Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Understanding FVC
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Understanding FVC
by Jenninak, Sep 09, 2005 12:00AM
My mom received these results from her recent dr. appt.:
FVC was 2.5 liters; should have been 3.5 liters
FEV was 1.5 liters; should have been 2.5 liters
She was told that she had a mixed pattern of obstruction/restriction. She was alone for the doctor appt. and didn't come away with much more information other than she should get a living will prepared. How serious do these results look? I realize that this isn't much to go on, but it's all she came away with. She also is a very brittle diabetic and a breast cancer survivor, and has been through alot. I think these results upset her and she perhaps didn't get a clear understanding of the ramifications of the results. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
FVC was 2.5 liters; should have been 3.5 liters
FEV was 1.5 liters; should have been 2.5 liters
She was told that she had a mixed pattern of obstruction/restriction. She was alone for the doctor appt. and didn't come away with much more information other than she should get a living will prepared. How serious do these results look? I realize that this isn't much to go on, but it's all she came away with. She also is a very brittle diabetic and a breast cancer survivor, and has been through alot. I think these results upset her and she perhaps didn't get a clear understanding of the ramifications of the results. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Sep 18, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 18, 2005 12:00AM
These FVC and FEV1 results could indicate a mixed obstructive and restrictive lung problem. If your mom has smoked, these results could also indicate pure obstructive lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She needs to have a chest x-ray and additional pulmonary function testing to sort this out.
In either event, your mom does have decreased lung function. However she has enough lung function to live for many years, if not decades. Having a living will is always a good idea. In this instance it’s not because death from lung disease is imminent. Certainly your mom’s doctor knows more about her health than just these results. Perhaps you should get permission from your mom to speak with her doctor. Then you could get the full story from your mom’s doctor directly.
In either event, your mom does have decreased lung function. However she has enough lung function to live for many years, if not decades. Having a living will is always a good idea. In this instance it’s not because death from lung disease is imminent. Certainly your mom’s doctor knows more about her health than just these results. Perhaps you should get permission from your mom to speak with her doctor. Then you could get the full story from your mom’s doctor directly.
