Status
Not open for further replies.

Sammantha

Senior member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Messages
501
Country
Uni
State
NC
City
Newport
Hey everyone, i went to my doctor's appointment today with Rose by my side... For real, it really worked, its like i could feel your support! I saw the new PA instead of my GP. First the nurse saw me and did a pulse ox. It was 90 but my resting pulse was really high and she went and got the EKG machine.. I wanted to say my heart is fine its my muscles! But i let them figure it out. She brings in the EKG and has me taped up to it and says your face is so much thinner have you been working out?! I said no more than usual, but the more facial spasms i get the tighter and smaller my face gets.... She just looked at me funny.... Then the new PA came in and went over my whole history and was totally focused on my heart. She then went on to talk about lungs. When she asked why i was on klonopin i had to reveal my neurology tale. She then went and talked to Dr. Whitmore who upped my anxiety medication and the PA ordered a complete pulmonary function test which i will be taking at my local hospital tomorrow morning. My fear is that this test is designed to rate lungs that are bad due to smoking or disease and not because of muscle problems. On the form it says: PFT 1234 spiro, spiro with broncho rt spiro with DLCO rt spiro w lung volumes and then it says PFT5 complete which is what is marked. What are these tests and what can i expect, and you would know best Rose if any of these would indicate lung functioning reduced due to muscle? Please write back, thank you everyone. Sammantha
 
Yes Sammantha, those tests will be able to determine flow rates, lung volumes, lung capacities, etc. and whether the problems (if any) are due to lung disease or muscle problems. Good luck to you.
 
Sam,

When i went for my lung functioning test at the hosp, The tech told me it wasn't my lungs them self it was the breathing muscles. I can't forcefully expel air out, they can tell by the different #'s. My report came back that I had mild air entrapment in my lungs (they are not expanding all the way.) My script was worded differently then yours but it could be the same test. I went into this phone booth looking thing and they put a clip on my nose and the tech told me what to do. I did a 6 min walk on treadmill to see if I lost oxegen with exercise.


Good luck with your test tomorrow and let us know....
 
Sam, I'm proud of you girl :). You've already gotten your answers about the test/ what to expect and what it will reveal from Wright and Crystal. I'm really happy that you're already scheduled for it. ... like Crystal said, the tech will explain what you're to do as you go along. This is a good start, let us know how it goes, ok? big hugs, :):):)
 
Sam, I doubt that this will catch you before you go for the test, but just in case.... If your breathing difficulty is strictly related to soft palate weakness, then your results may not show the extent of your problems, because of the clip that is placed on your nose. Regardless of where the majority of your problem lies, this test is going to give useful information. I just want you to be prepared to broach the subject of your soft palate involvement when you discuss your test results with your doctor. good luck!:)
 
I got it Rose! That is something i am afraid of because it's when i lay down that my soft palate falls and it feel like i am swallowing my tongue and when i breathe in hardly any breathe gets in, and my nose does no open up for air like it used to. But i have had chest/rib spasms for awhile, matter of fact they are not as bad as they use to be so i am hoping that that will be picked up. I know my pulse ox was 90 which is borderline but who knows today it may be normal? I will write back later, i do not follow up with my doctor though for a month. Talk later, Sam
 
You should still speak with her about your results before your next appointment, and when you do, ask her for a referral to the best ENT doctor that is in your network. It is the Ear Nose and Throat specialists that know the most about soft palate mechanics. Let us know how it goes :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top