I bought one of these portable spirometers which measures FEV1 and shows results on digital display. The results vary but the best indicates a 10% decline on figure from physician’s PFT 9 months ago. Definitely using the device correctly.
Anyone tried these machines? I’m hoping the figures are inaccurate.
Thanks
These are best used to see if there is a decline from previous readings with this device and not comparing it to what your doctors PFT showed. I wouldn’t read too much into the variance from your doctors PFT, which was done on a very expensive machine and the test was administered by a trained technician. I had typed up a lengthy explanation and reply and somehow lost it and it’s late so I’ll try to retype it tomorrow, but as I said I wouldn’t be too concerned about a difference between your doctors reading and yours.
Do you mind if I ask what brand of device you bought?
Thanks for that Jackdup. Please don’t go to the trouble of re typing. The device is a SOMOL. Cost about £70. Advertised for both Asthma & COPD sufferers but think it is more suitable for the former. However, it does give forced expiratory volume in one second which l thought might be down about 2-3 % with age and further slight deterioration. Will simply wait for physician’s results. Review due in a few months.
Thanks for your input & hope you are doing okay.
yes I have one and don’t use it to compare against other machines, I only compare it to the previous reading on the same machine. The figures the physician will compare with are the ones from his machine. As we get older our lung function will decrease especially if we have lung disease. The best indication of your lung performance is the lung function percentage given by you physician mines down to 25-30% now
Thanks a lot for your reply. I should know to compare like with like but sometimes you choose the self help route as the available health care isn’t too great.
Please keep as well as you can.
Hi Orangecake. I have to self test with a spirometer every day and send the results to my transplant hospital via an app. I am five years post transplant and still test daily. My tests do not seem to vary much from those done at the hospital. I use a very simple battery run one. I don't have any advice other than to show your results to your lung consultant and tell them about your worries. What lung disease so you have? If you don't mind sharing.
Cas xx 🐶🙋
Did the medical team provide you with the device you use daily? If so I suspect it would be a higher quality and more accurate than one you might buy from Amazon or a similar place. Have you ever taken a reading a few times through the day? My readings can vary quite a bit at different times of the day.
No - bought it on Amazon. And yes the readings were varying in a 20% bracket at different times.
The very best reading was close to that achieved at the hospital so perhaps should just accept that and stop using the thing.
Thanks again for your reply.
Hi Jackdup. No I bought it myself. It cost about seventy pounds. Not sophisticated but does the job well. I did have to get a new one after three years because the old one stopped working. I bought the exact same one as it is pretty accurate and my home tests have been about the same as the test results from the hospital. I test twice a day at random times. And yes it does vary but not a whole lot. If I am tired, have a full tummy, or it's allergy season, or I've had a sleepless night, put on a pound or two it can be lower. On the other hand if I've been exercising a lot, well rested and at my normal weight or a little lower the readings are a higher. For every pound of weight we gain our FEV1 becomes slightly lower. As long as it doesn't remain low then I'm not worried. I know what my average is. The rule of thumb for transplant patients is that if there is a steady decline over the course of seven days we have to go to the hospital. xx
Thanks Cas, I have had similar observations in checking mine. I don’t check my daily at times and at other times may check it several times in a day. I appreciate for you it is mandatory and for me most often it is just for curiosity. Of course there are times when my breathing is not as good so will check it and often it can be an early sign that perhaps an exacerbation is starting.
The one I have is about 12 years old and have been thinking about replacing it. Do you mind if I ask what brand yours is as it would be nice to get one that is the same or close to what the professional ones read.
Thank you
This is what I use.
Thanks Cas. Could you tell me the brand name as I presume it is written in Japanese? Thanks for the picture. It does look like one I saw but the brand name would confirm it.
Thanks again and sorry to be a pest.
No worries. Here's the link for the U.K. I believe.
Thanks Caspiana. I hope you are doing okay ish?
I have emphysema (shown on CT scan). It’s difficult to get the medics to answer the question: how slowly or quickly will lung function decline from now on? I’ve never worried about health issues before and have been lucky to keep well - aside from quite severe OCD which is a long standing psychological problem. I’m overthinking this lung function thing. Thanks again for your kindness in replying to me.
Hi Orange 🍊. I understand. I also know why your doctors can't answer you. It's simply because they don't know. Many people remain stable for years. I think the important thing to do now is to keep moving. Exercise particularly walking is so important, vital in fact to ensure you give your lungs the best chance possible. That and rest, eating healthy and having some social activities helps a lot. I understand about your OCD. It's really hard when OCD is accompanied by illness. Keep posting. I want to hear how things are going. xx
unless you have to test yourself, you will panic over readings at home. The main thing is how you feel. If you feel ok why test yourself? Leave it to the hospital to do and stay as healthy as you can. Try not to worry
You are right I know. I’m a retired lawyer and we like precise answers…not always available. Must try to live with uncertainty.
Thanks for your wise advice. Keep well.
Diseases like ours don’t always have precise answers. If you feel ill, contact your GP or respiratory team otherwise enjoy life. I too have emphysema and will know if I get worse. I’m not interested in figures as it’ll make me panic. Sleep well
Thanks a lot and take good care.
The home devices are useful to help spot what might be an exacerbation or an infection if all of a sudden your readings drop from one day to the next and then perhaps drop a bit more the next day. They are good to compare other readings on the same device and then if you have some significant changes you can see your doctor. My readings vary from day to day and sometimes readings in the afternoon are different from those in the morning.
Thanks again for your help. Take care.
You’re welcome and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Hi, these devices need to be calibrated on a regular basis to ensure they are giving a correct reading, much like a speed camera gun or alcohol breathalyser , this along with your technique when blowing into the machine will give you the most accurate reading. I highly doubt your device has come ready or accurately calibrated so will read completely differently from a calibrated one at a hospital or GP surgery.
As others have already mentioned, FEV1 fluctuates at different points during the day and can be affected by a large number of things. Your FEV1 in litres ( not to be confused with FEV1 percentage) will naturally decrease yearly as you age anyway, this is the case for every human being on the planet, lung disease or not.
Thanks Hoobs. I was looking at the measurement in litres (fev1) but totally accept that the machine is less accurate than those used in hospitals. I believe that lung function deteriorates with age by around 2% per annum. It will frequently be higher in COPD patients but not necessarily so. Anyway,
the only sensible thing is to await yearly LFTs.
Thanks for your reply. Everyone on here is very helpful and I am most grateful.
Never used one at home; the last one i had was about 7 years ago. Doctors or nurse don't bother anymore since covid
Thanks for replying to me John and hope that you are keeping okay ish.
Fev1 73%
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