Lung Function Tests Results

[li10up]

possegal, that was a lot of very good information. You also said a lot of the same things my doc said so it seems you are very well informed in this area. Thank you so much for you input. I don't feel like I have stressed much at all about the nodule...it's more like I was just trying to educate myself about it as much as possible. But I know nothing really about PFTs and what the results mean. You helped clear that up. Do you think getting something like OTC Primatine Mist would help me determine if an inhaler would help with the breathing difficulties I'm getting while riding - or should I just call him and ask for an Rx? This all started when I started getting chest pains after a backpacking trip to Colorado. The CT scan of my heart showed the nodule in my lungs...that's the only way I found out about it. Otherwise I probably would have never known. I probably would have chalked up the breathing issues to just being "out of shape" ...even though riding should be getting easier not harder as time goes on.

[Possegal]

i've picked up a few things with all my learning, i suppose. and sadly a few more out of necessity as i sometimes feel my sister's life depends on it. which i know is too much pressure to put on myself, but that's my style.


i'd recommend getting a script from the doc. he'll likely give you albuterol which is a more selective drug than epinephrine, which is what primatene mist is. they both have efficacy at beta-2 receptors, which when activated will dilate your bronchioles and open up your air passage. but epinephrine hits all the sympathatic nervous system recpetors which means it has a lot more effects. not that the albuterol doesn't have some activity at other receptors, nothing is truly selective. but with albuterol, most people will feel a lot less of the effects you would see with epi. i say most because there are always people who don't fit the norm. the person who says that pain killers make them wired not sleepy, that sort of thing. epi will increase heart rate, and i looked back at your other posts and saw that that was one of the issues at one point, so i don't think that would be advisable. but i would call the pulmonologist and see what he says, but i think he'd rather you have albuterol.

i saw also that you had some heartburn issues, did you get scoped to see if you had GERD? it is weird how GERD and asthma and post-nasal drip are all rather intermingled. that coughing thing can be due to GERD as well as asthma, GERD can make it feel like you have post nasal drip. heartburn sure causes pain in the chest. just tossing that out there, may be worth having that looked at, not all patients with GERD have consistent heartburn. just sort of free-thinking here. there is nothing worse than having symptoms that no one can seem to explain.

and again, not an MD here, a lowly old PhD (with a judge for a brother who i'm sure would insist i put in a disclaimer)

[li10up]

possegal, I'm very sorry to hear about your sister. I hope things go well for her. My husband is a cancer patient so I have some idea of what you and she are going through. I appreciate all the info you have given me. Don't worry...I'm not the type to try to hold anyone else responsible for my decisions...just looking for info.

About the GERD...I'm very much aware of the heartburn and the chest pain caused by it. But the other chest pain I'm experiencing doesn't seem at all like heartburn to me. For one thing many times it is not in the center of my chest but off to the left a bit. I'm not sure if I should pursue this any more because it is a lot less frequent than it was when I first experienced it. I'm just tired of all the dr. appointments.