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20% drop in FEV1 in 8 weeks

Posted , 7 users are following.

iamowen2
iamowen2

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

 

1 like, 32 replies

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  • jude65855
    jude65855 iamowen2

    Posted

    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 ..
    • iamowen2
      iamowen2 jude65855

      Posted

      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.

       

  • kathy70567
    kathy70567 iamowen2

    Posted

    what test do they take to find where you are at for you FEV1
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 iamowen2

      Posted

      what exactly is a spirometry test is it a blood test or what?
    • iamowen2
      iamowen2 kathy70567

      Posted

      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

       

    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 iamowen2

      Posted

      let me check I had that test done last week I have the paper 
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 iamowen2

      Posted

      mine says FEV1 is 59%  and FEV/FVC is 76% I guess that is good.
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 iamowen2

      Posted

      yes my doctor said I am between stage one and stage two
  • david1942
    david1942 iamowen2

    Posted

    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?

    • iamowen2
      iamowen2 david1942

      Posted

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

       

  • AmesburyAbbey1
    AmesburyAbbey1 iamowen2

    Posted

    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...
    • iamowen2
      iamowen2 AmesburyAbbey1

      Posted

      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
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 AmesburyAbbey1

      Posted

      I went through that back in December it took me weeks to finally stop coughing 
    • iamowen2
      iamowen2 kathy70567

      Posted

      I had it for months, then co amoxyclav cleared most of it up, pulmonary nurses were about to discharge me when it came back again but it went after 5 days. Trouble is I think it has insideously infected me in a different way. Sputum test and doctor changed my emergency meds to co amoxyclav. Now have hyper sensitive throat and productive cough with shortness of breath just moving from room to room.

       

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