I had spirometry test this morning at my GPs .the nurse did the test ,disappointed twice ,one was because my fv1 was down from 49%to 37% from last year, the other disappointed was because I didn't feel as if I had been tested properly, you no how when you have spirometry test in hospital ,and they make you blow until you feel as if your head is going to fly of LOL ,well this nurse at GPs put peg on nose and blow out as much as you can gently the next one breath out as hard as you can with peg on nose,both test in a singing voice she would say that's enough ,no blow blow blow encouragement to breath out longer ,then when finished I asked for copy of results she didn't no how to get copy ,then I asked her what my result was ,she said she didn't no she didn't understand it ,she would pass it on to doctor ,so I had to tell her what to look for ,between us we found the fev1 somehow I dont think she was qualified enough to do this test ,now I'm wondering has my breathing dropped by 12% orwas it to do with the test
Disappointed : I had spirometry test... - Lung Conditions C...
Disappointed
That’s discouraging. That’s a large drop in one year and I can only give my opinion in stating I’d want the test repeated.
Ithink your right there peter
Alice,i personally would take Gp spirometry testing with a pinch of salt and the only accurate and reliable test in my opinion is that which is done within the confines of your respiratory dept,by properly trained technicians following the recognised procedures.
i have become a bit of a bore when i rant about under trained practice nurses doing these tests and then passing inaccurate information to G.p's who often haven't got a clue either.
i am afraid that doesn't alleviate your concerns and hopefully you may see your consultant soon and he can arrange a proper spirometry and lung function testing.
Best wishes ski's and Scruff's 
x
Wishing you a Good day Alice , I thought these tests has to be done by a specialist in the hospital, after I got mine I didn’t realise just how much information they could find out as one of my results shows I don’t have enough blood going into my lungs, I actually still don’t know what impact if any this has on my copd but it’s just you never know what ichthyosaurs show up when you get these things done . I also had ten different tests by blowing into the machine but I couldn’t finish as I was too unwell anyway my point is I don’t think it’s something that an unqualified nurse can do and I really would ask your GP to reffer you for another one only this time to be done in hospital. I’m sorry your numbers have went down , have you been feeling worse? I ask this because I don’t understand the numbers everyone seems to get because No one has ever told me mine or explained how they work. I have read others posts explaining it but I still can’t work it out . So is your illness getting worse. Is this what it means that’s a shame for you it must be quite a worry I do hope you get results soon from Dr or get sent to hospital for one , please keep posting how your getting on as I’d like to know how you are . Take care and enjoy the rest of your day if possible 🌹🌹
I would ask for it to be redone. In my experience the GP spirometry tests aren’t accurate, they tend to read lower than hospital tests.
I will ginger
I agree with skis Alice. Have another test done at hospital if possible. Good luck xxxx
I too have to agree 100% with Skis.
Thinking about it ,I agree to 2geys
Yep, get it done again Alice - shockingly casual approach by that nurse, but quite possibly not her fault. Ask for nurse training as well as a re-do of the test.
Speaking to a friend of mine this evening ,she is at same surgery as me ,I was telling her the story, gave her the nurses name ,my friend said that is not the chest nurse, that is the blood nurse, the chest nurse has been of sick some time ,do you no 02trees I new there was something not quite right
Well staff cant help getting sick but the right thing to do would have been to TELL you so you weren't left in this way wondering what the hell was going on. And there should have been a protocol telling the new nurse how to do the test. It's not rocket science but a specific technique which is relatively easy to teach new staff. Quite disturbing that this happened to you Alice70.
"I don't know" doesn't inspire much confidence. Ask for another to be done by a trained technician, good luck with that! Given the near epidemic proportions of COPD it is a poor show. It is demotivating to have lost some FEV1 so it's important to get clarification. Though I have to say I don't worry about mine too much. I joined the school of it's how you feel now, following a lot of botched spiro tests. Don't let it get you down Alice it could have been just a bad day
I am waiting to see my consultant now I will ask for another test thanks for your reply
Hello Alice70, understand your concerned I have the same miss givings about my nurse that supposedly knows all. She suggested I take Relvar Ellipta 184/22 as you only need to take it once a day it states quite clearly on patients leaflet that this dosage is only for asthmatics not to be used for COPD patients. When reported the DR condoned it then wrote a letter saying I don't need the amount of steroids I am taking and it is all right in my case to have it as I do not have severe COPD. So who do we beleive the patients instruction, doctors, nurses or our own experience. Spirometer tests do not always depict the general everyday readings for a patient only that on that day it was this. Can you see your GP or nurse if your breathing is worse? know I cannot. Please try not to worry too much about her methods, sadly it does shake your confidence when this occurs but not all professionals know about everything. But I beleive they should train more for the specific posts they practice in. i.e if lung reveiws are their speciality then they should know how to do a spirometer test. Hope you get this matter sorted I would ask for another appointment if you feel uneasy about the first result.Best Wishes
I agree with you Katie we do get conflicting information from the medical profession
Totally agree with skis, get this done at the hospital, they are specialists and you want your records correct. Sounds like this nurse needs re-training, perhaps have a word with your surgery x
The tests can be different in hospital as well.I get stressed in a hospital situation and actually had a panic attack when one young man used to do it. Since then a lovely calming lady has done them and my results improved. Anxiety affects breathing,I would ask for another test.
I am lucky that my surgery has 2 trained respiratory nurses. If I'm feeling really bad I can go to the surgery and a nurse will see me without a appointment. My doctors say that the nurses know more about copd than they do.
Hi Alice, Hope your lucky in getting a full Respiratory Test done, and your given the FEV1 immediately. I have only ever had mine done at The Hospital at The Lung Department. My last update is FEV1 21% so I've dropped from 24%. Tomorrow I have an Echocardiogram, then in July I have the 6 minute walk. Best of luck to you. xxxx
This happened to me...test redone and back up...sometimes its just hard to do the test properly...breathing in is ok...breathing out is tricky and the force behind it
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