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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
fatigue caused by recent inactivity or low DLCO?
Answered by
MN
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fatigue caused by recent inactivity or low DLCO?
by gammongirl, May 13, 2008 01:57PM
Can low DLCO alone cause fatigue? Or, is my recent fatigue more likely caused by my inactivity and lack of exercise in the last few months...
I had breathing trouble (short of breath upon exertion) since Feb of this year. I was diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis at the beginning of April, most likely caused from humidifiers. I stopped using the humidifiers about 6 weeks ago and felt immediate improvement in my breathing. I haven't used the humidifiers for about 6 weeks now, and even though my breathing has improved - I'm no longer out of breath when exerting myself - I still find that I get tired very easily. I had breathing tests and a CT scan about 4 wks ago (2 wks after stopping exposure to humidifiers). My DLCO was still low, %54. Even though I've experienced great improvement in my breathing and my ability to be mobile, I'm still tired most of the time.
What I'm trying to figure out is if my fatigue is caused by the fact that I've had very little exercise since all of this began in Feb and I just need to start exercising more to build stamina. Or, if I'm tired because I still have a low DLCO and I just have to wait to heal. (I have a vacation planned in July which required a lot of physical activity and I'm trying to estimate whether or not I'll be able to get myself into shape in time, or if the healing is beyond my control and just needs more time.)
I had breathing trouble (short of breath upon exertion) since Feb of this year. I was diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis at the beginning of April, most likely caused from humidifiers. I stopped using the humidifiers about 6 weeks ago and felt immediate improvement in my breathing. I haven't used the humidifiers for about 6 weeks now, and even though my breathing has improved - I'm no longer out of breath when exerting myself - I still find that I get tired very easily. I had breathing tests and a CT scan about 4 wks ago (2 wks after stopping exposure to humidifiers). My DLCO was still low, %54. Even though I've experienced great improvement in my breathing and my ability to be mobile, I'm still tired most of the time.
What I'm trying to figure out is if my fatigue is caused by the fact that I've had very little exercise since all of this began in Feb and I just need to start exercising more to build stamina. Or, if I'm tired because I still have a low DLCO and I just have to wait to heal. (I have a vacation planned in July which required a lot of physical activity and I'm trying to estimate whether or not I'll be able to get myself into shape in time, or if the healing is beyond my control and just needs more time.)
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, May 16, 2008 04:35PM
, May 16, 2008 04:35PM
A low DLCO is an indicator of impaired gas transfer within the lung; most importantly, the transfer of oxygen from the lung into the blood. Of itself, it causes no symptoms and is merely a sign of some abnormality of lung function. The presence of a low DLCO is ordinarily not associated with clinical symptoms unless associated with other measurable impairment of pulmonary function. It sounds like your recent breathing tests and CT scan, done "about 4 weeks ago", did not show significant abnormalities.
That your breathing has progressively improved is most encouraging and it is highly likely that your DLCO will eventually return to normal. In the meantime, it would be a mistake to attribute your fatigue to this abnormal pulmonary function measurement. You and your doctors should look to other causes of your fatigue. In the meantime you should definitely re-engage yourself in a regular exercise program to get yourself back in shape. You are right to attribute a significant amount of fatigue to the decreased physical activity during, "the last few months."
That, and your dedication to improved physical fitness, rather than the reduced DLCO, will determine whether you will be ready to engage in a lot of physical activity in July. Get started on your comeback, today.
That your breathing has progressively improved is most encouraging and it is highly likely that your DLCO will eventually return to normal. In the meantime, it would be a mistake to attribute your fatigue to this abnormal pulmonary function measurement. You and your doctors should look to other causes of your fatigue. In the meantime you should definitely re-engage yourself in a regular exercise program to get yourself back in shape. You are right to attribute a significant amount of fatigue to the decreased physical activity during, "the last few months."
That, and your dedication to improved physical fitness, rather than the reduced DLCO, will determine whether you will be ready to engage in a lot of physical activity in July. Get started on your comeback, today.
