Elaine Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 I was supposed to have PFTs done on Friday, but when I went I was running a fever and coughing so they wouldn't do them. Since my SOB has gotten so much worse lately, and my tumor likely started in the right main bronchus, could a PFT tell specifically that there was more blockage there? I guess a better question would be, can PFTs spot a focal obstruction? Thanks again for your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted November 23, 2004 Share Posted November 23, 2004 Not typically unless it is very high up in which case it could cause a "restrictive" pattern. They are really not useful for locating tumors though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted November 23, 2004 Author Share Posted November 23, 2004 Good, because I told the medical director today I didn't care if I never had another PFT unless there was a good reason--until I get a Cat Scan and other scans. I told her the PCP should give me a reason she was ordering something. If the tumor hasn't grown much as per the Chest xrays then maybe its growing in the airway, and the only tests I would do are tests to find out if that is the case. elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted November 23, 2004 Share Posted November 23, 2004 Dr Joe, Wouldn't an x-ray possibly show some atelectasis, which may cause SOB? Just wondering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted November 23, 2004 Author Share Posted November 23, 2004 John, I wondered the same thing, since I am hearing "crackles" in the morning and at some other times--this had been going on for several months. However, neither the August xray nor the recent one showed any areas of collapse--assuming I can trust anyone here to read a chest xray. I don't know what is causing the crackles. I don't know what is causing the increase in SOB. The only thing I can figure out is that the bronchus is increasingly more blocked. But that's the worst part, I have had to "guess" what is going on since no one has ever told me why I have crackles other than look at me like well you have lung cancer and the same thing goes for why I am more SOB. Two weeks ago, I basically had to beg for them to check sats with an oximeter--and at rest it was 95 per cent. I thought they did those after exertion too, but I guess not since the nurse ran out of the room directly after telling me I was within "normal range"--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted November 23, 2004 Share Posted November 23, 2004 A chest xray certainly could show signs of obstruction if it is significant. A pleural effusion can also cause worsening breathing and would show up on a chest xray. Didn't you say you had a chest xray recently though Elaine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted November 23, 2004 Author Share Posted November 23, 2004 Yes in October almost two months after things noticably got worse. I have never had obsructive pneumonia that I know of and no effusions have ever been noted. The only other thing I have noted since about that time is what Bill (on the board) and I have called involuntary gasps. His wife's drs said that those happen because of a mass hitting the diaphram (sp) while I was told it had to do with obstruction. My original and as far as I know only tumor is not near the diaphram. I don't have a clue which is right and maybe both are right. Seems doubtful to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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