Had my breathing test done today...

[jensequitur]

It was quite interesting!  We did a six minute walk, with an oxygen meter on my finger, so we could see how much air was getting in.  That was just fine.  Then we did an aspiration test, where I breathed in and out, and then took a big breath and exhaled as quickly as possible.  For some reason, I just wasn't exhaling as fast as she wanted, because we did that test several times.  The other tests were fine - I'm getting enough oxygen into my lungs, so there's no damage to the lung tissue, and I'm inhaling enough air.  

My initial idea was that my diaphragm muscles are weak, causing me to have problems with not getting enough air.  I don't know enough to make any educated guesses, so I'll have to wait until the 29th of September!

[jensequitur]

The nurse did the test again after administering a burst of albuterol, and the results were the same!  So not having asthma is a good thing, but I'm still wondering what the heck it is.

Fortunately (and unfortunately) I'm not experiencing the same intensity of shortness of breath that I had before.  So I'm not having to pant, but the tests they're administering aren't catching me at my worst, either.

[Wobbly]

I went through those types of testing a few years ago, because I was short of breath.  it came out very sim to yours... I had a difficult time getting the air out.. they ended up wanting me to have Advair and a puffer... they called it "Reactive Airway Disease"

which means they don't know ... could be asthma??  I don't use the Advair, but I use a puffer when my chest feels tight and short of breath.  Not even sure if the puffer helps.

let us know what the results are... take care
wobbly
dx

[biowham]

I'll be curious to know your results. I always get especially breathless when I eat, like I have to pause with my mouth full and gasp for breath. Fun!

Bio

[slightlybroken]

I hope everything in your test turns out ok. I hate that you have to wait that long.