@wangling
Sorry for delay actually had appt. at Mayo today ENT.
The name of the test is: Pulmonary Function Test.
I can't explain what each is and this is not all the tests that were done. I will send them on a new post.
PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS
Collected on April 26, 2024 2:52 PM
Results
CHALFVC View trends L Value 3.13
CHALFEV1 View trends L Value 2.03
FEV1/FVC PROVOCATION View trends % Value 65.08
FEF 25-75% PROVOCATION View trends L/s Value 1.23
PEF PROVOCATION View trends L/s Value 5.22
FET PROVOCATION View trends sec Value 7.42
FVC PROVBASE View trends L Value 3.37
FEV 1 PROVBASE View trends L Value 2.13
FEV1/FVC PROVBASE View trends % Value 63.19
FEF 25-75% PROVBASE View trends L/s Value 1.12
PEF PROVBASE View trends L/s Value 5.48
FET PROVBASE View trends sec Value 11.52
DLCO SINGLE BREATH PROVBASE View trends ml/(min*mmHg) Value 22.75
VA SINGLE BREATH PROVBASE View trends L Value 5.61
SUBSTANCE PROVOCATION View trends Value Methacholine
CUMULATED DOSE PROVOCATION View trends Value 1063 PD 20 View trends Value No Value
Thank you so much for going through the trouble to get your test result which rules out asthma. It is good to know that Mayo clinic uses the PULMONARY FUNCTION test as a major diagnosis measure.
I had 2 function tests, both interpreted as normal range for my age, sex and so on. But I do often use steroid inhalers to ease my airways. I have been trying to find out if the bronchiectasis alone causes airway inflame. It probably does. It seems to me the bottomline is no matter what exactly causes airway inflammation, we still have to use something to control it. I know in Europe some people use antibiotics regularly. Well, I guess there is no better way if we want to have a quality life and do the things we like to do. That is the reason for me to use an inhaler often. I try to forget the label if I have asthma or not, I try to follow my symptoms and how I feel. It has never been a clean cut.
Please take care and I wish you the best!
Ling
My understanding is that over time, with multiple chest infections, flus, bronchitis, the airways in the lungs begin to get inflamed, and eventually it is difficult for the airway passages to clear out the mucus that collects there.
I first began my lung problem with having difficulty clearing mucus; it would get stuck. I would steam to loosen the mucus, and my husband would do manual percussion to help me clear. I coughed a lot.
This is the time, 10 years ago, when my pulmonologist diagnosed BE from my first CT scan. It was another 5 years after this diagnosis that another pulmonologist prescribed Advair; I was still having to steam from time to time to clear my lungs. But the Advair worked wonders. Another 4 years and I moved from Texas to Colorado. After visiting pulmonologists in the Denver metroplex and not receiving proper care for BE, I became a patient in the Bronchiectasis Clinic at National Jewish Health in Denver. As I age, my lungs get worse, but the care at NJH has definitely set me up for greater ongoing lung health. With my Airway Clearance regimen, I can tell my lungs are stronger.
It took me many years to understand Bronchiectasis and what is happening to my lungs, and I still continue to learn. I gather a lot of information through the Bronchiectasis and NTM.org website and especially through connect.mayoclinic.org.
Finding a good doctor who understands Bronchiectasis is key. These doctors seem to be few and far between.
Best of luck......Pam
I go to Mayo Jacksonville and have been suffering with sinuistis, nasal drainage, infections, bronchitis for decades.
Recently had the full pulmanary tests to rule out asthma. They could not find a cause or duplicate the symptoms. I am working with my PCP to continue to investigate and find a solution.
Can you advise what you mean by postural drainage? I have been doing a steriod and saline rinse now for about a year. I do it twice a day. It is using the squeeze bottle hang my head over sink and then slowly squeeze bottle in one nostril as it comes out the other and then reverse.
Sound like whatevery you did helped so very interested.
You had asked about postural drainage. It's basically a natural way to let gravity assist in draining mucus into the upper airways of your lungs so that it can be coughed out. Here is a helpful guide that shows what it is and how it works: https://bronchiectasis.com.au/physiotherapy/techniques/gravity-assisted-drainage
I don't do this consistently as part of my regimen, but when I do I usually do my saline nebulizer treatment beforehand in hopes that loosening the mucus will make the postural drainage more effective.
Thank you so much for going through the trouble to get your test result which rules out asthma. It is good to know that Mayo clinic uses the PULMONARY FUNCTION test as a major diagnosis measure.
I had 2 function tests, both interpreted as normal range for my age, sex and so on. But I do often use steroid inhalers to ease my airways. I have been trying to find out if the bronchiectasis alone causes airway inflame. It probably does. It seems to me the bottomline is no matter what exactly causes airway inflammation, we still have to use something to control it. I know in Europe some people use antibiotics regularly. Well, I guess there is no better way if we want to have a quality life and do the things we like to do. That is the reason for me to use an inhaler often. I try to forget the label if I have asthma or not, I try to follow my symptoms and how I feel. It has never been a clean cut.
Please take care and I wish you the best!
Ling
@wangling
Hope you are doing well. I am still having periodic wheezing, coughing up large amounts of mucus. I contacted my Mayo Pulmonologist and described the symptoms and they are bringing me back in.
I have been seeing a Mayo ENT PA for years for sinus polyps. I am at the stablizing stage so no surgery just steroid nasal sprays. What she recommended was for me to use Atrovent (prescribed by my PCP) as a preventative medication as it does not act immediately and is used for long term preventive (her information not my opinion).
She then said use the apuretrol (spell) for when bronchial areas flares up as it is intended as a rescue inhaler for actute symptoms not chronic. So doing that until I meet with pulmanary soon.
Take care. I agree with you the quality of life is extremely important and that is what I keep telling my PCP, ENT, and pulmonologist.
My understanding is that over time, with multiple chest infections, flus, bronchitis, the airways in the lungs begin to get inflamed, and eventually it is difficult for the airway passages to clear out the mucus that collects there.
I first began my lung problem with having difficulty clearing mucus; it would get stuck. I would steam to loosen the mucus, and my husband would do manual percussion to help me clear. I coughed a lot.
This is the time, 10 years ago, when my pulmonologist diagnosed BE from my first CT scan. It was another 5 years after this diagnosis that another pulmonologist prescribed Advair; I was still having to steam from time to time to clear my lungs. But the Advair worked wonders. Another 4 years and I moved from Texas to Colorado. After visiting pulmonologists in the Denver metroplex and not receiving proper care for BE, I became a patient in the Bronchiectasis Clinic at National Jewish Health in Denver. As I age, my lungs get worse, but the care at NJH has definitely set me up for greater ongoing lung health. With my Airway Clearance regimen, I can tell my lungs are stronger.
It took me many years to understand Bronchiectasis and what is happening to my lungs, and I still continue to learn. I gather a lot of information through the Bronchiectasis and NTM.org website and especially through connect.mayoclinic.org.
Finding a good doctor who understands Bronchiectasis is key. These doctors seem to be few and far between.
Best of luck......Pam
@happy2023
Thanks for information. Having my second visit with pulmonogist after ENT suggested I go back. I have recurring symptoms but not every day.
I have a ton on mucus I cough up on bad days. Seems like the coughing causes more irriation then more coughing. I can hear a wheezing sound when I exhale all the way. Not all the time just when things flare up.
I am going to mentioned the Bronchiectasis to my Pulmonologist. If I could just find out what is causing this and or the condition I could try to do things to help lesson it. Right now it inhalers but no diagnosis of why I am having it. Bummer!!!
Sounds like you have good treatments and doctors and some bad. And you are at the good phase now.
@wangling
Hope you are doing well. I am still having periodic wheezing, coughing up large amounts of mucus. I contacted my Mayo Pulmonologist and described the symptoms and they are bringing me back in.
I have been seeing a Mayo ENT PA for years for sinus polyps. I am at the stablizing stage so no surgery just steroid nasal sprays. What she recommended was for me to use Atrovent (prescribed by my PCP) as a preventative medication as it does not act immediately and is used for long term preventive (her information not my opinion).
She then said use the apuretrol (spell) for when bronchial areas flares up as it is intended as a rescue inhaler for actute symptoms not chronic. So doing that until I meet with pulmanary soon.
Take care. I agree with you the quality of life is extremely important and that is what I keep telling my PCP, ENT, and pulmonologist.
Hi jc76,
Glad to hear your condition is stable, no surgery needed. I hope the visit to Mayo clinic will give you some resolution why you have so much musuc. The rescue inhaler you ment probably is Albuterol? I use it before I flutter. I feel it is more effective to bring up mucus when I use Albuterol.I hope you don't have to wait for too long to see your pulmonologist at Mayo.
Take care and best luck!
Once per day if I am ok, 4 times a day with exasperation.
Includes albuterol 2 vials, mycomyst 1/3 bottle, sodium cholide 2 vials each time.
I never use inhaler but I carry it with me.
@wangling @ling
Wow, be hard to know what all was done. I know I was in a test room for about 1.5 hours. They had me go into an enclosed type device and had me using a breathing tube. He would then open enclosure tell me what to do, close it, and then guide me again in what to do.
I had to breathe in various ways with nose clip and a breathing tube in my mouth. When I completed all those they had me breath in mists 3 different time from 3 different mists. I then had to do a step test with a heart monitor for oxygen testing.
I know my bronchial area was very sore after all those tests. I am sorry can't be more specific. I could go to Mayo portal and look up tests and give you a more specific answer if you like. I don't mind and if can help just let me know.
Can someone explain where the recommendation for 2x a day for nebulizing 7% saline comes from (as opposed to nebulizing once a day)? I recently saw the 2024 video lecture by Dr. Pamela McShane (posted to this chat group, so helpful) and she recommended once per day. My pulmonologist wrote my script for once a day, but I had to ask for the script in the first place and then insist on 7%, so I am not confidant he is on top of best practices. Thank you.
@bayarea58 I think most of the research on hypertonic saline was done in cystic fibrosis patients. It seems for them the recommendation is 2x daily if they can tolerate it and one time/day if they can’t.
I’m new to hypertonic saline since last month. I only have bronchiectasis without recent positive culture. My pulmonologist from Penn’s Bronchiectasis Ctr (I trust a lot) suggested I start hypertonic saline a few times per week to see if it helps me have a better winter. I have young grandkids and caught every bug they had last year.
My impression from this and other forums is that if people have a lot of mucus, they do airway clearance 2x/day. Mayo suggested airway clearance with albuterol, aerobika and postural drainage 2x/day and walking 30” to me when I was initially diagnosed (March 2023) with bronchiectasis and thought to have MAC. Note-hypertonic saline wasn’t mentioned. When those cultures were negative and I wasn’t producing sputum, the Mayo doc approved cutting the regime to daily.
When I finally got in to current pulmonologist in August, 2023, he agreed daily was OK and as I said, just last month suggested adding the hypertonic saline. I had stopped postural drainage due to reflux. If I start producing mucus. I’d increase to 2x/day because the studies I’ve found so far (brief searches) were on 2x/day , but done on CF patients.
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Thank you so much for going through the trouble to get your test result which rules out asthma. It is good to know that Mayo clinic uses the PULMONARY FUNCTION test as a major diagnosis measure.
I had 2 function tests, both interpreted as normal range for my age, sex and so on. But I do often use steroid inhalers to ease my airways. I have been trying to find out if the bronchiectasis alone causes airway inflame. It probably does. It seems to me the bottomline is no matter what exactly causes airway inflammation, we still have to use something to control it. I know in Europe some people use antibiotics regularly. Well, I guess there is no better way if we want to have a quality life and do the things we like to do. That is the reason for me to use an inhaler often. I try to forget the label if I have asthma or not, I try to follow my symptoms and how I feel. It has never been a clean cut.
Please take care and I wish you the best!
Ling
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3 Reactionswhat is your Airway Clearance regimen? seems working so well for you as your lungs are getting stronger.
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2 Reactions@jc76
You had asked about postural drainage. It's basically a natural way to let gravity assist in draining mucus into the upper airways of your lungs so that it can be coughed out. Here is a helpful guide that shows what it is and how it works:
https://bronchiectasis.com.au/physiotherapy/techniques/gravity-assisted-drainage
I don't do this consistently as part of my regimen, but when I do I usually do my saline nebulizer treatment beforehand in hopes that loosening the mucus will make the postural drainage more effective.
Kate
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Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@wangling
Hope you are doing well. I am still having periodic wheezing, coughing up large amounts of mucus. I contacted my Mayo Pulmonologist and described the symptoms and they are bringing me back in.
I have been seeing a Mayo ENT PA for years for sinus polyps. I am at the stablizing stage so no surgery just steroid nasal sprays. What she recommended was for me to use Atrovent (prescribed by my PCP) as a preventative medication as it does not act immediately and is used for long term preventive (her information not my opinion).
She then said use the apuretrol (spell) for when bronchial areas flares up as it is intended as a rescue inhaler for actute symptoms not chronic. So doing that until I meet with pulmanary soon.
Take care. I agree with you the quality of life is extremely important and that is what I keep telling my PCP, ENT, and pulmonologist.
@happy2023
Thanks for information. Having my second visit with pulmonogist after ENT suggested I go back. I have recurring symptoms but not every day.
I have a ton on mucus I cough up on bad days. Seems like the coughing causes more irriation then more coughing. I can hear a wheezing sound when I exhale all the way. Not all the time just when things flare up.
I am going to mentioned the Bronchiectasis to my Pulmonologist. If I could just find out what is causing this and or the condition I could try to do things to help lesson it. Right now it inhalers but no diagnosis of why I am having it. Bummer!!!
Sounds like you have good treatments and doctors and some bad. And you are at the good phase now.
Hi jc76,
Glad to hear your condition is stable, no surgery needed. I hope the visit to Mayo clinic will give you some resolution why you have so much musuc. The rescue inhaler you ment probably is Albuterol? I use it before I flutter. I feel it is more effective to bring up mucus when I use Albuterol.I hope you don't have to wait for too long to see your pulmonologist at Mayo.
Take care and best luck!
Ling
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionOnce per day if I am ok, 4 times a day with exasperation.
Includes albuterol 2 vials, mycomyst 1/3 bottle, sodium cholide 2 vials each time.
I never use inhaler but I carry it with me.
jc,
It sounds like you have a pulmonary LFT (Lung Function Test).
Very good test. Tells the doctor lots of things. Ask him to
explain it.
Harry
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionCan someone explain where the recommendation for 2x a day for nebulizing 7% saline comes from (as opposed to nebulizing once a day)? I recently saw the 2024 video lecture by Dr. Pamela McShane (posted to this chat group, so helpful) and she recommended once per day. My pulmonologist wrote my script for once a day, but I had to ask for the script in the first place and then insist on 7%, so I am not confidant he is on top of best practices. Thank you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@bayarea58 I think most of the research on hypertonic saline was done in cystic fibrosis patients. It seems for them the recommendation is 2x daily if they can tolerate it and one time/day if they can’t.
I’m new to hypertonic saline since last month. I only have bronchiectasis without recent positive culture. My pulmonologist from Penn’s Bronchiectasis Ctr (I trust a lot) suggested I start hypertonic saline a few times per week to see if it helps me have a better winter. I have young grandkids and caught every bug they had last year.
My impression from this and other forums is that if people have a lot of mucus, they do airway clearance 2x/day. Mayo suggested airway clearance with albuterol, aerobika and postural drainage 2x/day and walking 30” to me when I was initially diagnosed (March 2023) with bronchiectasis and thought to have MAC. Note-hypertonic saline wasn’t mentioned. When those cultures were negative and I wasn’t producing sputum, the Mayo doc approved cutting the regime to daily.
When I finally got in to current pulmonologist in August, 2023, he agreed daily was OK and as I said, just last month suggested adding the hypertonic saline. I had stopped postural drainage due to reflux. If I start producing mucus. I’d increase to 2x/day because the studies I’ve found so far (brief searches) were on 2x/day , but done on CF patients.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction