Just wanted to ask the community about PF. My peak flow is on average at 88%. I’ve read conflicting info about where it should be if control has been achieved. Some info is saying between 80-100% of PB is controlled while the impression I got from reading Asthma UK is that if it is less than PB you should see a medical professional. I do still have night symptoms and feeling mucusy at times but I’m feeling a lot better than I was 2 months ago ( productive cough gone, attacks stopped) after 11 weeks of Seretide 500 and everyday I feel a little less wheezy. Any advice will be gratefully received.
😊 Thank You
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Junglechicken
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You can download the recently published BTS/SIGN Guidelines for the management and treatment of asthma (including asthma attacks in hospital) and they have specific criteria for the % of your peak flow in terms of how they assess and treat. It's a long document and you will have to scroll through it to the tables outlining what I'm talking about. It's a handy pdf document for keeping for reference, and up to date as it was published July 2019. Here is the link to the Web page you can download from:
There is a danger of getting too hung up on figures and, unfortunately, this can also apply to the medical profession, who are often too reliant on tests. It's important to realise that these figures are based on averages, so there will always be variations: some people with poor lung function have no symptoms (I was in that category for years), whereas others, who have theoretically good lungs, still get symptoms. I suspect you are still getting symptoms because, FOR YOU, your PF is marginally too low; it might be difficult to persuade your GP/consultant that there is a problem (because of the good PF), but they should pay attention to the fact that you still have symptoms, and the whole idea of medicine is to make you feel well!
I do agree. When I was having my attacks, I called my surgery each time and got to see a dr. straight away. They took my PF and said that it was high therefore my control was ok. My argument was that I had just pumped myself full of drugs so yes my PF was high. I’ve been told on occasions that I’m having panic attacks but I’ve not heard of panic attacks that have a 5 hour lead up with wheezing and coughing. Also it’s new to me that panic attacks stop with asthma medication (umm). I think 88% is the best I can hope for. I just wanted to see what feelings were on the matter. One of my GPS also when I showed my PF diary at 61% said it wasn’t bad (that I don’t believe). I’m just not taken seriously as my asthma has been mild for a very long time so they think I don’t know what asthma is despite have the condition since I was 3. Even the mildest asthma can suddenly get worse especially after a serious respiratory infection.
In my latest hospital admission my PF was at the high end of the amber on my PF chart but my sats were bouncing from 94 down to 79. My ABG came back at 90. I never rely on my PF readings but pay more attention to how I feel. I wish Dr's paid more attention to how someone is feeling.
I lot of contributors to this site have said that they are specifically asked NOT to use inhalers several hours before any spirometry because, as you say, it affects the result; so you're right to be skeptical. I think you're entitled to a second opinion, which can be done officially through the NHS website - possibly a different GP or consultant?
Although remember that peak flow and spirometry are different things.
Spirometry is your lung function testing normally just done at clinic appointments and they’re mainly looked at your FVC and FEV1 measurements and the ratio between them. Spirometry print outs will give a peak flow too but I’ve always been told to ignore those as they often come out at higher than the actual value (something to do with the machines and technique needed for each type).
Peak flow on the other hand can just be measured by asthmatics themselves at home. As a way to monitor daily symptoms.
While it’s important to try not to have medication before spirometry (or if you do, make sure they make a note of it so they know it will have been affected) but it doesn’t matter for peak flows, as long as you know whether you’re checking before or after. 😊
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