So I have been for my spirometry test but they refused to do reversibility as my results were to inconsistant. Apparently I couldn't empty my lungs enough and my results were variable. I was really struggling as I hadn't had my inhaler and the thunderstorms were triggering me.
She acted really annoyed and I feel like i have messed up again as my last spirometry wasn't great 😔
Anyone else had this?
Ugh that's so frustrating! I would bet you would have had some good reversibility too if allowed to, if you're anything like me.
I'm crap at doing spirometry properly when I'm struggling. I just can't get what they need - vs FENO and peak flow where I find it physically difficult but don't have problems doing it correctly when lungs are misbehaving.
Once I get the meds in, or if I'm generally ok, I not only get higher numbers but also more consistent ones. I've also had it where I was feeling fine but got surprisingly lower numbers than I expected for how I felt - however they were also much more consistent than the ones I get when I can feel I'm struggling.
I also find some of the people doing the test just get really arsey when I'm having problems, like you found. It makes me feel even more crap and IMO is completely uncalled for. I feel like part of the job should be accepting some people will struggle to do spirometry correctly and trying to help them, or at the very least not getting annoyed about it - I doubt most people mess it up on purpose! I practically have a complex about spirometry now due to bad experiences of not doing it well, not really being coached properly on how to do it better (and no, yelling 'MORE MORE HARDER KEEP GOING' doesn't count lol and sounds kind of weird), and then being almost literally yelled at or scolded about it. Also because I feel like a massive failure not being able to do it properly, especially as a former wind player and when others I know don't seem to have this issue, or not as much anyway.
Do you have a cons appointment coming up? Hopefully you can explain what happened ie that you found it harder to perform because struggling. If you're worried about the reversibility aspect, you could do some pre-post meds peak flow readings meanwhile perhaps. It's not spirometry but would at least demonstrate your reversibility (I have a new app which shows the reversibility as well as the numbers, which I love given peak flow alone is less helpful for me and the variation and response is more helpful. There's even variability in my variability lol!)
Hope this helps - it really is crap and frustrating I know too well!
When I am stable, my results are very consistent but the last two lung function tests have been all over the place! I desperately wanted a clear result just so something about me was normal 😂
Definetly have the failure feeling as I use to do long distance running, so feel I should do better! I don't have a consultant appointment yet but might phone the asthma nurse Monday to go over things. I desperately needed to start steroids but waited to get an accurate spirometry and feel it was all for nothing..
Hi Lysistrata - what’s the app? I’m having a bit of a debate with the asthma nurse about reversibility, so something that records it would be useful.
Incidentally, my bugbear after my recent lung function tests - technician who kept telling me I wasn’t breathing in fully, when she kept telling me to blow before I’d finished breathing in!
Ugh yes I think some of them actually need better training themselves! I usually find it is much better with a physiologist not a technician, and they're also less prone to making unasked for pronouncements about my asthma when they have zero background. I'm sure there are great techs I just seem to meet a lot of annoying ones!
The app is PEFLog for Android (unsure if it's on Apple too sorry, though usually iOS has a better selection). Has a grey and orange logo with an inhaler. Costs £2 - shame I can't show you a screenshot of mine but the app page where you buy has some so you can get the idea.
Thanks - just checked, and it is on iOS - £1.99!
Can so relate to this. I had to have a full day of these as they wanted to test out different Med combinations and I was exhausted by the end. I got to know the poor technician well having to spend so much time with him and he said it is very much a technique thing and many people do struggle with it. I agree, when I am struggling I find the consistency hard, despite following instructions to the letter. You are made to feel like you are somehow faking it. I would have absolutely no idea how to do that 🤷🏼♀️I just wish there was some way they could test it that excluded technique. In this day and age you would think it should be possible.
Just had my appt through for my appt that was cancelled in March...... is now mid January!
I don't think they realise how hard it is when you are symptomatic. I definetly get that feeling they don't think you are trying.. It's just made me feel down as my g.p spoke to me last week saying well your sats dont drop and you don't wheeze.. Makes me feel like it is in my head!
That is a crazy amount of time to wait, I know they are busy but still!
I believe they are starting to - something called impulse oscillometry, though it seems to be mainly done at big centres/tertiary clinics currently. It seems to be a lot easier to do than spirometry (doesn't require technique) and also better at detecting small airway obstruction than peak flow or standard spirometry.I haven't done it myself yet but think some others on here have.
My last clinic letter mentioned doing it when I'm struggling - of course no discussion of this with me beforehand during the actual call, just 'well no evidence that she even has acute asthma in these admissions so do oscillometry next time'.
I don't mind doing it at all and would be interesting to see, but their timing is usually appalling and there's little consideration of factors that might affect it eg recent meds, how symptomatic someone is - plus they almost certainly won't actually do it in the fully acute phase, unless it can be rolled out in A&E.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if they turn up on the ward 10 minutes after a neb, do it, then say well you're ok now so this wasn't a real asthma attack, go home. It appears to respond to meds like spirometry and peak flow, so it seems like a series would be best for everyone - half the reason my cons is banging on about no evidence of obstruction or acute asthma is because he's done spirometry just once during an admission, right at the end when I was feeling good so naturally it was fine. In general proper spirometry is a pain I feel not just for the technique but also really hard to do a series or to do when you're struggling - as Melanie and you and others have found.
I don't really see the point in one off measurements that can't easily be done correctly when you're struggling, so this new one would be great if they can actually manage to assess it in different situations and pay more attention to context.
Oops sorry for the rant and taking over Melanie! Feeling a little bitter about it all atm, didn't intend to hijack.
Also ugh Echoblue, that's a long time to wait. I was meant to have an exercise test in May and it's now next June (not that I mind too much about that one - hoop-jumping and also sceptical due to variation).
Honestly rant away, I completely get the frustration! The worst part of it is the psychological effect, i just feel so down as i don't fit into one of their boxes..
Ughh yes I completely understand what you mean as I feel the same! Especially when it makes you doubt yourself. Ans like I said spirometry always makes me feel crap when I do it badly and worry about how it will be seen.
I suppose the big positive as always, is that feeling that we are not imagining it and we are not alone! I find it so reassuring to read others experiencing similar (sorry!) issues x the new oscillometry sounds very hopeful. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 x
I do too - I mean yes I feel bad for others with these experiences too, but also it's definitely a relief to know I'm not the only one. Especially because I'm such a unicorn in general like Melanie so it does help to know of other unicorns 🦄🦄
Yeah I think it could be really good if used well!
I’ve had the oscillometry done! You basically just sit and breathe normally while holding your cheeks so they don’t vibrate too much 😂 so it doesn’t require any effort or technique on your part as the patient
I cannot do spirometers. When I exhale I always cough and they can never get a reading.
I have this to, it's nice to know I'm not the only one!
Only problem I had when a nurse practioner did mine I had to do it twice because first one battery went flat so it didn't record or save the results and when she repeated she nearly killed me doing so she decided not to finish it as it was to much and she thought I had a chest infection.as well so the results wouldn't be true.
Have a word with your dr and if your not seeing the respiratory consultant ask to be referred to the specialist then they can do one if they need to and also you can tell them what happend and nurse refuse to finish it of.
That why they do these spirometry test to see how bad your asthma is i know my last one at my previous surgery before it was closed was told I had lungs of a 65yr old and now my lungs have got a lot worse so they could be lungs of a seventy five yrs old now.
You also ask to see another asthma nurse at your surgery they should've another one or two more if your not happy with the one you've seen.
My surgery had one that gave lung age. They were trying to convince me my preventer was really working (it wasn’t), so they did the spirometry and I had the lungs of a 69 year old (I was 41). I used my inhaler faithfully as prescribed and they re-tested after a month - lungs of a 79 year old! Then they said - oh well, spirometry doesn’t give an accurate result on some people...
Oh yes, I remember doing a peak flow years ago presumably because I was finding breathing difficult.
First puff the doctor said ‘that’s rubbish, do it again’ ....... what can you say?
Honestly, what do they expect 😂
You can buy your own spirometer from the pharmacy I paid about £9 to test yourself occasionally. If I was you I would also change doctors / Nurse as you should never feel uncomfortable or awkward. If they got annoyed with me o would speak to her about it and say I’m raising a complaint about your attitude.
Don’t let people make you feel upset.
Basic spirometry results 
peak flow best of 3 today ws 400
Respiratory Consultant wants me to come off asthma meds!
Constant green phlegm since March 2023 
recurrent chest infections
