Sevenstars
New member
It's very annoying when doctors compare you to other patients instead of your own personal baseline. Sure, 80% FEV1 is great compared to someone pre-tx, but what if you're normally 100%? You should be constantly working to be the best you can be - and your doctor should too. So many times when I was a kid in the hospital, I'd have doctors (usually stupid residents) tell me I "wasn't sick" or was "wasting the bed" and stuff like that. It really infuriated me because they didn't know what was normal for me, and they were just comparing me to everyone else.
Yes, if your FEV1 is high, you should count your blessings and be happy - but you shouldn't be complacent. It's always an uphill battle, even when it seems like things are ok, it's just not quite as noticable.
If your PFTs were much higher not so long ago, I would do your damnest to get them back up there before there is permanent damage. And if you can't get them quite back up to where they were, try exercising more or discussing it with a different doc. Sometimes all it takes is a good doc that's willing to work with you and not be "content" with your PFTs.
Yes, if your FEV1 is high, you should count your blessings and be happy - but you shouldn't be complacent. It's always an uphill battle, even when it seems like things are ok, it's just not quite as noticable.
If your PFTs were much higher not so long ago, I would do your damnest to get them back up there before there is permanent damage. And if you can't get them quite back up to where they were, try exercising more or discussing it with a different doc. Sometimes all it takes is a good doc that's willing to work with you and not be "content" with your PFTs.