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What Does This Pulmonary Function Test Report Indicate?

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Posted on Mon, 18 Sep 2017
Question: I have a question regarding Small Airway Disease
18 years ago I took the first of 7 PFT's, the last in 2016. All have been similar, basically normal but with fluctuations in PEF 25/75 and PEF 50. The albuterol part of the test raised the FEV1 by roughly 10% and the PEF 25/75 went up 37% and the PEF 50 went up 24%. This occurred when I had the broncho test given in tests 2 and 3 also I will give the last test numbers a bit later.
I have had chest xrays that show normal
I have had a CT last January that showed no Lung disease but it had the early stage of Lung Cancer showing. That was removed in a robotic method lobectomy. The Dr stated no signs of emphysemous changes
I had chemo and a new CT and still no signs of lung disease.
Because of my personal life, i have relocated and because of that I have seen several Pulmonologists. I have heard about very mild Copd, Bronchial Asthma, Asthmatic Bronchitis, and Asthma. In there, Exercise Enduced Asthma.
I also have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. One pulmonologist has made a distant connection of Anxiety to the inflammation of my small airways and has commented that if i let my persistant state of anxiety regarding my breathing difficulties relax, so will my breathing difficulties.
Now some of my life since I stopped smoking 18 years ago.
I used to ride a bike 75 miles a week until i took care of my mother as she died of copd.
I had lost 3 siblings raising my anxiety as I had to bury all.
I went through 2 divorces, found I had lung cancer. now its possible bone cancer.
I want no sympathy but I want to know if the Anxiety Mediators as one pulmonologist called them can actually act on the allready inflamed airways. I am a bit confused to inhalers also. I have been prescribed the albuterol rescue and a corticosteroid and had been given a Laba Advair. Nothing ever happens when I use them
Here is the last PFT, numbers are the % of predicted for my age
FVC 112%
FEV1 98%
FEV!/FVC 74%
25/75 62% 99% after test
50 70% 94% after test
TLC 117% Slightly high
RV 103% OK Range
DLCO 99%
RV/TLC 31%
DLCO/VA 107%
With this info, what thoughts do you have regarding my Lungs and Small AIrways. I forgot to include that in the past 3 years, i feel like I have a tighter chest and a upper lobe area reduction in inspiration but was told that the whole lung fills at the same time so not one portion fills first then stops because of an obstruction.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
its not early COPD

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in HCM

I can understand your concern

I have gone carefully through your history.

In my opinion i agree that you have small airways diseases according to the Spirometry findings and this is evident.

In my knowledge there is not yet in the literature prescribed obstruction of the small airways due to anxiety or its components.

If with the time it progressed in several stages of obstruction we could say it might be early stage of COPD but thi is not your case fortunately. The last test is nearly the same with the first one and this is very important.

LABA are the best choice in your situation and they help a lot patients like you in my practice.

It would be better i would examine you directly and probably to search better for the cause but this is not possible and i think that your treating doctor knows better your clinical picture.

But we all agree in one point of small airways diseases.

I reccommend you to continue the current treatment and this is not COPD actually don't worry.

You Will repeat Spirometry every 6 months to control your lungs function.

I hope this info is helpful for you

Take care and feel free to ask me again

Regards

Dr.Jolanda


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Jolanda (1 hour later)
First I want to thank you for taking the extra time to read my tome or novel that I wrote, and to think it over carefully. That says alot.
Yes you are right, all agree it is small airways,

I now wish to openly say that I kept one thing back to see what your response would have in it. I apologize but I didn't want another physicians diagnosis to pollute your thoughts.

What I kept back was that the last 4 pulmonologists who know nothing of the others have said the same thing, NO COPD. Two of the four did say it would help my breathing if I exercised more like i used to because it would make more efficient use of oxygen, heart and lungs if I did exercise.

SO I wish to thank you for your help, I will move to the LABA, Is there any that are/contain small enough particles of medicine to fully reach the small airways or should I use the rescue inhaler each morning and let a few minutes pass to let airways relax to let advair get farther in?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
continue discussion

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

If you use the rescue inhaler every morning than it would be better to use nebuliser with bronchodilatators for one week twice.They will help better and to return after to your current treatment.

You can discuss it with your treating doctor

Regards

Dr.Jolanda
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Jolanda

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 2904 Questions

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What Does This Pulmonary Function Test Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: its not early COPD Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome in HCM I can understand your concern I have gone carefully through your history. In my opinion i agree that you have small airways diseases according to the Spirometry findings and this is evident. In my knowledge there is not yet in the literature prescribed obstruction of the small airways due to anxiety or its components. If with the time it progressed in several stages of obstruction we could say it might be early stage of COPD but thi is not your case fortunately. The last test is nearly the same with the first one and this is very important. LABA are the best choice in your situation and they help a lot patients like you in my practice. It would be better i would examine you directly and probably to search better for the cause but this is not possible and i think that your treating doctor knows better your clinical picture. But we all agree in one point of small airways diseases. I reccommend you to continue the current treatment and this is not COPD actually don't worry. You Will repeat Spirometry every 6 months to control your lungs function. I hope this info is helpful for you Take care and feel free to ask me again Regards Dr.Jolanda