Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very much good. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home to figure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how to tell if I have progressed, or where. Which are the ones to pay the most attention to? I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to RT) and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB. So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean......... Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Ok, now lets try to separate two things. PFT's versus oxygen requirements. On oxygen don't compare to when you were off, because you probably shouldn't have been. Compare today to back when you previously used and you'll see a much more gradual change has occured than if you compare it to no oxygen. Now, PFT's. The easiest way is to just write the previous down and the current side by side. As to which ones to look at most, one normally looks at all to see if they are consistent. However, lets just pick four that you may have. Look at what these were this time versus last. FVC, FEV1, TLC (Total Lung Capacity) and if you have it DLCO (may not have that). Have these stayed nearly the same or decreased slighty or what? Also understand PFT's can vary widely so only a trend over time really is reflective. Now the important question. On your current level of oxygen, how are you feeling? If you're feeling pretty decent then all the other stuff is just numbers. > > Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very much good. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home to figure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how to tell if I have progressed, or where. > Which are the ones to pay the most attention to? > I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to RT) and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB. > So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean......... > Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 On oxygen don't compare to when you were off, because you probablyshouldn't have been. Compare today to back when you previously used andyou'll see a much more gradual change has occurred than if you compare itto no oxygen.I don't see a heading for just O2. Look at what these were this time versus last. FVC, FEV1, TLC (TotalLung Capacity) and if you have it DLCO (may not have that). Have thesestayed nearly the same or decreased slightly or what?Do you mean, Actual, Pred. or %Pred? Yeah, I am feeling pretty good but just once, I want to know what these tests show. See? I said I don't follow these numbers 'cause I can get obsessive! HAHAA. For instance: DLCO shows today 42% Pred.....9/6/07 it was 48%. Thanks again Bruce. Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Re: TO BRUCE Ok, now lets try to separate two things. PFT's versus oxygenrequirements.On oxygen don't compare to when you were off, because you probablyshouldn't have been. Compare today to back when you previously used andyou'll see a much more gradual change has occured than if you compare itto no oxygen.Now, PFT's.The easiest way is to just write the previous down and the current sideby side. As to which ones to look at most, one normally looks at all tosee if they are consistent. However, lets just pick four that you mayhave.Look at what these were this time versus last. FVC, FEV1, TLC (TotalLung Capacity) and if you have it DLCO (may not have that). Have thesestayed nearly the same or decreased slighty or what?Also understand PFT's can vary widely so only a trend over time reallyis reflective.Now the important question. On your current level of oxygen, how are youfeeling? If you're feeling pretty decent then all the other stuff isjust numbers.>> Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very muchgood. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home tofigure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how totell if I have progressed, or where.> Which are the ones to pay the most attention to?> I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to RT)and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB.> So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean.........> Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR.> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Whoops, sent too soon... I'm wanting to know the whys of being so sob, on O2, even at night........what is O2 based on if "numbers" stay fairly stable??? SATS dropping only? If SATS drop, wouldn't it show in some of these numbers? Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Re: TO BRUCE Ok, now lets try to separate two things. PFT's versus oxygenrequirements.On oxygen don't compare to when you were off, because you probablyshouldn't have been. Compare today to back when you previously used andyou'll see a much more gradual change has occured than if you compare itto no oxygen.Now, PFT's.The easiest way is to just write the previous down and the current sideby side. As to which ones to look at most, one normally looks at all tosee if they are consistent. However, lets just pick four that you mayhave.Look at what these were this time versus last. FVC, FEV1, TLC (TotalLung Capacity) and if you have it DLCO (may not have that). Have thesestayed nearly the same or decreased slighty or what?Also understand PFT's can vary widely so only a trend over time reallyis reflective.Now the important question. On your current level of oxygen, how are youfeeling? If you're feeling pretty decent then all the other stuff isjust numbers.>> Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very muchgood. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home tofigure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how totell if I have progressed, or where.> Which are the ones to pay the most attention to?> I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to RT)and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB.> So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean.........> Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR.> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Oxygen is strictly based on your saturation levels. PFT's are good to indicate trend in many areas but are very subject to so many conditions even including how much you've eaten, what you've been doing, the equipment, the tech, the software, any congestion you might have, time of day and already measured against tables as normal for your age, sex, ethnicity, and height. Should what you see in your sats correlate with PFT's? Probably over time, but no specific rules that say because your FVC is 40% you're going to need 4 liters per minute. My sats are actually better probably than my PFT's. Also, the word " fairly stable " . Well, that could mean " down slightly " and thats all your sats represent if you go back to when you were on oxygen before is " down slightly. " But, you didn't answer the important question. How are you feeling? > > > > Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very much > good. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home to > figure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how to > tell if I have progressed, or where. > > Which are the ones to pay the most attention to? > > I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to RT) > and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB. > > So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean......... > > Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. > > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Don't know what happened to this one....... Re: TO BRUCE Ok, now lets try to separate two things. PFT's versus oxygenrequirements.On oxygen don't compare to when you were off, because you probablyshouldn't have been. Compare today to back when you previously used andyou'll see a much more gradual change has occured than if you compare itto no oxygen.Now, PFT's.The easiest way is to just write the previous down and the current sideby side. As to which ones to look at most, one normally looks at all tosee if they are consistent. However, lets just pick four that you mayhave.Look at what these were this time versus last. FVC, FEV1, TLC (TotalLung Capacity) and if you have it DLCO (may not have that). Have thesestayed nearly the same or decreased slighty or what?Also understand PFT's can vary widely so only a trend over time reallyis reflective.Now the important question. On your current level of oxygen, how are youfeeling? If you're feeling pretty decent then all the other stuff isjust numbers.>> Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very muchgood. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home tofigure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how totell if I have progressed, or where.> Which are the ones to pay the most attention to?> I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to RT)and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB.> So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean.........> Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR.> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 To keep it simple, % predicted. And, see, your DLCO is down slightly so that makes sense. But, PFT's really have to be looked at over long trend. > > > > Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very much > good. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home to > figure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how to > tell if I have progressed, or where. > > Which are the ones to pay the most attention to? > > I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to RT) > and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB. > > So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean......... > > Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. > > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Ok...if DLCO is 'down slightly' does this mean I've progressed, even ever so slightly? Obviously I want to be as stable as possible...I'm just still trying to understand what "down" means. Down as in progression? Or just down from last time. Ye gads. I think I'll go back to ignorance...It's BLISS! Thanks Bruce. You are ever so patient. Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Fw: Re: TO BRUCE To keep it simple, % predicted. And, see, your DLCO is down slightly sothat makes sense. But, PFT's really have to be looked at over longtrend.> >> > Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very much> good. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home to> figure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or howto> tell if I have progressed, or where.> > Which are the ones to pay the most attention to?> > I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according toRT)> and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB.> > So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean.........> > Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR.> > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 It could mean you've progressed slightly....or could just be a difference in testing from one time to the next. Hope that helps...lol. What you do know is that you're using a small level of oxygen and its making a difference in your life. You may have progressed a little....its hard to know sometimes. One day I think I'm progressing rapidly, then the next I'm better. Don't put too much into small changes in PFT's. Keep your eye on your oximeter. And, realize that since March 2006 you've still only reached the point of requiring a little oxygen. BUT, IF YOU DON'T ANSWER WITH HOW YOU FEEL, I MIGHT NOT BE SO PATIENT....SO NOW! HOW DO YOU FEEL? Isn't that what is really important? Are you breathing ok with the oxygen at home? Able to throw on the bag, take the canister and get out when you want? I feel better than I am most of the time. So, I'm happy. I'm doing what I can in protecting myself with oxygen. Otherwise I'm just doing the things I want to do. Can I do what I could 40 years ago? Well, probably not, but since I can't remember that long ago anyway, it doesn't impact me. > > > > > > Thanks for the MD web site but it didn't do 'lame-brain' very much > > good. I went for PFTs this morning and sat down when I got home to > > figure 'em out. I still can't make out what the numbers mean. Or how > to > > tell if I have progressed, or where. > > > Which are the ones to pay the most attention to? > > > I'm really stymied...my tests have not changed much (according to > RT) > > and yet I've gone on O2...even at night ,much more SOB. > > > So I can't tell anyone what my numbers mean......... > > > Mama-Sher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. > > > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.