I am scheduled for one Monday and worried about it. My DH said he took one once and he had to sign some release because there is a chance of DEATH??? Is that true or did he have some other kind of test?? What is all involved?? I am not even sure I need this test..so I'd rather not take it if it carries a danger.

They are most likely trying to see if you have asthma. When I've had them done, they were just done on the spot in the allergist's office. They just had me breathe out hard into this tube that's hooked up to a machine. Sometimes they have you breathe in and out. The last one that I had, they did one, then gave me some albuterol (the standard inhaler for asthma) and did a repeat, to see how the numbers changed. I don't know what else they might do, but that's been my experience. Any parts of the test that have any risks associated should be explained to you, though, and you should be given the option to decline once they explain the risks and benefits.

They are most likely trying to see if you have asthma. When I've had them done, they were just done on the spot in the allergist's office. They just had me breathe out hard into this tube that's hooked up to a machine. Sometimes they have you breathe in and out. The last one that I had, they did one, then gave me some albuterol (the standard inhaler for asthma) and did a repeat, to see how the numbers changed. I don't know what else they might do, but that's been my experience. Any parts of the test that have any risks associated should be explained to you, though, and you should be given the option to decline once they explain the risks and benefits.

I cannot have albuterol or anything like it (any stimulant) due to a heart problem (tachycardia). That is what I am worried about.

The PFT test is nothing to be scared of. I think doctors office just make you sign a release form as a precaution with any test/visit etc. I have had several of the tests done and generally they make you sit down and you have a tube to blow in with a computer attached. They tell you to blow as hard as you can for a number of seconds (they tell you when to release etc.) and the computer records your lungs capacities and functions. It's not painful and/or scary in any way. I also had a similar test from an allergy doctor when I was younger. At that time they gave me a medication that was known to make an asmatic have an attack. They then made me do some similar breathing tests and then gave me albuterol (asthma medication) that would help the attack if it was asthma and made me do the test again. No I was not thrilled about making me have an attack but i was in a doctors office and asthma is a disease that can be well controlled in the right hands etc. I did have asthma (Which we figured bcs it runs in the family) but everything turned out OK. Even if you have to have the 2nd of these two tests done I would still not worry. Since my first test then I have had countless Asthma attacks but my inhaler and/or machine has always made me recover.

Good luck,
Amanda

When I had my PFT done, they made me breathe into a tube sitting. And then they made me run on a treadmill for 7 minutes, (because I was complaining I couldn't excercise w/o getting SOB) and breathe into the tube again. If results had indicated, they then would've given me an inhaler and had me breath into the tube a 3rd time. But although I had a major productive cough, they there was no need to give me the inhaler.

I didn't have asthma, but the cough was the first clue to chronic bronchitis caused by chronic sinusitis, and eventually I had sinus surgery. So even if you don't have asthma, it might shed some light on your troubles.

With the PFT, they just look at how much air you air you can blow out and how fast. Unless Spirometry and Peak Flow are different. The test Mandy is talking about is the Methocoline (sp?) Challenge. As she said, they make you breathe in a medication that will make you have an attack, if you are asthmatic. Still can't spell that word right. :P But yeah, if you have trouble breathing after that, they give you medicine. :) Good luck!

I had to breathe in about 15 vials of stuff....to see if any of it irritated my lungs....by the 12th one, I was beat.............they gave me an inhaler because my lungs were so tight and full of that crap........then I was fine.........my tests came out fine........no big deal..just uncomfortable for a short time

I didnt like the PFT... had a hard time to get a hang of it. I was asked to go back for the test another day cause' I couldnt get it right. They even asked me to practise at home. I'm just so exhausted after the test!