Cap -
The first is a reference volume exhaled number in liters
The second is your volume pre - inhaler treatment
The third is your volume percentage of reference pre - inhaler
The fourth is your volume post - inhaler
The fifth is your volume percentage of reference post - inhaler
The sixth is the percentage of change betewwn the pre and post inhaler treatment.
FEV1 equals 24%
For the link: http://www.copdcanada.ca/understanding_your_numbers.htm

Hugs,
Dennis

I cannot understand this fev1 thing...im on 23% similar to the capt who still can work n move around n not on oxygen but there are so many with much better %%%s that cant walk from bedroom to bathroom without becoming SOB...

I have no idea what my numbers are as I have never been "tested".........all I really know is my o2 and pulse numbers from my own observations on my pulse ox.

I get SOB some days doing some things, but another day it doesn't bother me as much:):)

As for walking "UP" anything.................I don't even bother to try.....I might make it downhill.........but surely not UP-hill:(

As usual......Denny has some great info for you:):):):)........I, for one am beary thankful he is here............just wish he didn't have to be!!!!!

Whoa - apples and oranges, Gwapo. We're all different, our physiology, musculature and level of effort abliities. Plus FEV1 is an often bandied about and misused number. One has to loook at least the whole test to determine overall current lung health.
Take a gander at the wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirometry#Forced_inspiratory_flow_25.E2.80.9375.25_or_25.E2.80.9350.25
You can read your own spirometry - but again, it is going to mean little except in the context of the doctor doing the interpretation.
Because of the huge age/ability variation in people, given equal amounts of the disease in any population there will be huge variations in the symptoms of the disease.
Hope this helps...

Hugs,
Dennis

Thanks Dennis, im starting to understand that..its just when one reads about the stages of COPD n im in the Severe bracket according to a fev number, i get confused that someone who is listed as Moderate is really struggling....

Just me thinking aloud....

I've always been in good shape,never over weight. I didn't start smoking until my late twenties. When I had my first exacerbation on November 19, 2009, I had 3 cigs left in my pack and those were my last ones I ever smoked. I will always remember how I felt when I couldn't breathe that night and that was all I needed to quit. Never even had a puff or an alternative means of smoking since that fateful day! I've had two other exacerbation's since then. February 2012 4 days/3 nights in a New Orleans hospital and June 2013, 3 days/2 nights in a St Thomas hospital.

I lost my full time job a year ago last week with a fantastic benefit package because I couldn't complete the Water Survival Course due to my SOB. It took the company 3 weeks to decide my fate. Because of my COPD, I will never be able to work with a company again. That's why I'm here in the Virgin Islands doing these day trips because I don't have to fill out an application or complete a physical. I have a very young son I love more than life itself that I have to take care of and my SSDI will not be enough. I think I can do this job for at least until the end of the summer and then I'll be making a switch to another profession that will require less physical stress and will reduce my daily working hours to half. So I'm a bit confused with the FEV1 reports like Gwapo commented and truly understand where Denny is coming from. But make no mistake, I know I have to succumb to this disease eventually. God bless you all.

Cap,

we are here for you , and we are all learning new things, as you are, along the way.

I admire the way you speak about your son. You sound like a very caring and loving Dad!!

Hope you are feeling ok, and maybe some day we'll take a road trip to the islands for a boat ride? Anybody wanna go with me? Cause i want to go!!!! HAHA!!

Take care Cap...and welcome !!!


Boo

Boo, I'm up for that trip!

Gwapo and Denny, I wonder the same thing. At my FEV1 of 33% what should I be able to do? Am I doing enough? The basic indicator I have is when I can't breathe and I have to stop. This all makes my head hurt.

I agree with Gwapo, since I am so low on the fevi scale, and can.t walk to the bathroom without gasping, and I am on 02 24/7, and I agree with Dennis that we are all different and this disease works in us differently. So really, it s just a number to say where you are on the scale, not what you are able or should be able to do. I take my hat off to Cap, and anyone that can still work with this disease. I wish I could...
Blessings
Brenda

Brenda, Gwapo, BJ and everyone involved, I know your pain. Your frustrations, your desire and fight to get over his crap or at least keep it at bay. If we can only get 10% to 20% of our lung capacity back it would mean the world to all of us. Denny thank you for the translation and website and your overview on all of our positions with this disease. Different strokes for different folks.

I was out today on the water and the weather and sea was perfect. Days like today make you feel great that your alive. Thank you everybody....be safe. Hey, spring is coming!

i dont understand anything concerning numbers relating to my copd.but one thing i know for sure,im no stranger to being sob.i am only able to walk a short distance indoors,before i have to find a quick safe place to land.i am unable to do any home chores.just taking a shower leaves me extremely exhausted and sob.because of other illnesses as fibro,and many more taking my shower can put me to bed for days.being that ive been out of meds since nov.,im noticing that im wheezing really bad.this has become my pet peeve,i find it so frustrating to have to listen to me wheezing especially when im in bed and just want to sleep.surely someone understands.i do still have a good day every now and then.because they are so few and far between sure teaches me to be more grateful for every better day in the simplest form.much love,mj.