In reading FEV1, do we go by pre reference or post reference? My pulmonologist gave me an inhaler and after 2 minute he continued the test, I spoke with another guy who has copd, he told me that my doc should have waited 10 minutes then continue, does this affect the FEV1?
Thank you.
Hi
The use of a inhaler during a Spirometer test, is to check for Asthma as opposed to COPD. in Asthma the results will improve after using the inhaler.
A standard Spirometer test is best from three.
Your GP should have explained it better.
Thank you for your answer. I have my report paper with me, my doctor is not available and wont be for a while, I'm trying to find another one, in the meantime, which number i should go by for fev1 is it the pre reference or the post reference? Thank you
Hi
I would consider the first to be your normal. The second was the result of using a inhaler.
The technicians who've done mine have always waited 20 minutes between taking the inhaler and re-doing the spirometry.
Thank you for answering back. Mine waited no more than 2 minutes and i'm pretty sure less than two minute, do you think that affect the result if you have an idea?
Yes of course. The inhaler you would have taken would have been a bronchodilator, quite likely salbutamol, whose job is to dilate the airways, making it easier for air to flow in and out of your lungs. So the second test is to measure how much difference taking the inhaler makes and if you don't give it time to work it's not going to show much difference.
Hi RedSox!
I was very mad when i found out that the waiting period after the inhaler is 15 minute, a 2 minute wait was done on purpose as the technicien left in a hurry moment after my test was done. On top of it, the doctor wrote on the PFT report that"No significant response to BD".Imagine that just last year my FEV1 was 76, this year 63, so this PFT is unreliable. And you know what else scares me, that tube where we blow, so many folks use the same tube, I dont even know if they clean it properly. I'm going to lodge a complaint against him because guess what, this is the 2nd time he does this to me, last year, the same thing he waited about 5 minutes.
Enough that we have an incurable condition, I dont someone to play with my numbers. When I asked him to explain my number he was so vague he actually got me more confused, and I still don't know whetehr I should look at my pre reference percentage or post reference percentage concerning my fev1, i have people helping me but some say this one and others say the other one. And websites are not helpful either. Having said that, I'm doing my thing, eating right, excercising almost an hour a day, walking, trying my best to be positive, and I hope all of this works.
Are you a redsox fan???
Be well my friend.
I believe you and I communicated before. Yes! I do have emphesyma, not just from the PFT, I had a CT that confirmed it, my CT report says " Bla bla bla, There is minimal emphesyma" whatever that means. I actually took the CD myself, went on the internet and took a course and I was able to see it for myself on the CD image s, I had close to 700 images, it just took me a week. My doc never even mentioned the CT scan, and guess whatelse I found in my CT, a small renal claculus stone measuring 3 mm. The doc never mentioned anything to this day. He just prescribed medecin for me after the PFT and told me i see you in 4 month. That is why I'm reporting him, this is negligence!!! I was diagnosed with COPD 14 years ago, emphesyma, on june 2018, moderate. Now, I dont take any medication except once in a while a puff of albutrol, mostly before sleep, during the day I'm fine, I can exercise for a long time like anybody else, that is why I doubt my PFT number, I wanna a rematch.
Are you gonna hate me if I'm a yankee fan lol (just kidding my friend)
Do you take supplements? If Yes what kind?
Be well and breath easy.
I like what you said about Docs being like baseball players, I like that!
I asked the same question that you just asked me, what the link between my PFT numbers which show I'm moderate and the CT which says minimal emphesyma. My doc never answered that question, I believe he had no clue. I watched a professional guy on youtube explaining the difference between a normal CT scan and one that has emphesyma, based on that I was able to see little black holes.
My understanding is that the black holes and or bullous are indicatif of emphesyma. But then again, what do I know! I'm still looking for an answer between to correlate between my CT and the PFT, I'm dying to ask my next doc but I have to wait for three months, if not I have to pay for it from my own pocket. I dont know if I can post pics here to show my CT. The funny thing is my gp ardered an MRI last year which showed nothing, go figure! I do feel short of breath mainly in the evening, nothing during the day. I got so tired of this stuff, because after a while it becomes addictive and miserable, so I decided to just go along and do my best, because I really want to enjoy my days however long or short they are, because no one is safe from death. I know a lady who had sever emphesyma and she outlived two of her pulmonologists who were in good health, and she was saying that she zeroing in on the third doc LOL.
Be well my friend!
Do you take any meds yet? Are you short of breath at all at any moment?
I ll take your diagnosis anytime my friend, I think I'm between mild and moderate.
But you know what, I did lots of things that I think exacerbated my condition, inhaling dust almost the whole year by taking care of the backyard blowing leaves and stuff, contracting a nasty flu, and not excercising, well not anymore!!!
You have a nice evening and a good morning tomorrow.
Stay well
When I did my test, I was assessed as I was, then sent away with a brown inhaler to use, and came back after a month of using it. No improvement. Did the same with a green inhaler, and there was an improvement. So I'm still on the green preventer inhaler.
What stage emphesyma are you Ergendl if I may ask? Me I was given combivent Respimat and just about half of a puff would work for me. I have stopped using now for 5 days as I'm able to breath without it. My doc diagnosed me as moderate, I wish I can redo the test because I think the results were wrong, but I have to wait a whole year because the insurance wont cover two tests in one year or at least 6 month.
Help I haven’t got a clue COPD advice please
somebody please give me a opinions. 
DMSO advice wanted please 
help!
Self help for Emphysema
