Lung tests

[Sherlock11]

Today I saw the nurse and I was given a FeNO test , the result was 43 which she said was slightly elevated particularly as I take daily prednisolone. We were discussing the reason for all my infections and the pseudomonas infection I had. I will have a spirometry test in a few weeks also and then probably a HTCT scan. Has anyone else had the FeNO test and what did they say the result meant. Thanks.

[O2Trees]

Hi Sherlock - yes, Ive had one, referred by my new (at the time) consultant who was querying whether I actually had asthma. Which Ive had all my adult life. Reason he was wondering was that I never wheeze even during an exacerbation and I dont wake up breathless at night.

So my results, ie the three they get you to do, were from memory around 15 - 22. Which I was told was just within the asthma range but only just.

Do you know why you were referred for a FeNo test? I had never heard of them which felt strange given Ive had allergic asthma from my 20s. Maybe it's a relatively new test.

[Sherlock11 in reply to O2Trees]

I've had 6 courses of antibiotics for chest infections since November. I have RA and am immunosuppressed and take prednisolone and biologics. Because of the bacteria present and my history they were looking into lung conditions being the cause, asthma one and bronchiectasis linked to the RA. At this appointment a family history was taken of asthma on my mum's side and eczema on mine as well as hay fever. I'm having a spirometry test next month and I need to contact my Rheumatologist to order a HTCT scan to rule out bronch. So far the FeNO test measuring nitric oxide in my breath was elevated despite steroids which would lower it, which indicates inflammation in my lungs.

[Superfly1975]

Hi, I have mild COPD, following a prolonged bout of coughing I was given a FeNo test which showed raised levels and was diagnosed with underlying Asthma, I have been on a Trimbow inhaler for 6 months now which contains a steroid and my FeNo reading is now steady at 43, maybe not the same as you but shows that a reading in mid 40’s when on steroids is possible if there is an underlying undiagnosed condition, good luck with your further investigations

[PW_R in reply to Superfly1975]

Does copd not raise FeNo score also?

[Superfly1975 in reply to PW_R]

Not unless you’re having an exacerbation, at least not with mild COPD, my COPD was and is asymptomatic it was the asthma that triggered the inflammation in my lungs and raised the FeNo score above normal, my FeNo score before Asthma diagnosis was 145ppb with peak flow variation of 30% with readings between 500 and 650, my FeNo now I’m on the Trimbow is 43 and peak flow variation is 0% with a constant reading of 700.

[PW_R in reply to Superfly1975]

What’s your fev/fvc ratio? Mine FeNo is down to 18 now but mg lungs feels pretty wrecked. My ratio is currently intact although some other numbers were off. I’ve got a lot of mucus which is very hard to get out. I feel obstructed on the exhale.

[Superfly1975 in reply to PW_R]

Fev1/ Fvc ratio is 66%

[Sherlock11 in reply to Superfly1975]

I had my Fev1 and the predicted was 88% and my result was 1:80 forced volume in 1 minute, I haven't a clue what that means.😱

[Superfly1975 in reply to Sherlock11]

my Fev1 was 91% no idea about forced volume 😊 in COPD Fev 1 is a measure of the rate the disease is progressing and references back to the Gold Standard for the 4 stages of COPD

[islande in reply to Superfly1975]

can someone tell me what a menopausal test is please ive never heard of it

[Coughingalltheway]

Hi, yes I had a feno test last year and my score was 70. Apparently this confirmed that I had eosinophillic asthma, together with a reversibility spirometry test.

It measures the nitric oxide in your breath. anything under 25 is fine. I don't know if steriods make a difference as I only take them as part of my rescue pack, not daily.

[Sherlock11 in reply to Coughingalltheway]

Apparently steroids lower it as they reduce inflammation.

[Mooka]

Yes I’ve had a couple of these a few years ago. It was to measure the amount of inflammation in my airways. At the time I was tapering steroids and my respiratory consultant suggested putting them back up again. I wasn’t very receptive to this to say the least so we settled on adding budesnide to my nebuliser along with the sabutamol and colomycin. My highest score was 111 but maybe the range has changed now.

[Carnut]

Hi Sherlock11, It is about 3 years ago I was prescribed Prednisolone and I remember for me with Bronchiectasis it worked wonderfully, I felt better almost straight away, so much so I asked my GP if I could take it regularly as a smaller dose but the answer was NO!

I have since managed by taking Carbocisteen and antibiotics.

I hope you feel better soon, Chris