Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Pulmonary Function Testing

I've never been one to pay much attention to medical tests my doctor recommends but this one makes me a little anxious. Have any of you had a "Pulmonary Function Test?" The paper mentions "Methacholine Challenge with Spirometry." I usually just figure if a test is painful it won't last long so suck it up and do it.

I've developed an on again off again wheeze. I've had it for months. Doesn't bother me much but my family and doctor want me to do some tests. The doctor thinks it's possible I have a touch of asthma. I do have a strong family history of asthma but good grief, I'm 74.

Pain I can usually deal with but someone intentionally making it difficult for me to breathe, not so much. I like breathing.
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Only two columns for you today.

Mike Pence Pulls President Trump's Strings

Fact-checking is Job 1 for any White House: Speechwriter

6 comments:

  1. I've had a wheeze and asthma almost my entire life. Getting a baseline with a test is probably a good idea. Those tests aren't so bad. They won't let you struggle to breath for long before giving you a relief med. Very safe.

    That being said, none of the medications they've wanted me to take in recent years to help the wheezing have helped enough to make it worth the cost and negative side effects. But we're all different. The thing that makes the biggest difference for me is staying away from any form of smoke and cold temperatures. I do deep breathing exercises, too.

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  2. I've had a pulmonary function test (PFT), but not a methacholine challenge test (MCT). When I had the PFT, I went into a booth, and upon instruction, I held my breath, breathed into a tube, etc. It was not bad at all. With the MCT, the tester will probably be able to see when your passageways are tightening before you feel it and give you the meds to prevent it. I hope you let us know how it goes.

    I have some difficulty with breathing, but like Jean, it isn't a big enough bother to risk the side effects of the meds.

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  3. Sharp Doc to catch something like that.

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  4. Thanks for the links. I just read the Pence puppet one, and it does give me a different perspective. Trump and pence = double trouble.
    Good luck on your procedure.

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  5. I haven't had any breathing tests. My Fred had them all the time, and he didn't think there was anything to it. Did you Google it?

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  6. Hoping your FPT discovers an easy fix and is not unpleasant. Waiting to hear.

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