Good or bad?

[blobofat]

Hi all,

I hope posting this is ok but I'm not sure where else to ask:

I've been feeling a bit breathless and fatigued this past few weeks. Thought it was because of poor sleep and hayfever (I get post-nasal drip and sore throats). Blew into a spirometer (following all the instructions). The following average came through after three separate sessions on separate days using 6 blows each time:

FVC: 4.06

FEV1: 3.62

PEFR: 11.39

Caucasian male, 44 years old, 80kg 5'10". Gave up smoking at 25 after circa 7 years.

As far as I can tell this isn't very good. Should I bother my GP or am I getting a bit worked up about nothing? I can brisk walk and jog on the treadmill for ages without really feeling anything. It's more when I'm stationary. I have pretty bad anxiety so can never tell whether or not it's all in my head or not.

Many thanks in advance for any help and advice

Tom

[sassy59]

Welcome Tom and l would say there is no harm in getting checked over just to see if anything is going on. Xxx

[Hidden]

Those figures look pretty good to me, but we can't diagnose you over the net. If you are worried you need to see your doctor. x

[blobofat in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for replying, the both of you. It means a great deal to me.

Yes, I'll go to see the GP and keep my fingers crossed. I spent a morning working in a room filled with a heavy cloud silica dust a couple of years ago and have been slightly concerned that it did some sort of damage. Only one way to find out for sure.

BTW, do either of you use a spirometer at home?I picked up this little contec sp10 device to do the measuring but have no idea if it's actually accurate.

[Hidden]

Hi I doubt very much a morning working in a silica dust filled room would have any effect on your lungs as they are much more robust than that! Most smokers who get copd have smoked for far longer than 7 years too.

I have never heard you can buy a spirometer machine for use at home coz the one the doctor uses is a big machine and measures lots of things which need interpreting by a trained person. There is no point in worrying over it until you see the doctor as anxiety can make breathing problems worse. x

[Lisahelen]

Hi, would suggest gp appt, and see if you can get an across the board blood test done. It could be anything which is causing it.