Do Lung Tests Aggravate IPF?

[Flatman5]

Went for my 6 month check-up this week. After huffing and puffing 100% for the Respiratory Technician my lungs are really sore, and I'm very wheezey. Does energetic testing aggravate lung scarring?

[hufferpuffer]

I've not heard if it can aggravate your lungs Flatman, might be worth getting checked out in case you're coming down with something, best to see your doctor soon as possible.xxx

[rattles]

If you are talking about full spirometry at the hospital with the various machines then yes the tests can very much so upset the lungs, not sure about upsetting scarring though? If you mean very basic blow in a tube at the doctors type test than i would have thought perhaps not. Although i stress i do not have IPF and i do not know very much about it.

I can no longer do full hospital PFT (pulmonary function tests) as an out patient as they make my breathing very unstable, i have to have them done as an inpatient.

Have you got a nebuliser or ventolin with a spacer you can use? Not sure that works with IPF but it might help control the wheeze.

I agree with hufferpuffer if you are still suffering i would see the doctor as soon as possible you should only feel the affects of blowing hard aggravating the lungs for possibly 24 hours after and you may need medical assistance during and after that time.

Best of luck to you.

[Flatman5 in reply to rattles]

Thanks Rattles,

Yes it was a full blown (joke?) PFT, so I'll give it a couple more days to see if it settles down. Funnily enough there may be a small side benefit; my blood oxygen, which normally runs at 91/92, is currently running at 94. We'll see.

[rattles in reply to Flatman5]

Love the joke hahahah, glad the oxy levels are up but please monitor your HR as well, if it is raised you are still struggling and the heart is working harder and thats why your sats are up. Hopefully you have a sensible HR and good sats are a bonus. Fingers crossed you are over the worst.

[Flatman5 in reply to rattles]

HR currently 78, which is pretty normal for me. Thanks for the advice though - I'll keep an eye on it.

[suspan]

Hi Ive got bronchiectasis and asthma and I find the spirometry tests very hard going. I feel as if Ive either run a marathon (Ive never done but can only guess!) or ive held my breath for so long my lungs have forgotten how to breathe! I hate having to do it.

Seriously though I do wonder if it does exacerbates symptoms as I have a few days recoupperating however the last time, 2 days later I was on steroids and my nebuliser as i had a full blown attack!. I shall certainly ask my consultant if there is any evidence to support any worsening of symptoms. I was also given an 'Acapella' device to clear my lungs but Ive pulled some muscles in my chest so I cant use it at the moment.

Keep smilin;

Suspan

[Flatman5 in reply to suspan]

Thanks Suspan, You might want to check my reply to Baldie. There may be some plusses and minusses, but it will take a day or two to find out.

[Baldie]

Like Keep Calm and Wheeze On I can no longer manage the full PFT tests. My consultant at the hospital says that at my stage of IPF they are no longer really necessary and will only tire me out unnecessarily. All I can say is thank god as they really used to do me in especially the tests they did when I was on the transplant list at Harefield.

But more to the point I think they do upset you for a day or two as I think it takes that long to get over the exertion.

[Flatman5 in reply to Baldie]

Thanks,

I guess I'm lucky that I can still handle the test. On the positive side it looks as though my blood oxygen is running a couple of points higher than normal. Maybe the test has taken a few wrinkles out of my lungs! I'll let you know in a few days time.

[tanyamarie]

Hi Flatman5,

I hope you feel better soon, I would agree that the whole process of the tests is what has lead to you feeling below par. I hope so anyway. Upon any excertion with ipf it can really take it out of you and resting will do the trick I am sure. That's the thing with ipf though, there is so little known about it, it is often a case of trial and error.

[Flatman5]

Thanks Tanyamarie,

It certainly appears to be trial and error doesn't it? My blood oxygen continues to run higher than before the tests. We'll see what happens.

[dall05]

Iv'e always noticed an improvement in my sats and general breathing after a lung funtion test. It seems as though were all different Flatman5, This is why I'm watching canalchris's test with the powerbreathe with a lot of interest as it may suit me.