What's your lung function and what can you do with it?

[CyrilCrodius]

Right now, there is little I can do or am interested in doing. Anything that would interest me is well beyond what I can do. It is a pain, because I was very active and energetic when I was younger and I loved being physically active. Doing my bed and cleaning the bath are examples of things that I do that require me to catch my breath afterwards.
There is very little I can do otherwise. With the summer coming in, things are going to be even worse because I really cannot stand heat. Heat especially seem to increase my chances of having episodes of hemoptysis (which would make sense, since blood flow has to be increased and blood vessels dilated to cool down). I used to love summer, but now even cold winters with temperatures of below -30°C are easier for me. But then, there is nothing to do in winter.
I might be wrong, but I think my lungs are pretty much boxed. I have had many serious episodes of hemoptysis in the last 8 years. Although IV therapies still help with infection, they don't help me feel better... they actually make me feel worse even.

 

[CyrilCrodius]

Right now, there is little I can do or am interested in doing. Anything that would interest me is well beyond what I can do. It is a pain, because I was very active and energetic when I was younger and I loved being physically active. Doing my bed and cleaning the bath are examples of things that I do that require me to catch my breath afterwards.
There is very little I can do otherwise. With the summer coming in, things are going to be even worse because I really cannot stand heat. Heat especially seem to increase my chances of having episodes of hemoptysis (which would make sense, since blood flow has to be increased and blood vessels dilated to cool down). I used to love summer, but now even cold winters with temperatures of below -30°C are easier for me. But then, there is nothing to do in winter.
I might be wrong, but I think my lungs are pretty much boxed. I have had many serious episodes of hemoptysis in the last 8 years. Although IV therapies still help with infection, they don't help me feel better... they actually make me feel worse even.

 

[jbrandyn]

I'm at FEV1 76ish, but my FEV 25-75 is around 50. Mostly what I can do physically varies from day to day. The environment really affects my breathing and my chronic belly pain is more of a hindrance than my lungs. That said I am in orchestra, and I keep good grades in college. I am getting kinda pudgy though so I should start exercising...we'll see when that happens.

 

[jbrandyn]

I'm at FEV1 76ish, but my FEV 25-75 is around 50. Mostly what I can do physically varies from day to day. The environment really affects my breathing and my chronic belly pain is more of a hindrance than my lungs. That said I am in orchestra, and I keep good grades in college. I am getting kinda pudgy though so I should start exercising...we'll see when that happens.

 

[kole]

Hi, first post.

My FEV1 have been at 38% for the last year or so. I have tried hard to get my numbers up but no luck. No IV's since 2008.
I am completing a higher degree in IT at the moment and I walk to school every day. I work out 3-5 times a week at the gym and play drums in a band. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
I can almost do everything I want and sometimes i don't understand why people around the web, that have much better FEV1's are less active and hva more problems with their lungs etc.

This makes me confused about what my lunfunction really is. I am very much looking forward to hear from the rest of you.
I mean i feel like i never really do "good" FEV tests, but...*sigh*

 

[kole]

Hi, first post.

My FEV1 have been at 38% for the last year or so. I have tried hard to get my numbers up but no luck. No IV's since 2008.
I am completing a higher degree in IT at the moment and I walk to school every day. I work out 3-5 times a week at the gym and play drums in a band. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
I can almost do everything I want and sometimes i don't understand why people around the web, that have much better FEV1's are less active and hva more problems with their lungs etc.

This makes me confused about what my lunfunction really is. I am very much looking forward to hear from the rest of you.
I mean i feel like i never really do "good" FEV tests, but...*sigh*

 

[Printer]

Havoc:

75% is right the marathon is a joke.

Bill

 

[Printer]

Havoc:

75% is right the marathon is a joke.

Bill

 

[franzie2984]

112% but who knows about those percentages... My volume in liters is predicted at 3.43 and in actuality is 3.83. My smallest airways are at 83%, all other numbers are between 100-144%
Depends on how in shape I am. Just today I was thinking pilates class was pretty difficult. lol I ran a half marathon before, but right now I can run about 3 miles before I get tired (I havent been training). We all get tired, I am sure, with varying amounts of activity. If I work all day I don't really want to work out and then clean my apartment <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">. I agree with everyone else that exercise is on of the best tools for increasing ability.

 

[franzie2984]

112% but who knows about those percentages... My volume in liters is predicted at 3.43 and in actuality is 3.83. My smallest airways are at 83%, all other numbers are between 100-144%
Depends on how in shape I am. Just today I was thinking pilates class was pretty difficult. lol I ran a half marathon before, but right now I can run about 3 miles before I get tired (I havent been training). We all get tired, I am sure, with varying amounts of activity. If I work all day I don't really want to work out and then clean my apartment <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">. I agree with everyone else that exercise is on of the best tools for increasing ability.

 

[jbrandyn]

Wouldn't it be great if they had a diagram of lungs with highlighted parts that say what FEV measure is coming from where, just so we could picture it better, maybe we could co-opt Bush's terror alert colors for how well the different regions are functioning so we know what region to work on. I may have to bring this up with my doc on Monday.

 

[jbrandyn]

Wouldn't it be great if they had a diagram of lungs with highlighted parts that say what FEV measure is coming from where, just so we could picture it better, maybe we could co-opt Bush's terror alert colors for how well the different regions are functioning so we know what region to work on. I may have to bring this up with my doc on Monday.

 

[markinohio]

@ CyrilCrodius- you stated in your last post that there wasn't much you could do because of the extreme temperature changes. I agree that it's difficult to exercise in extreme temps. Last night I felt like doing some activity, so I walked back and forth between the kitchen and the family room for about twenty minutes while I watched TV. Not very exciting, but it did get me moving. Just an idea.

Mark, age 43

 

[markinohio]

@ CyrilCrodius- you stated in your last post that there wasn't much you could do because of the extreme temperature changes. I agree that it's difficult to exercise in extreme temps. Last night I felt like doing some activity, so I walked back and forth between the kitchen and the family room for about twenty minutes while I watched TV. Not very exciting, but it did get me moving. Just an idea.

Mark, age 43

 

[jacobus]

My FEV1 is currently around 28%, FVC 57%. I've been the the 24-32% range for at least 7 years. I am pretty active, no O2 and generally have one or two rounds of home IV's per year. I am self employed and work full time from home. I really started to get serious about exercising around two years ago and its been the most important thing I have done for my health. I now start each day with at least 40 mins on the treadmill. I can usually do 6.4km/ph for 40 mins without stopping (on level 2 inclination). I also lift weights once or twice a week (bench press etc). With the exception of my crappy lungs, I actually feel pretty healthy and I'm probably fitter now than I have ever been. There isn't really anything that I don't do because of CF. Stairs can be tough (slow going) and running is pretty much out of the question but I can walk wherever I want, at a reasonable pace. I travel and don't consider myself to be 'sick'. I am 31 years old at the moment and my plan is to maintain where I am now and hopefully improve somewhat along the way, for as long as possible. With any luck and provided I keep up the exercise, I believe I can at least 'hold' where I am now for 10 years (maybe more).

 

[jacobus]

My FEV1 is currently around 28%, FVC 57%. I've been the the 24-32% range for at least 7 years. I am pretty active, no O2 and generally have one or two rounds of home IV's per year. I am self employed and work full time from home. I really started to get serious about exercising around two years ago and its been the most important thing I have done for my health. I now start each day with at least 40 mins on the treadmill. I can usually do 6.4km/ph for 40 mins without stopping (on level 2 inclination). I also lift weights once or twice a week (bench press etc). With the exception of my crappy lungs, I actually feel pretty healthy and I'm probably fitter now than I have ever been. There isn't really anything that I don't do because of CF. Stairs can be tough (slow going) and running is pretty much out of the question but I can walk wherever I want, at a reasonable pace. I travel and don't consider myself to be 'sick'. I am 31 years old at the moment and my plan is to maintain where I am now and hopefully improve somewhat along the way, for as long as possible. With any luck and provided I keep up the exercise, I believe I can at least 'hold' where I am now for 10 years (maybe more).

 

[falloutboygurl16]

mine is about 55 and thats super low for me. but im away from home 60 hours a week. doing my externship about 50 hours a week with 2 hours a day driving time. I still have homework so theres that and not on O2 or anything. Stairs are no problem and either is running a short pace..im not fast but i can run. ive tried to make time for the gym but with my schedule thats not working out to well..im hoping after i actually start doing my job ill have time for things like that. I dont get tired too easily considering how much im working compared to people with normal lung functions. Id say im pretty good I think my body has adjusted to being in the 50s but im trying to work on getting them up.

 

[falloutboygurl16]

mine is about 55 and thats super low for me. but im away from home 60 hours a week. doing my externship about 50 hours a week with 2 hours a day driving time. I still have homework so theres that and not on O2 or anything. Stairs are no problem and either is running a short pace..im not fast but i can run. ive tried to make time for the gym but with my schedule thats not working out to well..im hoping after i actually start doing my job ill have time for things like that. I dont get tired too easily considering how much im working compared to people with normal lung functions. Id say im pretty good I think my body has adjusted to being in the 50s but im trying to work on getting them up.

 

[scanboyd]

Hello fellow CFers, hope all is going good for you. My fev1 is 31% and FVC is 100% 4.5 liter. Been like this for some time now yrs.. Being compliant with neb rx and exercise is the key as we all know. Spend around 4- 5 hr. per day with neb. rx. and exercise at gym 3 times a wk. My bride of 43 yrs. allowed, wanted me to retire in 2004 to take better care of my CF. I now do 16 min. mile grade 4.5 for 2 miles on treadmill. Really push myself with the cardio-pul. work out. I think is real important for me. Prior to exercise program sats ran 93-94 resting.Sats now resting 98%, when on treadmill, use O2 so sats will not drop below 90%, usually run 92-93 with O2 at the end of 2 mile walk. My body has adjusted to the low FEV1 over the years. Good luck!! Can not say enough about EXERCISE!!!! I feel certain this is the reason I am still kicking!!

 

[scanboyd]

Hello fellow CFers, hope all is going good for you. My fev1 is 31% and FVC is 100% 4.5 liter. Been like this for some time now yrs.. Being compliant with neb rx and exercise is the key as we all know. Spend around 4- 5 hr. per day with neb. rx. and exercise at gym 3 times a wk. My bride of 43 yrs. allowed, wanted me to retire in 2004 to take better care of my CF. I now do 16 min. mile grade 4.5 for 2 miles on treadmill. Really push myself with the cardio-pul. work out. I think is real important for me. Prior to exercise program sats ran 93-94 resting.Sats now resting 98%, when on treadmill, use O2 so sats will not drop below 90%, usually run 92-93 with O2 at the end of 2 mile walk. My body has adjusted to the low FEV1 over the years. Good luck!! Can not say enough about EXERCISE!!!! I feel certain this is the reason I am still kicking!!