SPIROMETRY RESULTS. HELP! ASTHMA!

[miquelet1981]

Hi,

I've been diagnosed with asthma from 4-5 years old, when I was a child.

Last years I started with repetitive bronchitis and phlegm, and they changed my med to symbicort this year (august), and i feel a great relief. My Peak Flow is increased now, I started with 500 aprox, now it's between 550-570, with som peaks of 600-620. Now they are investigating, and maybe the bronchitis are caused due to sinusitis issue.

I am more stable now of my asthma (I have much better resistance during sports practice) and they made a spirometry test.

But the doctor didn't gave me any information (substitue doctor). She doesn't seemed to understand a lot about it. I've done some research, and I see that my FEV1/FVC is a little bit low before the medication, 69.40 (89% of predicted) instead 70 or more (very little mild obstruction). 10mins ffter the medication then is 73.87 (94% of predicted). The FVC it's pretty good, 102%, FEV1 88%. FEF 25-75 it's also a little bit low, 61, and in some places I read that if it's more than 60 it's fine...but I am not sure about it. After the meds, increases a little bit, not a lot, I suppose because I am now stable on my asthma condition. In the past i think that the difference after the meds would have been much bigger.

The curve of the graphic it's mild asthma i suppose.

Please, can somebody check the attached file to give me some information about? I supose that all is related to the size (1.70cm), sex and age (Male, 38).

Thank you in advance for your help!!

[ChrissieMons]

You need to ask your GP or other health professional. Some of us can only look at a PF of 550 with envy!

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to ChrissieMons]

My best is 630 (predicted 470), which I can hit on a good day after meds - sadly it doesn't stop me having attacks and daily symptoms, and even then I can often manage to keep a lower but not terrible peak flow despite having a severe attack which is showing up in other ways (eg blood gases, heart rate etc). I think I'd rather have better control and a lower personal best - the higher value just seems to confuse people and I have never found it much help in stopping my lungs from misbehaving!

I'd also add that Miquelet is a man and they generally will always have a higher peak flow and spirometry, all else being equal, even compared to a woman of the same height and age - so yes it is related to some degree to the size and age as you said Miquelet, plus sex. Also you mention regular sports, which tends to increase your best values on spirometry and peak flow especially if you've done it for a while -so bear that in mind when you're comparing, that your actual best may be higher than predicted.

I'm not any kind of expert on spirometry but as you say with well controlled asthma and even with poorly controlled asthma on a good day or post meds, spirometry can often be ok (and research has found it does have a complex relationship with symptoms too, not necessarily matching up well - last time in clinic mine wasn't awful but also not that great and I felt fine!)

Can you see another doctor, if this one was a substitute, and ask to go through it? Or Asthma UK does have a WhatsApp service, so you might be able to share this with an asthma nurse specialist and ask them about it on there.

[Junglechicken in reply to Lysistrata]

I’m with you Lysistrata re having a lower peak flow and control. I’m in my late 30’s and female with a PF PB of 485 which i’ve been told is good. At the moment I feel I just have control with my PF at 440 and in the last 6 months i’ve had 7 severe attacks. My mum’s PF PB is 300, she hasn’t had an attack in 40 years although I think she uses her blue inhaler way too much and doesn’t have true control.