Advice , Please!

[Guest guest]

I saw my pulmonologist last week for a follow-up. On most things, he

said, my lungs were about the same as they were last time I saw him (6

months ago), but he also said the spirometry test showed slight

worsening of my asthma and/or bronchiectasis.

Maybe somebody can tell me the significance of the following tests:

FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC,FEF 25-75%, FEF50%, FEF, MVV; DLCO, DL Adj,

DLCO/VA, DL/VA Adj, VA.

My lung volumes were fine, and my doc didn't seem concerned about

diffusion, either. It was mainly the spirometry test that seemed to

concern him.

He recommended (not for the first time) that I start taking an inhaled

steroid to prevent further damage. At the very least, he urged me to

take Flonase nasal spray twice a day, instead of once, as I currently

do. (I also take AtroVent nasal spray 2-4 times a day and use saline

spray several times a day whenever I feel it's needed.)

If I wasn't willing to increase my Flonase use, my doc wanted me to

use a sinus rinse (I use the NeilMed sinus rinse system) every day.

(Last time he saw me, he recommended twice a day.) I'm trying to get

myself to do it at least once every other day.

I know a lot of my doc's suggestions sound simple, but I have so many

other health conditions I have to juggle that I just don't want to

give up any more time to this stuff. As it is, I'm lucky if I have 4-5

hours of " discretionary time " each day. I'm worried about the steroids

for several reasons, not the least of which is that I'm diabetic. The

sinus rinse is great, but it takes time to set it up and then clean up.

We ultimately agreed to wait 3 months and re-test to see whether

things have gotten worse. These test results could have been a

one-time fluke, after all.

Am I being foolish not to follow my pulmonologist's advice? I

currently have no symptoms. I do a lot of stretching and breathing

exercises (about 1-1.5 hours a day), I don't smoke, and except for the

pneumonia I had last July that ultimately led to the discovery that I

have bronch, I don't get a lot of lung infections. I already take a

lot of medication for my various health issues, and I know that

steroids can cause lots of problems. So I'm not eager to open that can

of worms unnecessarily.

I really would appreciate the input of people who have been living

with bronch longer than I have. (I was diagnosed with it last October.)

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