Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Todd, PFT is a Pulmonary Function Test which may consist of several steps to measure how well your lungs are functioning. I always ask for a copy of the test results which usually includes a few graphs and a lot of measured values. One of the steps has you in a small closed booth and they determine your total ling volume (TLC). Sometimes a PFT will only consist of one step and other times it will consist of many. I copy what I consider to be the most important numbers into a spreadsheet to track any trend. I basically track 4 numbers and the corresponding percentages of what is expected. FVC, FEV1, TLC and DsbHb are the numbers I track. I’m not certain about what each represents but FVC and TLC are about capacity and DsbHb is how good the gas exchange is (Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide) I believe FEV1 measures how clear the air passages are. Someone has posted a message in the past that referenced a website that goes into a lot of detail about the measurements taken and what they mean. I basically like to look at the percentage numbers for those 4 values. I hope this helps. If I can find the email with the website I’ll post the entry number for that mail Ken Baker UIP/IPF 12/05 From: Breathe-Support [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On Behalf Of Todd Miles Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 2:29 PM To: Breathe-Support Subject: Re: Update Hate to seem ignorant. As I am new what is a PFT and how do you track it? Thanks, Todd > > Sher, > > I will not know if I'm on 'the real stuff' or not until the study concludes > late this year. I've been exercising heavily but have not been in pulmonary > rehab yet. I have been tracking my PFT numbers since my initial diagnosis > in Dec '05. I had a VATS biopsy in Oct '06 and still have some numbness and > tingling in my torso from what I believe was nerve damage (which I was told > is common in VATS procedures). I try to do an hour daily on the treadmill > at 3.2 - 3.4 MPH with moderate elevation. In addition I do 40 situps daily. > I've been exercising since my VATS but have been doing less time over the > last month or so (only 4-5 days a week and 30 to 45 minutes). I went 1955 > feet in my last 6MWT up from 1790 a year ago. I don't have any answers on > why I've improved but am happy about it and hope it continues to trend up > for me. > > Ken Baker UIP/IPF 12/05 > > > > _____ > > From: Breathe-Support > [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On Behalf Of Sher Bauman > Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:39 PM > To: Breathe-Support > Subject: Re: Update > > > > Ken... so does this post mean you must be getting the " good pill " and this > study shows we can be helped? > > I was invited to join a study once but did not want to do the OLB (I guess > now it's VATS) required. > > Is there another reason your numbers improve? > > Thanks for the info. I'm glad for you...whatever it is. > > Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR. > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > > Update > > > > An update on my status (good News) > I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT > and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was > up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in > the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Your not ignorantIt stands for pulmonary function testthey are breathing tests that measure the lung's ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide properlythe tests also measure lung volumes Brett UIP/11/07 MI.Hate to seem ignorant. As I am new what is a PFT and how do you track it?Thanks, Todd >> Sher,> > I will not know if I'm on 'the real stuff' or not until the study concludes> late this year. I've been exercising heavily but have not been in pulmonary> rehab yet. I have been tracking my PFT numbers since my initial diagnosis> in Dec '05. I had a VATS biopsy in Oct '06 and still have some numbness and> tingling in my torso from what I believe was nerve damage (which I was told> is common in VATS procedures). I try to do an hour daily on the treadmill> at 3.2 - 3.4 MPH with moderate elevation. In addition I do 40 situps daily.> I've been exercising since my VATS but have been doing less time over the> last month or so (only 4-5 days a week and 30 to 45 minutes). I went 1955> feet in my last 6MWT up from 1790 a year ago. I don't have any answers on> why I've improved but am happy about it and hope it continues to trend up> for me.> > Ken Baker UIP/IPF 12/05> > > > _____ > > From: Breathe-Support > [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On Behalf Of Sher Bauman> Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:39 PM> To: Breathe-Support > Subject: Re: Update> > > > Ken... so does this post mean you must be getting the "good pill" and this> study shows we can be helped?> > I was invited to join a study once but did not want to do the OLB (I guess> now it's VATS) required. > > Is there another reason your numbers improve?> > Thanks for the info. I'm glad for you...whatever it is.> > Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR.> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!> > Update> > > > An update on my status (good News)> I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT> and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was> up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in> the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Todd, Spirometry is included in the PFT suite. I believe it is used to determine Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiration Volume (FEV) FEV1 is how much air is expelled in the first second. Look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirometry for graph. I believe DsbHb is DLCO single breath adjusted for hemoglobin or something like that. From: Breathe-Support [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On Behalf Of Todd Miles Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:29 PM To: Breathe-Support Subject: Re: Update Thanks Ken - Are these measurements also something that comes from the Spirometry test? > > > > Sher, > > > > I will not know if I'm on 'the real stuff' or not until the study > concludes > > late this year. I've been exercising heavily but have not been in > pulmonary > > rehab yet. I have been tracking my PFT numbers since my initial > diagnosis > > in Dec '05. I had a VATS biopsy in Oct '06 and still have some > numbness and > > tingling in my torso from what I believe was nerve damage (which I > was told > > is common in VATS procedures). I try to do an hour daily on the > treadmill > > at 3.2 - 3.4 MPH with moderate elevation. In addition I do 40 > situps daily. > > I've been exercising since my VATS but have been doing less time > over the > > last month or so (only 4-5 days a week and 30 to 45 minutes). I > went 1955 > > feet in my last 6MWT up from 1790 a year ago. I don't have any > answers on > > why I've improved but am happy about it and hope it continues to > trend up > > for me. > > > > Ken Baker UIP/IPF 12/05 > > > > > > > > _____ > > > > From: Breathe-Support@ <mailto:Breathe-Support%40yahoogroups.com> > yahoogroups.com > > [mailto:Breathe-Support@ <mailto:Breathe-Support% 40yahoogroups.com> > yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sher Bauman > > Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:39 PM > > To: Breathe-Support@ <mailto:Breathe-Support%40yahoogroups.com> > yahoogroups.com > > Subject: Re: Update > > > > > > > > Ken... so does this post mean you must be getting the " good pill " > and this > > study shows we can be helped? > > > > I was invited to join a study once but did not want to do the OLB > (I guess > > now it's VATS) required. > > > > Is there another reason your numbers improve? > > > > Thanks for the info. I'm glad for you...whatever it is. > > > > Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR. > > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > > > > Update > > > > > > > > An update on my status (good News) > > I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT > > and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was > > up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in > > the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Todd... a pft is Pulmonary Function Test, ordered by your pulmonologist. Mine are done in the local hospital in respiratory therapy. I guess you track them by keeping each copy, each time and comparing. I personally don't do that but many here do. They will respond to this post as well. Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Update> > > > An update on my status (good News)> I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT> and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was> up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in> the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Todd/Ken...apologies to you Todd. My answer to you was so half a..ed I'm embarrassed I posted it. Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Update> > > > An update on my status (good News)> I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT> and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was> up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in> the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Don’t you dare apologize and don’t be embarrassed. Everyone sees things differently and that is what makes life so much fun. From: Breathe-Support [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On Behalf Of Sher Bauman Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:17 PM To: Breathe-Support Subject: Re: Re: Update Todd/Ken...apologies to you Todd. My answer to you was so half a..ed I'm embarrassed I posted it. Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR. Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Update > > > > An update on my status (good News) > I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT > and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was > up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in > the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Ken...thanks. This has nothing to do with the board but Rich does the model rr too. He cannot find Southern Railway 60' All-Door Box Car decals....any help for him in your own RR? Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Update> > > > An update on my status (good News)> I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT> and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was> up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in> the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Mama Sher, My RR is for RidgeRunner not RailRoad. Originally from Tenn I picked up the ridgerunner name while living in Chicago and Peoria IL among all the flatlanders.(that was back in the CB days) and it kinda stuck with me. From: Breathe-Support [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On Behalf Of Sher Bauman Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:16 PM To: Breathe-Support Subject: Re: Re: Update Ken...thanks. This has nothing to do with the board but Rich does the model rr too. He cannot find Southern Railway 60' All-Door Box Car decals....any help for him in your own RR? Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR. Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Update > > > > An update on my status (good News) > I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT > and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was > up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in > the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Hehehe. Gee. Thanks Ken. In our house RR sure stands for railroad! RidgeRunner. I bet it fits you. Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Update> > > > An update on my status (good News)> I went for my 48 week visit on the Pirfenidone study and had my PFT> and 6 Minute Walk Test. My Volume was about the same and my DLCO was> up higher than it had ever been at 69%. I went further than ever in> the 6MWT without oxygen keeping my sat level at 90%. > > Ken Baker IPF 12/05 NH> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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