Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

[KathyB]

Hi all -- is anyone able to share your experience with the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)? What to expect for the actual test? What exactly is measured? How soon are the results available? How long does it take? What is recommended from the findings? Thanks for sharing!

KB:cool:

[Dirty Don]

I've had a few now...sheesh. It's actually kind of drab: attendant puts you in a glass box (noooo claustrophobia allowed!), has you breathe numerous times and ways thru a meter of some sort. Sometimes they put you on the 'stairs' too to get other info...I suppose heart strength and deep inhalation effects. Depth of inhalation, oxygen intake and retention, shortness of breath, all what you'd expect are what's measured. If possible, avoid too many Xrays...some docs love looking at pics, my rheumy pointed out to the pulmy that I'd had enough of those for a while! It usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Since I'm at Mayo in Phx, the results are on the doc's desk in about 2 hours for my appointment so he can yell at me to work out more...he's a taskmaster!! As to what is recommended, not sure...doc keeps telling me to work out more, no smoking of course, avoid high pollution, keep sinuses and airways clean, airplanes aren't great but depends on how one's lungs are improving - a mask may be in order...I do a fair amount of deep breathing exercises along with my regular workouts...seems to help. But, I've been fortunate as my lung involvement (spider webs and blood!) was actually pretty cleared up by the time I left ICU...docs don't know why, just happened that way...lucky me! Once your lungs improve, the test gets shorter and some stuff is left out implying not all of the tests are needed to make diagnoses if one is improving. Best of luck!

[KathyB]

Thanks, Dirty Don. My rheumy did mention I could be "out of breath" because I'm "out of shape!" With lung involvement upon diagnosis (they described the scan as "ground glass") then a nasty case of fungal pneumonia two months later, I am curious as to what my lungs look like! Is there a new "normal" once they have been scarred? Or do they actually rejuvinate and clear up? I'm hoping to get some great advice about workouts specifically targeting lung capacity, and of course, increased stamina. Thankfully, I don't smoke! I feel like I'm heaving when I'm breathing -- a tightness/pressure almost. I'll keep the xray thought in mind. Hopefully, the hospital will have results quickly and I'll get a call from my doc soon thereafter. My appointment with him is before the test. Thanks for the info!!

KB:cool:

[Dirty Don]

You can call me Don, you can call me Dirty, but whatever you do, don't call me...hmmm, used to know the punchline...oh well! BTW, I'm an ex English teacher, FB/BB coach, so I get education...well, sometimes! LOL! Yep, got the 'ground glass' descriptor too...I preferred the spider webs. You may or may not want to see YOUR lungs...it IS a pretty picture, but it's tough to know those ARE your lungs at the time! Yikes! Ask Sangye & Al about breathing exercises...I have my own sets from sports, anxiety, and PT...sheesh! Yes, the pressure you feel is part of the drugs and/or the disease...doc always checks the depth of my breathing...she explained it's common with WG and lung damage. She also suggested that though my lungs are fairly normal now, there is no way for them to completely heal again...as in a reformed smoker's lungs, people think their lungs return to normal eventually...not...they do heal and improve, but never return to normal. Keep on your docs and get access to UNC asap, perhaps there's a WG specialist even nearer - go to the Vasculitis Center site - they can recommend someone I think - most docs have to send pathologies out thus the wait - a research center does it all usually...I'm sure they will be more prompt in returning and diagnosing...as they are a research center and have access to immediacy.

[KathyB]

Okay, Don ... gotcha on the name! I majored in PE/Health and double minored in Business. Taught PE just one year & enjoyed it, but never wanted to coach which was expected for a PE teacher. Also, my ex played college FB and coached 3 sports, so that left no time for two parents to be coaching with three boys three years apart (twins included!). Funny, my hubby now also played college FB -- at UNC! And he played with my rheumy! (small world!) My rheumy has a few WG patients and I've trusted MCV (hospital center of Va Commonwealth Univ) with all my care. Still do ... but, I wonder if my rheumy would concur that a referral to UNC would be appropriate. I'll talk with him on Monday. Back to education! I was a business teacher for 15 years and have been in administration since 2002 (AD, AP & most recently central office CTE aka/vocational director). My husband (of 3 years -- just had our anniversary!) was a prolific football coach in Va Beach and then became an administrator (high school principal mostly). Finished his 39th year in June! We have both retired, although he's now the "helpful hardware man" at Ace a few days a week! Loved my career & will miss it and all the great folks. The illness has pushed me to accept retirement as I can't keep up with the hours/demands of my job. I thought I still had 10 years to go, though!!

Thanks for the additional info on the lungs, Don. It's definitely an issue and should possibly be reviewed further with a WG specialist. I thought I understood the lungs remained scarred, so hearing my February CT scan was "normal" was odd. Perhaps it's normal for me! Looking forward to learning more on Monday!

KB:cool:

[vdub]

doc keeps telling me to work out more
I doubt I could walk more than a mile or so. Working out would be out of the question. Too bad, too. I used to run anywhere from 4 to 8 miles a day and really enjoyed it. Those days are gone.....

[Dirty Don]

I doubt I could walk more than a mile or so. Working out would be out of the question. Too bad, too. I used to run anywhere from 4 to 8 miles a day and really enjoyed it. Those days are gone.....

Well understood...can't do half of what I used to...sighs...but we got what we got and we're doing the best we can! And that ain't a bad thing Martha!! Smiles as he trips over the coffee table...sighs again...

[Debbie C]

Hi KathyB. I just had 2 breathing test done.The one a nurse came to my house and put one of those oxygen meters on my finger and had me walk around the house then up a flight of stairs a couple of times.My oxygen was pretty normal but she said my pulse was high, but anyway I had to sleep with it on and it fell off sometime during the night so I don't know how much info they got. I also went to the hosp and had the same test done that Don was talking about. I called my pulmonary dr. today and they still haven't gotten the results from two weeks ago. So I'm going to the hosp. tomorrow to get the test and the report from it. I collect all my scans and blood work and anthing that is done to me for my records .

[Debbie C]

Also Kathy, when I was first dx. the hosp has a rehab facility for lung and heart patients where u can go and workout on treadmills and other machines. They also have nurses there that keep an eye on u and check your heart rate.I don't know if your hosp has anything like that or not.I used to go twice a week but know I'm getting into yoga and that is really changing the way I breath. I hope this info helps...good luck !

[drz]

Also Kathy, when I was first dx. the hosp has a rehab facility for lung and heart patients where u can go and workout on treadmills and other machines. They also have nurses there that keep an eye on u and check your heart rate.I don't know if your hosp has anything like that or not.I used to go twice a week but know I'm getting into yoga and that is really changing the way I breath. I hope this info helps...good luck !

I did this recently and found it helpful in increasing my endurance and confidence to go on longer walks. Here it is called pulmonary rehab. I also plan to to go back to vestibular rehab next month as my balance has got worse since I stopped their rehab program and my exercises classes took a break for the summer.

[elephant]

I had one done in the glass and lots of breathing. The test will determine your lung capacity and what kind of shape your lung are, it sometimes doesnt mean its permanent. If you have ground glass image on your x-ray it is a sign of Wegeners flare, you mention tightness. If its not an infection, then its most likely wegeners.

[drz]

They usually retest you in six months or a year if you have any damage or loss of normal function. The retest will tell you if any damage is getting better or likely to be permanent.

[KathyB]

Thanks for all your input, everyone. Met with my rheumy Monday and had the PFT. He called me later that afternoon with all results. Everything was pretty much in the normal range and only a slight notion of asthma. I was happy and realize I need to get busy with improving my overall physical condition. I'm still considering a UNC referral. Dr. Falk went to medical school (UNC) with my rheumy!

KB