use of advair and PFT tests

[Glasscrafter]

If one is using Advair 50/250 twice a day, and goes for a pulmonary function test, are they likely to find any breathing problems? Also, if they give you a bronchodialator medication are you likely to see any improvement on the test? My thoughts are that the test isn't very useful if you are already being medicated.

[Cirila]

Advair is a combination of fluticasone (steroids) and Salmeterol (long acting broncodialator). Fluticasone help the inflamation in your airways and  salmeterol acts like a long acting albuterol. So yes, I think your PFT should be better because you are taking advair.
My former pulmonogist made me do this PFT test before taking albuterol and after taking it and there was no change at all and I do have asthma.

[Jack59]

Do you have a "rescue inhaler"? I do not believe Advair was ever recommended as a solo treatment. I believe that would be the banana peel waiting for a grave to fill. Anyway enough there on that, and sorry if a little humor offended you.

A pulmonologist will generally tell you prior to any special test as what to do or all tests will be based on what your taking and when last taken. Of course he may stress you enough prior to a general nebulizer treatment to see what if any improvement you exhibit. He may consider second and 3rd visits to zero in on some things.

Oddly about 14 years ago my pulmonologist noticed I smoked so he cheerfully let me slip out for 2 cigarettes and come right back into another office where a pulm-tech will be ready for more tests. Well, later he wanted to prove a point that literally fell apart. My FEV increased of which he claims should be impossible.

[starion]

Dear Friends,
Please talk to your pulmonologist and have a pulmonary function test to help confirm or reject the diagnosis for COPD.  People ARE mistakenly diagnosed with COPD and other conditions.  It is important to be sure what conditions you have so you can work with your doctor(s) accordingly.
For anyone & everyone with a lung condition, the best thing any of us can do for ourselves is to minimize our exposure to lung irritants, especially cigarette smoke & other pollutants.  All the medications & other treatments can help, but not nearly as much as our minimizing our exposure to lung irritants.  It's also important to discuss with our docs what an appropriate exercise level is for our lung function & any limitations we should be aware of.
Best of luck!
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI

[Victoryia]

Thank you both for the info. I did check it out online and now am appauld that the doctor dx'd such a thing and never mentioned it to me. That was in 1995, for almost 7 years I have been walking about with this and not even knowing it. 7 years going untreated with numerous respiratory issues and infections, etc that all have been fluffed off by my doctors. Of course, they were not aware I had COPD either.

I will be making an appointment with a Pulmonologist this week to get all this dealt with.

Thank you again.

By the way, the only reason I had thought it went away was that I was never told about any of it. I thought it was something minor due to it not being told to me by that ER doctor.

[starion]

Dear Friends,
COPD--Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a progressive, chronic condition.  It does not "go away."  There is lots of good info to learn about it.  One of the best sources is the National Jewish website, particularly the MedFacts and LungFacts at:
www.nationaljewish.org

You can get on-line support at this forum for those of us with chronic lung conditions:
www.cheshire-med.com/programs/pulrehab/forum/cldforum.html

Best of luck!
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI

[tinyhuey]

Dear friend                                                                  Yes you should check it out online. I found out a lot of things . But my Doctor didn't help. I just wish there was a group around where Iam to help me deal with this. Sure its easy to say ,"oh we will help".but to come right out and help learn about this COPD< I guess is something else.                                                                                                                                                                 Let me know if you find more about it please.                                                                                                      thanks tinyhuey

[Victoryia]

hmmmmmm, I read on my medical records I just received that I have COPD. I thought COPD was a combination of different respiratory issues like asthma, bronchitis, etc.

Guess I will have to go check it out online. I would have thought that the doctor who dx'd it would have at least told me about it had it been anything serious. When I read the info on the rcords I thought it was something that came and went with the underlying breathing issue.

I sure hope that I am not in any way going to have a much shorter life span. That medical record was from about 6 years ago. I do not take any breathing meds.

Off to go search online about COPD.