Quote Originally Posted by cherinyc
So - I am still not completely clear what's wrong with me, and the doctor has prescribed a bunch more tests.
The first thing I did was breathe into this machine - which gave me a "Spirometry Report". The # that the Doctor was concerned about was my lung exhaling output (or something) which was only 55%.
He also heard a heart murmer - and wondered why no one had told me that I had it until now (I'm 31).
So he wrote Rx's for Albuterol, Asmanex, and a Peak Flow meter.
He wants a chest X-ray, an echograph test, and a halter test done.
I quoted the above, just as a refresher, and 1 1/2 mths later, here's my report. The Asmanex seems to doing what it's supposed to for me. My lungs seem to be healing, I guess. I can blow up to 430 on my peak flow meter (w/o any Albuterol). I went back to the doc last week to take that Spirometry test thing - and the report showed an overall improvement. One of the lung power measurements actually went from a 55% before up to 99%. Basically doc said he was happy that I could begin treating somethimg that has been slowing me down for a long time (without me realizing it). I was a competitive gymnast growing up, and have always had this problem, I just thought it meant I needed to train harder. I paced myself according to my breathing. Doc said he is upset that no one ever caught this with me, or tested for it. It's a simple test to do but not all doctors find it necessary, so....he said it would've really made a difference in my athletic ability and most likely held me back.
As far as the tests though, clear chest x ray, and I have some kind of tricuspid regurg in my heart (no big deal - small murmer) and one of the ratio's w/in the cardiopulmonary tests was way off. Something to do with the pressure in my lungs and how the blood flows into the small chamber of the heart? I think. Doc says possibly off due to damge in my lungs caused from untreated prolonged asthma. Hmmmm. vicious cycle.
I am to stay on the Amanex. Blood work came back fine except for raised cholesterol.
Anyone out there have a really high HDL? I read that the avg HDL for women is about 50-60, yet mine is 91. The doc said my LDL was too high, 114, but I thought that the HDL's were supposed to be pushing the LDL's out. I seem to have some HDL to spare, how do I get them to go to work?

Yes - I am hoping to learn 12 yrs of medical training through sporadic websurfing and forum threads. Is that bad?