I have bad lungs, and glad I'm not only one haha do you know if you can get the ratio higher do you feel bad all the time because of it

[Troilus in reply to Hidden]

Yes, with asthma you can increase you fev1. You can increase all of your readings.When I was first diagnosed my fev 1 was way down at 0.70. After various medication tweaks and a couple of courses of prednisone it gradually increased to 2.5. At the moment it is around the 2.0 mark. Just had meds tweaked again because my asthma varies so much.

On the plus side, most of the time I can do anything I want and (touch wood) I haven’t had a full on attack for 2 years + and I have managed to avoid prednisone during that time.

Things can get better, but sometimes you need to push for the right treatment. I think there are still a lot of medical professionals who have poor asthma education - if you can talk then you are ok.

[Troilus in reply to Troilus]

I forgot to mention exercise 😁😁

[Hidden in reply to Troilus]

Worse thing is all the inhalers I've tried not working

[Troilus in reply to Hidden]

I think you need to speak to someone at your surgery. Is there a difference in your peak flow before and about an hour after your peak flow? If there is, then they are doing something, but, by the sounds of it, not enough.Give the asthma nurses here a ring and then book an appointment with your GP.

[peege]

Just to add to the above great replies you could give the helpline a call to see what they suggest 0300 555 2800 uk office hours. Personally I take half a Cetirizine antihistamine nightly which helps lower symptoms also prescribed montelukast (for asthma) & Carbocysteine to soften any lung mucus (small airways disease). Also breathing techniques to calm chest.

Some people raise the bedhead to help alleviate coughing or a wedge under the mattress.

Was the lung function test done in a hospital?

[Hidden in reply to peege]

Yes the lung function test was done in a hospital which I thought was low

[peege in reply to Hidden]

It perhaps was for you personally however, as Troilus mentioned it can be lower with something like what you have going on. Your peak flow - if still 650ish is pretty good. Give the helpline a call, I'm afraid I know little about 🤒

[Dl98]

We're going through similar with my mum. You're not alone

[Hidden in reply to Dl98]

Sorry to hear about this do you know what your mum fev1% was

[Dl98]

Well she goes from like 30 to 64 percentand has only been diagnosed as COPD. Me I go between 52 and 95 ish. Sometimes my peakflow is green but I'm feeling terrible.