20% drop in FEV1 in 8 weeks

Chest and lungs
1

I went to the doctors for spirometry on 11/11/14, my FEV1 was 37% Went to the hospital on26/1/15 and FEV1 was30.5%. A bit of a shock, but could it be down to having been in hospital before Christmas with viral infection and bronchitis ? Still very brethless and going for a ct on saturday

 

2

Could be, but you'll be asking your doctor as well as us, I hope, seeing h/she has your medical history.   I wish you well ... I'm incapacitated enough down to 70% and am not looking fwd to my condition deteriorating to that extent, which of course it will.   Good motivation for me to keep up my exercises and treatment ..

3

what test do they take to find where you are at for you FEV1

4

I am in pulminary rehab and seem to be doing well compared to some. I will not see the specialist for some time after the ct scan so I am fishing for info on here. Hope someone has had similar experiance to share their results with me.

 

5

Spirometry test

 

6

what exactly is a spirometry test is it a blood test or what?

7

It is a test where you blow into a device that measures your breathing capability. The FEV1 is the reading taken after one second of breathing out as fast as you can. It is usually this reading that is used to tell the severity of your syptoms

 

8

let me check I had that test done last week I have the paper 

9

What does it say

 

10

mine says FEV1 is 59%  and FEV/FVC is 76% I guess that is good.

11

You have mild copd

 

12

yes my doctor said I am between stage one and stage two

13

Hi, iamowen2.

Hospitals have been overwhelmed this winter, otherwise I am sure a cat scan would have been performed earlier.

By Saturday afternoon they should be able to give you an initial assessment. Bronchitis and viral lung infection (?pneumonia) are notoriously deep-seated. If the scan shows any sign of clotting on either or both lungs a 6-month course of warfarin is often introduced. In the normal course of events you should feel a lot better within 3 - 4 weeks.

Could I ask your age and if you are a smoker?

14

Hello David, I am 60 years old and not smoked for 30 years, probably 15 pack years worth before that

 

15

I have been coughing since 17December!  Three different antibiotics have not worked...then 10 days of steroids...Mychest X-ray is clear..I feel as though my throat is full of phlem which I can bring up 50% of the time. I have tried steaming, herbal remedies, nasal washing, nothing seems to work for long.  Should I ask for a CT scan? And what will this show?  I coughed So hard two weeks ago, I pulled an intercostal muscle under my ribs ouch!  It felt like a broken rib for a week...

16

OK. 60 is not old.

The scan will be the key.

And I make a guess here . . .. Before you went into A&E, you probably found the only comfortable dozing position was in an easy chair. Sleeping prone in your own bed was impossible. 

I look forward to hearing if any small clots are detected.

17

Normally a specialist has to refer you for a ct scan. I had 6 or 7 ecxasserbations last year so my doctor made an emergency appointment with a specialist at the hospital. I had blood tests on monday and told it would be about 6 weeks for a scan, it came back for this satutday 31/1/15 Before being admitted into hospital before Christmas, I had been bad for months, but eventually began to improve with co amoxyclav and ventolin nebulizer

18

Apart from the big one !!!!! LoL

 

19

I went through that back in December it took me weeks to finally stop coughing 

20

Hi it's a 6.5 drop not 20% according to your figures.   I shouldn't worry too much as your fev1 can vary by a few points anyway and if you took another one today it might be back up a bit.  x