Hello,
I rarely post but wonder if anyone can tell me why the spirometry test has changed? It used to be a lengthy exam but my last one (with a grumpy nurse) was very brief.Is this normal or was I short changed by Nurse Hatchet face? Thanks for any advice.
Haha There's is a nurse Hatchet face in my Dr's surgery 😁 but last time I had a nice nurse who explained they all had to get used to the 'new' machine! ( a more modern version of the same machine ) 😁so perhaps that's what it is...did you have 3 long slow blows and 3 short blast and keep going, keep going,keep going...hope you had a good result 😁
Hi and thank you for the info. It was exactly as you describe it and I was astonished at how a very lengthy test in previous years had changed to a brief 5 min exam. Nurse Hatchet couldn't wait to hustle me out so I'm unsure about my results
Whose test was it? YOURS! after someone said that to me I started asking for a copy and I have several now lol! I even had a copy from nurse Hatchet once who decided to be 'awkward' shall we say, I just said fine I'll wait !! 😇 and she fussed a bit but couldn't refuse lol!😀
There are hospital lung function tests which use larger, more accurate machinery which covers a wider range of lung functions; you also get other stuff like lung diffusion. But surgery nurses have hand held spirometers which give the fev1 and fev1/fvc and these are the most basic and necessary tests, for copd anyway.
I don't know about any new machines, would be interested to know more.
Yes I'd like to know more about the new machines since the nurse wasn't forthcoming. You have to wonder why these people work in a caring profession when they seem to be so uncaring!
Good morning deni,
We must share the same nurse. I was spoken to like a two year old last year. I hope I see someone else this winter. I can't say if it's changed until I am summoned - I'll let you know.
Hi. I think the same one is moonlighting in the Lymphodema clinic. I haven't been back since being told off like a two year old - just watch me throw a tantrum!
Hidden ...good morning,
My sympathies...we have enough to put up with without someone who is supposed to care for us putting us down. Maybe we should start doing just that - it might get us somewhere.
x
Good morning. We could start a movement! Viva la patient's liberation.
Yes! We believe in tantrums.........they get results................
Good morning Jennifer, the nurse was so rude and left me standing in the corridor whilst she chatted to what looked like a drug Rep which is fine but she ignored me for a few mins before rudely summoning me into the office.
Anyway please let me know how you go on with your spirometer and hope you get a good result!
We get to be invisible after a certain age - so they think.
Will do - probably be November if they send for me - she may not as I was snotty back to her last time. She asked me what my job was (at 76) so I told her I was a Landscape Gardener.
Hahah good for you. Anyway you must insist on having your test in November despite what she says. We used to have such lovely nurses until recently but our lovely surgery amalgamated with another and moved into a huge health centre. It's been downhill ever since....🙄
Generally takes about 30 minutes - including height, weight. blood pressure etc.
Really!!! Nurse Ratchet certainly didn't take my blood pressure I'm sure. It was as though she couldn't wait to hurry me up and out 😡. I really should've said something and if I have her next time, I will!!
Yes we are told a 30 min appointment. You have a bit of a breather between the two types of 'blow', have your blood pressure taken, asked if you have any problems, checked on that you are using inhalers correctly and the last 2 times I have been offered Pulminary Rehabilitation (which I had 6 years ago but now go to gym twice a week so I don't think I need it).
Sometimes when I gave my tests done they are done in the laboratory,,,which is fine ,I don't feel rushed at all ,,,,,,,but then other times it's done by ,,, well not a nurse ,,,,,I would say she's qualified ,,,,but she's very haphazard in her work ,, last week she did my test ,,,and after the first huff and blow ,,,she said oh no I forgot to record that one ,,, that speaks for itself dosent it ,,, she was running 40 mins late ,, she nearly died when I said I was now late for my consultant appointment,,,,,,, then the bad news ,,when I saw him ,, he said my levels had considerably,,,,and suggested I use oxygen ,,,I was shocked ,, I expected my levels had dropped but not that much ,,,,I said I would not be going on oxygen ,,,,I would do more exersise and get my numbers up ,,,, he said I'll see you in 6 months and we can talk about it again ,,, I said ,I want to see you in 3 months ( I didn't want the oxygenon my my mind ) and I want my future tests done in the laboratory,,, he asked why ,, and I said I feel I have more faith in the tests done there ,, he said ok. So after my long explanation have your tests done in the laboratory,xx
Hi Nanny1086 , I agree with you. Proud of you! You told the Dr. how you wanted things done. The nurse doesn't sound like she knew what she was doing. The lab does a much better test, with someone trained just for that. Plus you get your diffusion. Your oxygen . That should be done once a year. How are you feeling? Ruby🌹
I'm feeling ok thanks , I have great care for the pulmary rehab team,💐
Excellent reply - and good for you. Heaven knows we certainly have to look out for ourselves don't we.
We do don't we it's easy to sit there and nod and agree with the doctors etc ,,, but this time ,, No ,🙁😀
Well I admire you for being assertive and I hope you get much better results on your next consultation. Good luck with the exercise too!
Thankyou ,I'm not usually like that ,,,but this Result came out of the blue ,,,,,thanks for good luck message to ,I'll get there ,🚴♀️🏋️♀️🏃♀️
You certainly will Georgina. We will make a stand following your example
It's important that we get our correct readings ,,,not only for our own peace of mind ,, ,but also to reduce over spending unnecessary money on medication we don't need ,,
I heard a dreadful story this afternoon. A lady was helping to empty a gentleman's flat after he died and she filled two bins with his medication to take to the Chemist. Included were 15 tubes of Voltarol :-(.
Oh my god ,,,that's terrible ,,,but then I'm not really surprised ,,,,with the state of unemployment and immigration in this country,,,,I've heard of people going to the dr for this thstband the other all to get a note saying they're not fit for work etc ,,, they don't need or take the medication ,while I don't believe that people of advanced age pay for prescriptions ,I do think the NHS needs a boost ,,, I was saying to my hubby only the other day ,, if or when I was in hospital I wouldn't mind paying £5 a day for my food ,there is such a lot of waste in the NHS ,,,in every department ,or pay for a drs appointment and if you turn up for the appointment you get your money back ,,,,,too many people needing the services of NHS ,and not enough doctors ,or nurses to be able to do their job properly. ,,
Rant over sorry ,I didnt mean for that to happen,😘😷🤕🤒😤🏥💊🔬🛌💉🌡
Last test I had done last year was done by a nurse at the hospital who had only watched the other nurse do them on the previous Friday afternoon. This was the following Thursday morning. Spent about an hour past my appointment time with the consultant watching people go in for their spirometry - and then go in again. The nurse had not done them correctly so they all had to be done again! My breathing was not that bad that day but can't imagine some having to do that twice in an hour - it does take it out of you! I think she had got it right by the time she got to me!
The tests can be tough ,,,but if the nurse does them right it helps ,
Yes you're correct, that was exactly how you described it whereas in previous tests it was a lengthy and detailed exam. I think the result was just ok. Thank you for the info buffer puffer
The respiratory nurse at my GP's is nice & appears to know what she is doing.
Last time she did a spirometry (because my breathing was worse, not for the review) she had new equipment. She said it was much better than the previous equipment & more accurate. I cannot remember exactly how many blows I had to do but it was fewer. I remarked in surprise "is that it, it's usually more than that ?" & she confirmed that was sufficient for her purposes. So, maybe they don't need to do so many but then I can't imagine why not.
Ilooking back I feel if horrid nurse had explained about the new test, I'd have felt more reassured. Thank you for replying.
I bet you would, I can't stand it when they are unpleasant, it really winds me up. A smile costs nothing & surely when you join the caring profession you do so because you care. Obviously not in Nurse Hatchett's case!
As I say, I'm not 100% sure it is all changed, just what happened to me. Penny xx
From what I have read, I must be lucky because my nurse is very pleasant and takes a genuine interest in my well being.
We used to have lovely staff and nurses until our practice became amalgamated with another and we were moved into a large purpose built health centre. It's been downhill ever since.
The nurses at our health centre are great , up it was this one test done in a nurses office at the hospital was Cruela duville ,
Spirometry results good
Spirometry and COPD/Emphysema. 
Function of COPD nurse at GP surgery
Spiriva respirmat and Fostair
