Pfts's and weight changes

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cfgf28

Guest
How are PFTs affected by a change in weight?
BF went to the clinic yesterday, Last time he was there his PFt's were 102. He gained almost 7 pounds since his last visit, and now his PFt's are 98. I didn't think to ask for the actual liter amounts, they just told him what the numbers were. Is it possible the percents are different because of his weight gain, and the actual amounts could still be the same? I don't completely understand the PFts yet. When his Doctor was told it was down to 98 he told us that his numbers going down to that are borderline getting worried about??!! He was in the 80's then down to the 70"s during the fall before they made him go in for tune-up, and he hadn't been in for one in 6 years at the point. The way were looking at his numbers now, we were really happy! Also his vest compressor and Neb compressor had been dying for quite awhile, which we didn't notice, and he's only had the new equipment for 2 weeks, and his Doctor said thats all the time it should have taken to rebound his PFT's if they were affected by not having good therapy.... Any help would be great <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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cfgf28

Guest
How are PFTs affected by a change in weight?
BF went to the clinic yesterday, Last time he was there his PFt's were 102. He gained almost 7 pounds since his last visit, and now his PFt's are 98. I didn't think to ask for the actual liter amounts, they just told him what the numbers were. Is it possible the percents are different because of his weight gain, and the actual amounts could still be the same? I don't completely understand the PFts yet. When his Doctor was told it was down to 98 he told us that his numbers going down to that are borderline getting worried about??!! He was in the 80's then down to the 70"s during the fall before they made him go in for tune-up, and he hadn't been in for one in 6 years at the point. The way were looking at his numbers now, we were really happy! Also his vest compressor and Neb compressor had been dying for quite awhile, which we didn't notice, and he's only had the new equipment for 2 weeks, and his Doctor said thats all the time it should have taken to rebound his PFT's if they were affected by not having good therapy.... Any help would be great <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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beleache

New member
I think lung infection, allergies, weather , all play a role in our pft's .. your bf's dr. sounds pro active to me & thats a good thing.. Maybe time for a tune-up ?
 
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beleache

New member
I think lung infection, allergies, weather , all play a role in our pft's .. your bf's dr. sounds pro active to me & thats a good thing.. Maybe time for a tune-up ?
 
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cfgf28

Guest
No i definitley don't think its time for a tune-up and neither does my bf, I know there is no way at all they could get him to go in for one right now even if they wanted to! he's only had 2 tune ups done and he's 28. His pft's at the highest on ivs and vest 4 times a day we're 107, which really in his normal life isn't gonna be that high. There is no time for him to do therapy 4 times a day, nor would he do it....I just wonder if the only reason they were 98 is because they are basing it on a higher weight, and wish I would have asked them for liter amts...
 
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cfgf28

Guest
No i definitley don't think its time for a tune-up and neither does my bf, I know there is no way at all they could get him to go in for one right now even if they wanted to! he's only had 2 tune ups done and he's 28. His pft's at the highest on ivs and vest 4 times a day we're 107, which really in his normal life isn't gonna be that high. There is no time for him to do therapy 4 times a day, nor would he do it....I just wonder if the only reason they were 98 is because they are basing it on a higher weight, and wish I would have asked them for liter amts...
 
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saveferris2009

New member
1. PFT machines have a margin of error of 4-5%. So a change from 102 to 98 is within the margin of error.

2. at a certain weight, increased fat can put pressure on the diaphragm and make it more difficult to blow out air for PFTs.


If he feels fine, I wouldn't be concerned. Do you have a peak flow meter at home? that's a good way to measure changes at home
 
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saveferris2009

New member
1. PFT machines have a margin of error of 4-5%. So a change from 102 to 98 is within the margin of error.

2. at a certain weight, increased fat can put pressure on the diaphragm and make it more difficult to blow out air for PFTs.


If he feels fine, I wouldn't be concerned. Do you have a peak flow meter at home? that's a good way to measure changes at home
 
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cfgf28

Guest
No we don't have anything to measure them at home. I knew with PFt's that age and height play into it, I just wasn't sure how weight did. Bf gained 7 lbs but it's def not the kind of weight that would put pressure on the diaphragm, it's the kid of weight that makes his bones not feel so sharp :0. I asked him why his Dr would say he's on the borderline of starting to worry about PFt's being 98, compared to 102... and he told me the dr is very much hope for the best but be prepared for the worst... They didn't mention anything about his last sputum culture, so we assume there were no bugs brewing, he had been 88 in december, and was told he had a staph infection, and was put on 10 days of oral antibitics and 8 weeks later blew 102...but I honestly wonder if he still had an infection when he blew the 88 bc that was based on sputum from during his tune up...who knows <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> If you can't tell I obsess about this stuff. Bf has a very passive attitude towards all of this, and never aska questions or investigates anything. I went to his apt at the clinic for the first time, and brought a list of everything he needed to remember....I just want to hold on to him for as long as possible!!
 
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cfgf28

Guest
No we don't have anything to measure them at home. I knew with PFt's that age and height play into it, I just wasn't sure how weight did. Bf gained 7 lbs but it's def not the kind of weight that would put pressure on the diaphragm, it's the kid of weight that makes his bones not feel so sharp :0. I asked him why his Dr would say he's on the borderline of starting to worry about PFt's being 98, compared to 102... and he told me the dr is very much hope for the best but be prepared for the worst... They didn't mention anything about his last sputum culture, so we assume there were no bugs brewing, he had been 88 in december, and was told he had a staph infection, and was put on 10 days of oral antibitics and 8 weeks later blew 102...but I honestly wonder if he still had an infection when he blew the 88 bc that was based on sputum from during his tune up...who knows <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> If you can't tell I obsess about this stuff. Bf has a very passive attitude towards all of this, and never aska questions or investigates anything. I went to his apt at the clinic for the first time, and brought a list of everything he needed to remember....I just want to hold on to him for as long as possible!!
 
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cfgf28

Guest
He does do his treatments, he just doesn't ask questions which is what I meant by him being passive. I make sure he gets treatments done, if it was all just up to me treatments and everything else would be alot easier to get done...but I can't do them for him... and I go crazy researching stuff. He just doesnt do treatments 4 times a day in everyday life, as he's not suppossed to do them that much... he does the vest and breathing treatments... though he really doesnt notice a difference in the way he feels when he does them, he doesn't have very much congestion,and barely coughs....really he needs to do more physical activity per his Doctor...which in the winters is hard, but now that nicer weather will finally be breaking through, getting out of the house more will happen. And as he has said he has come out of retirement and is playing softball leagues again.
 
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cfgf28

Guest
He does do his treatments, he just doesn't ask questions which is what I meant by him being passive. I make sure he gets treatments done, if it was all just up to me treatments and everything else would be alot easier to get done...but I can't do them for him... and I go crazy researching stuff. He just doesnt do treatments 4 times a day in everyday life, as he's not suppossed to do them that much... he does the vest and breathing treatments... though he really doesnt notice a difference in the way he feels when he does them, he doesn't have very much congestion,and barely coughs....really he needs to do more physical activity per his Doctor...which in the winters is hard, but now that nicer weather will finally be breaking through, getting out of the house more will happen. And as he has said he has come out of retirement and is playing softball leagues again.
 
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Havoc

New member
http://forums.cysticfibrosis.com/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=616294 I posted an answer to this in another thread. Hopefully this helps.
 
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Havoc

New member
http://forums.cysticfibrosis.com/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=616294 I posted an answer to this in another thread. Hopefully this helps.
 
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cfgf28

Guest
Havoc,
If Im understandng this correctly, If he gained weight, but still blew the same amt, would his percentage go up? I wish i would have asked what the liters were not just listened to the 98 this time 102 last time...But that's all they tell my bf, probably because he doesn't know enough about the technical parts of the test for them to give him all the little details.
Also, when you have pft's done in the chamber thing compared to the hand held one that is just hooked up to the computer, how much do those differ? I assume the chamber ones are more accurate? My bf says they do those for his anual apt, which is what he had yesterday but they did hand held ones. he had PFt's done in September in the chamber, while he was in patient. Sorry for bothering you, i just want to learn everything I can. And You seem to have a good handle on alot of the info <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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cfgf28

Guest
Havoc,
If Im understandng this correctly, If he gained weight, but still blew the same amt, would his percentage go up? I wish i would have asked what the liters were not just listened to the 98 this time 102 last time...But that's all they tell my bf, probably because he doesn't know enough about the technical parts of the test for them to give him all the little details.
Also, when you have pft's done in the chamber thing compared to the hand held one that is just hooked up to the computer, how much do those differ? I assume the chamber ones are more accurate? My bf says they do those for his anual apt, which is what he had yesterday but they did hand held ones. he had PFt's done in September in the chamber, while he was in patient. Sorry for bothering you, i just want to learn everything I can. And You seem to have a good handle on alot of the info <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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Havoc

New member
Actually, it should go down. There are so many variables that contribute to %predicted that it's really a terrible reference to base any fears upon. Start asking for the raw numbers. Personally, I ask the RT to print out a copy of the report and I keep my own record.

I really can't comment on the accuracy of the handheld units v. the "box." Having said that, it would have to be ATS/ERS standard compliant. The question then remains, does the software between those 2 units use the same data set. If not, you could get different %predicted values between the two. Typically the annual visit included an hour long PFT, where they do different types of tests that the typical spirometry, which is why they use the "box".
 
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Havoc

New member
Actually, it should go down. There are so many variables that contribute to %predicted that it's really a terrible reference to base any fears upon. Start asking for the raw numbers. Personally, I ask the RT to print out a copy of the report and I keep my own record.

I really can't comment on the accuracy of the handheld units v. the "box." Having said that, it would have to be ATS/ERS standard compliant. The question then remains, does the software between those 2 units use the same data set. If not, you could get different %predicted values between the two. Typically the annual visit included an hour long PFT, where they do different types of tests that the typical spirometry, which is why they use the "box".
 
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