Pulmonary function test today

[KWT]

What should one expect?

[GrouseMan]

Kenny,

Maybe this link will help answer some questions or if nothing else help you to ask good questions of the doctors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_function_testing

Hopefully people that have had this testing will chime in.

Regards,

GrouseMan

[KWT]

Thanks, G.M.
I did see that, I'm not looking forward to the part where they stick the needle in the artery just sick of being poked. I suppose I will survive.

[BrownBagger]

Digging around in your wrist to find the artery wasn't my favorite part. And, like Juliej, I got a big bruise out of the deal, but it didn't hurt--not while they were doing it and not later--The rest is pretty routine. The breathing test is interesting.

[KWT]

I was hoping that the digging around the wrist part is optional! Too bad we can't just take a run or ride with the docs. And let them figure it out from there.that probably wouldn't work cause they couldn't keep up!

[juliej]

Too bad we can't just take a run or ride with the docs. And let them figure it out from there.that probably wouldn't work cause they couldn't keep up!

Kenny, they put you in a glass booth and give you a nose clip and a mouth piece to wear. Then you fill your lungs up with air and push it out (forcefully) when they tell you to, sometimes in one big out-breath, sometimes in a series of "panting" breaths. Be sure to completely empty your lungs (all the way down to the bottom) on the big out-breaths. The computer graphs your results. Also, there's a stairs test in which you walk up and down several steps over and over again while a monitor is on your finger. All in all, it's pretty easy. Make sure you leave the compression bandage on your wrist for a couple of hours afterwards to minimize the bruising. Good luck today!

[KWT]

I guess I'm good to go, and they didn't stick me! Lungs at 118% whatever that means they say I'm ok to lose some parts.

[Maia]

Hooray! : ) Try to just loose the parts with the misbehaved cells, and keep the rest

[CRguy]

I guess I'm good to go, and they didn't stick me! Lungs at 118% whatever that means they say I'm ok to lose some parts.

I waited to reply 'cos I've had a PFT and no "sticks" either ..SO I was thinking mybad ?/ chemobrain ?/ just gettin' old and squirrelly ???
... well as they say "2 outta 3 ain't bad ! "

BUTT ... where they need to get exact oxygen saturation stats along with the PFT lung capacity stuff ... you will get stuck !

JMO ...HOWEVER .. not being an overachiever ... I did not get

Lungs at 118%

like SOME folks we know here

WOT ? did you stay up studying for this ..... ???? ... anywho 118 sounds pretty good to me.

Cheers bro'
CRguy

[KWT]

CR, I guess the 118% means I finally passed a test!

[Voxx66]

Great to hear - I think this bodes well for your surgery.

[KWT]

Yeah voxx, I hope so. How's everything going for you?

[singingholly]

I just had to breath in a strange machine with my nose pinched!

[Patience]

I just had to breath in a strange machine with my nose pinched!

Ditto for my husband. Various breathing in, breathing out tests. No pokes. No "exercise" or stepping, etc. Of course, it does depend on exactly which tests the doctor orders, which in turn is dependent upon the condition of the patient. My husband's days of being able to perform any sort of "exercise type" tests are over.