Spirometry test

I had the full spirometry test done a few months back & it took about 30 minutes. It involved lots of breathing in a tube, exhaling, breath holding etc. it was done in a chamber like device with lots of equipment. Then they had me inhale a bronchodilator from an inhaler & the tests were repeated to see if the inhaler improved my lung function. They get a set of numbers from the first set of tests and compare them to the numbers from the 2nd set of breathing tests to see if the inhaler helped. I was quite short of breath after going through all of the inhaling/exhaling and breath holding tests. Make sure they explain all of your "numbers" after the test and follow up with a lung Doctor. Best of luck to you!

Here is patient UK page on it https://patient.info/health/spirometry-leaflet

In my experience in UK, if you are just having spirometry test through your respiratory clinic at the GP surgery, there are two different breathing methods, one deep in breath with fast exhale and continue exhaling until you can't any more.  The other is deep breathe in with a slow steady exhale until you can't breathe any more.  Both with peg over nose.  the respiratory nurse will explain on the day.  Peak flow also.

You can ask for a copy of the results which are good to have and compare against the next test for your own personal understanding and also you can do your own calculation to determine the FEV1% predicted using patient uk spirometry calculator.  https://patient.info/doctor/spirometry-calculator

The other tests if you are having them done at the hospital clinic, is usually the full lung function test. where additional tests are carried out with exhaling and the peak flow, its been a while since I had a full lung function test so I can't remember all the detail of that.

The spirometry test I have done annually now, my condition is stable.

People whose condition is not stable, ie prone to ongoing lung infections may be monitoried more often.

With the lung function test done at the hospital, its usually when you have been referred to a respiratory consultant and the results of this test will first be analised by the consultant and results sent to your GP with a covering letter usually,  you can ask your GP for copies of the results and covering letter from the consultant.

Personally I have never had a before and after medication monitoring, I guess that's because I of extensive testing before actual diagnosis, and that my CT results clearly indicated my lung damage (its explained more in the leaflet link above under the heading 'reversability testing'

You may have been informed already, in case not, do read the leaflet link above and check out the heading;  'What preparation is needed before having spirometry? '

Hello Jessie2150.  Please don't panic.  This is all normal...and it will not hurt.  The reason for giving the inhalant (which is a steroid you breath in) is simply to open up the lungs and bronchial tubes larger to see if they get a bigger number on your FEV's than without the inhaler.  It's great that you have never had a inhalant before however for some of us it is a daily dose of let's get those lungs working.  Some of us even have to use nebulizers ever 3 to 4 hours for wheezing so right now just be calm and yes it takes over an hour most times.  So just be patient, it doesn't hurt at all.  So you will be in good hands, and the breathing treatment doesn't hurt anyone in fact it might help most people who live in cities and industrial areas..  Take care...God bless ,  Breathless....