Lung function tests

[LauraAnne5005]

Hi, I'm a newbie here! Diagnosed last year and recently been put onto methotrexate. Lots of questions but for now it's just about the lung function tests....just got a letter from hospital telling me to attend. Has anyone done this before? And what does it involve? Thanks 😃

[abannister]

It's really easy, nothing to worry about, just breathing into a machine, sometimes in a glass box like a tardis you sit on a seat with a nose clip on and take big breaths.

Or sitting in a room breathing into a machine, sometimes they test you then put you on a nebuliser and then do it again. Getting the last drop of air out can be hard.

They thought I had asthma but after these tests turns out to be COPD.

I have been on mtx for 3 years.

So nothing to worry about.

[Livingston]

They should do them for everyone that's been diagnosed. It lets them see if the disease has caused any damage to your lungs & also sets a baseline so that if there is concern about your lungs in the future there is something to compare with.

You'll be asked to put a clip on your nose and a mouthpiece in your mouth - a bit like a diver. They'll ask you to breathe out & in a few times, as much as you possibly can, so they can measure the volume your lungs can hold. Then, you breathe in a flow of air that comes through the mouth piece - it makes you feel a little bit 'stretched' - that lets them check how elastic your lungs are.

It is absolutely routine, takes just a few minutes and isn't painful. Hope it goes well.

[Lauralou1973]

Thanks 😊

[fastball]

I received both my diagnoses about the same time. C.O.P.D. and PsA. On MTX from day one, now 20mg pen worked up slowly . Both sides keeping watch to make sure MTX doesn't affect my breathing, so far it doesn't. Breathing tests are easy just relax, i usually do the machine, and find it takes time and have to concentrate .

Good luck for test and we are always here to chat.

Chris

[oldatwenty]

Yes I did that and found it quite fun actually. probably my favorite room in the hospital, it has such cool contraptions. I hope you don't mind it but i think its generally simple breathing stuff.

best,

Noa

[popsmith1874]

Yip done it as have shortage of breath due to the mtx I'm on 20mgs pen , fairly takes it out you afterwords