Lung Damage

Wheezie · Jun 28, 2007

I've seen some posts on here where people stated that their FEV1's were in the 30s while sick, but that they were able to bounce them back up to 50s and 60s!! Obviously then, those lower numbers didn't indicate any permanent damage, is that correct? Does anyone know if "permanent" damage can ever be reversed and, if so, by how much?

I was never very compliant as a teenager and although I stepped it up when I reached adulthood, I haven't been as compliant as I could or should have been until very recently<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">. I guess what I really want to know is, if I work really hard and do all the things I'm supposed to do (and do them ALL the time), is it feasible that my FEV1 percentage could actually increase? Or has the damage already been done and the best I can hope for is to just keep it from getting worse? Either way I'm going to continue working really hard - I'm just wondering if there might be even MORE benefit to it than I'd originally expected.

Wheezie · Jun 28, 2007

I've seen some posts on here where people stated that their FEV1's were in the 30s while sick, but that they were able to bounce them back up to 50s and 60s!! Obviously then, those lower numbers didn't indicate any permanent damage, is that correct? Does anyone know if "permanent" damage can ever be reversed and, if so, by how much?

I was never very compliant as a teenager and although I stepped it up when I reached adulthood, I haven't been as compliant as I could or should have been until very recently<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">. I guess what I really want to know is, if I work really hard and do all the things I'm supposed to do (and do them ALL the time), is it feasible that my FEV1 percentage could actually increase? Or has the damage already been done and the best I can hope for is to just keep it from getting worse? Either way I'm going to continue working really hard - I'm just wondering if there might be even MORE benefit to it than I'd originally expected.

Wheezie · Jun 28, 2007

I've seen some posts on here where people stated that their FEV1's were in the 30s while sick, but that they were able to bounce them back up to 50s and 60s!! Obviously then, those lower numbers didn't indicate any permanent damage, is that correct? Does anyone know if "permanent" damage can ever be reversed and, if so, by how much?

I was never very compliant as a teenager and although I stepped it up when I reached adulthood, I haven't been as compliant as I could or should have been until very recently<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">. I guess what I really want to know is, if I work really hard and do all the things I'm supposed to do (and do them ALL the time), is it feasible that my FEV1 percentage could actually increase? Or has the damage already been done and the best I can hope for is to just keep it from getting worse? Either way I'm going to continue working really hard - I'm just wondering if there might be even MORE benefit to it than I'd originally expected.

Wheezie · Jun 28, 2007

I've seen some posts on here where people stated that their FEV1's were in the 30s while sick, but that they were able to bounce them back up to 50s and 60s!! Obviously then, those lower numbers didn't indicate any permanent damage, is that correct? Does anyone know if "permanent" damage can ever be reversed and, if so, by how much?

I was never very compliant as a teenager and although I stepped it up when I reached adulthood, I haven't been as compliant as I could or should have been until very recently<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">. I guess what I really want to know is, if I work really hard and do all the things I'm supposed to do (and do them ALL the time), is it feasible that my FEV1 percentage could actually increase? Or has the damage already been done and the best I can hope for is to just keep it from getting worse? Either way I'm going to continue working really hard - I'm just wondering if there might be even MORE benefit to it than I'd originally expected.

Wheezie · Jun 28, 2007

I've seen some posts on here where people stated that their FEV1's were in the 30s while sick, but that they were able to bounce them back up to 50s and 60s!! Obviously then, those lower numbers didn't indicate any permanent damage, is that correct? Does anyone know if "permanent" damage can ever be reversed and, if so, by how much?

I was never very compliant as a teenager and although I stepped it up when I reached adulthood, I haven't been as compliant as I could or should have been until very recently<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">. I guess what I really want to know is, if I work really hard and do all the things I'm supposed to do (and do them ALL the time), is it feasible that my FEV1 percentage could actually increase? Or has the damage already been done and the best I can hope for is to just keep it from getting worse? Either way I'm going to continue working really hard - I'm just wondering if there might be even MORE benefit to it than I'd originally expected.

Wheezie · Jun 28, 2007

I've seen some posts on here where people stated that their FEV1's were in the 30s while sick, but that they were able to bounce them back up to 50s and 60s!! Obviously then, those lower numbers didn't indicate any permanent damage, is that correct? Does anyone know if "permanent" damage can ever be reversed and, if so, by how much?

I was never very compliant as a teenager and although I stepped it up when I reached adulthood, I haven't been as compliant as I could or should have been until very recently<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">. I guess what I really want to know is, if I work really hard and do all the things I'm supposed to do (and do them ALL the time), is it feasible that my FEV1 percentage could actually increase? Or has the damage already been done and the best I can hope for is to just keep it from getting worse? Either way I'm going to continue working really hard - I'm just wondering if there might be even MORE benefit to it than I'd originally expected.

AnD · Jun 28, 2007

I hate to say it- but permanent damage- no, but you can get your lungs as cleaned out as possible, and keep them that way. It just depends on how much of your #'s is because of actual damage, and how much is just "clogging up" If I understand it right.

At one point in college, I got sick and was the second "sickest" cfer in our clinic. But my numbers went back into the 80's the next year. But now I have been hovering near 47% fev1 for about 3-4 years, and while I can hope, I really haven't found anything to get it back up over 53% in those years.

I have heard that excercise helps a lot, and have started that in the last couple of years for 3 days a week, and am working on moving up to 5 days.

And less gunk=less infection=less lung damage, so good compliance can only help <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Good for you!

AnD · Jun 28, 2007

I hate to say it- but permanent damage- no, but you can get your lungs as cleaned out as possible, and keep them that way. It just depends on how much of your #'s is because of actual damage, and how much is just "clogging up" If I understand it right.

At one point in college, I got sick and was the second "sickest" cfer in our clinic. But my numbers went back into the 80's the next year. But now I have been hovering near 47% fev1 for about 3-4 years, and while I can hope, I really haven't found anything to get it back up over 53% in those years.

I have heard that excercise helps a lot, and have started that in the last couple of years for 3 days a week, and am working on moving up to 5 days.

And less gunk=less infection=less lung damage, so good compliance can only help <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Good for you!

AnD · Jun 28, 2007

I hate to say it- but permanent damage- no, but you can get your lungs as cleaned out as possible, and keep them that way. It just depends on how much of your #'s is because of actual damage, and how much is just "clogging up" If I understand it right.

At one point in college, I got sick and was the second "sickest" cfer in our clinic. But my numbers went back into the 80's the next year. But now I have been hovering near 47% fev1 for about 3-4 years, and while I can hope, I really haven't found anything to get it back up over 53% in those years.

I have heard that excercise helps a lot, and have started that in the last couple of years for 3 days a week, and am working on moving up to 5 days.

And less gunk=less infection=less lung damage, so good compliance can only help <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Good for you!

AnD · Jun 28, 2007

I hate to say it- but permanent damage- no, but you can get your lungs as cleaned out as possible, and keep them that way. It just depends on how much of your #'s is because of actual damage, and how much is just "clogging up" If I understand it right.

At one point in college, I got sick and was the second "sickest" cfer in our clinic. But my numbers went back into the 80's the next year. But now I have been hovering near 47% fev1 for about 3-4 years, and while I can hope, I really haven't found anything to get it back up over 53% in those years.

I have heard that excercise helps a lot, and have started that in the last couple of years for 3 days a week, and am working on moving up to 5 days.

And less gunk=less infection=less lung damage, so good compliance can only help <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Good for you!

AnD · Jun 28, 2007

I hate to say it- but permanent damage- no, but you can get your lungs as cleaned out as possible, and keep them that way. It just depends on how much of your #'s is because of actual damage, and how much is just "clogging up" If I understand it right.

At one point in college, I got sick and was the second "sickest" cfer in our clinic. But my numbers went back into the 80's the next year. But now I have been hovering near 47% fev1 for about 3-4 years, and while I can hope, I really haven't found anything to get it back up over 53% in those years.

I have heard that excercise helps a lot, and have started that in the last couple of years for 3 days a week, and am working on moving up to 5 days.

And less gunk=less infection=less lung damage, so good compliance can only help <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Good for you!

AnD · Jun 28, 2007

I hate to say it- but permanent damage- no, but you can get your lungs as cleaned out as possible, and keep them that way. It just depends on how much of your #'s is because of actual damage, and how much is just "clogging up" If I understand it right.

At one point in college, I got sick and was the second "sickest" cfer in our clinic. But my numbers went back into the 80's the next year. But now I have been hovering near 47% fev1 for about 3-4 years, and while I can hope, I really haven't found anything to get it back up over 53% in those years.

I have heard that excercise helps a lot, and have started that in the last couple of years for 3 days a week, and am working on moving up to 5 days.

And less gunk=less infection=less lung damage, so good compliance can only help <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Good for you!

NoExcuses · Jun 28, 2007