This post was written by Jane Martin, the last one she wrote before starting retirement!
If you have COPD, it’s important to keep up to date on how you’re doing, and one way to do this is to have regular medical tests. These tests can help give a clearer picture of how your lungs are working. But having medical tests, especially when you’re short of breath, can be stressful. Let’s take a look at some common COPD-related tests and see what you can do to take some of the stressing out of testing.
In my work at the hospital, I used to do these tests and could usually tell right away when a patient felt nervous; at other times, it was not so easy to see. This is why it’s good for you to tell the medical technician how you are feeling. You can also ask questions, so the two of you can work together to get clear results with as little stress as possible. Don’t worry about being short of breath during testing. As medical professionals, we know it’s not unusual for you to be short of breath, even when you’re feeling well.
When you get a chest X-ray or CT scan, you will be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds. If you feel that you are not able to hold your breath, tell the technician and ask them to help you get through it.
Chest X-ray
A chest X-ray is an image of your lungs. It can help your doctor see if your lungs are congested with fluid or if certain infections are present. It can also show if your lungs are over-inflated (bigger than they should be), if air is getting to all parts of your lungs, or if it is not getting everywhere it should go. To get ready for a chest X-ray you will have to get undressed from the waist up and take off any jewelry, and you’ll be given a gown to wear. An X-ray technician will position you and may ask you to change positions so that multiple images can be taken. This allows your doctor to view your lungs from the front, back, or side.
CT (computed tomography) scan
A chest CT is a special kind of imaging test that shows a more detailed picture of your lungs. You may be allowed to keep your clothes on, but if not, you will wear a gown. You will be asked to remove metal objects, such as eyeglasses and necklaces. The CT scanner looks like a great big donut. You will be on a padded surface, cradle-shaped to keep you from falling off. If you are unable to lie flat on your back, tell the technician and ask them to work with you to keep you as comfortable as possible while still getting clear images. The table will move you through the open space in the middle to take the scans. The actual scanning takes less than 30 seconds, and the complete testing process is usually done within 30 minutes.
Complete pulmonary function test
A pulmonary function test (PFT) is a breathing test that helps your doctor understand how well your lungs are working. A technician will coach you through the test. It may feel like very hard work. Don’t worry that you will not be able to perform the test correctly. Even people with severe lung disease can successfully complete the pulmonary function test.
You will be asked to sit near the testing machine or on a seat in a large, clear box – something like a phone booth. The technician will place a soft clip on your nose and show you how to breathe for the test. Then they will coach you on your breathing as you take the test. You will probably repeat each test one or two times in order to record your best effort with clear results.
Breathing fast and deep may cause you to cough, feel dizzy, or feel short of breath. This is not unusual. Tell the technician what you feel, and they will give you time to rest and try again. The entire process takes about an hour.
Spirometry
Spirometry is a shortened version of the complete pulmonary function test. The entire process takes about half an hour.
Arterial blood gas (ABG)
Let’s be honest - nobody likes to get poked with a needle. Yet sometimes it’s necessary to have this test because it is highly accurate and also reports on how your breathing is affecting other systems in your body. In this test, blood is taken out of an artery in your arm. It measures the amount of oxygen in your blood and can also tell how well your lungs are getting rid of carbon dioxide. An ABG test may be more uncomfortable than a regular blood test taken from a vein. It’s okay to ask if the person on duty with the most experience in doing ABGs is available to draw your blood for this test.
Pulse oximetry
In this test a small clip placed on your finger shines a light through your blood and reports the oxygen level in your blood (in pulse oximetry it is referred to as “oxygen saturation”). This test is less accurate than an ABG but is a quick and painless way to get an approximate oxygen level.
Six-minute walk test
This test records how far you can walk in a period of six minutes. If you have to stop and rest, that’s okay. The timer will keep on going while you rest. As you walk a technician will monitor your heart rate and oxygen saturation and make sure you are safe. If you need supplemental oxygen, you can use it.
When you are having a medical test of any kind, remember that it’s okay to tell the technician how you’re feeling so you can work together to put forth your best effort with as little stress as possible.