Spirometer
Does anyone use a "Spirometer" (FEV1 tester) at home? If so what brand and model or kind?
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I use one daily. I use the "Voldyne 5000". It was given to me when I took my breathing test. It is basically a volumetric exerciser. It definitely has helped my breathing.
Hi jahlah, and thanks for your post. I am hopeful others in the community will respond by sharing their own experiences with you, much like our colleague member, has already done. (Thanks, Dminor!)
There are devices, which are commercially available, which do provide the forced expiratory volume (FEV), in one second (FEV1), which you have expressed interest in. This value helps to determine the degree of obstruction present in one's level of disease. It is the same parameter used in complete pulmonary function test (PFT) diagnostic studies. Have you had this diagnostic study yourself?
The device to which Dminor referred is a 'breathing exerciser'. As such, an adjustable volume can be set, and the patient is encouraged to inhale to that level of volume for each breath. The specific volume is determined for the patient by the physician and usually is dependent on the capabilities of each individual patient. I have attached a picture of the Voldyne 5000 for everyone to see.
Just to be thorough, the Voldyne is also known as an 'incentive spirometer' and can be used for patients recovering from various types of surgery.
I do hope this brief explanation is thought to be helpful for our community members.
All the best,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
I was sent home from the hospital with a spirometer. I used it, but got no benefit from it. It was informative as to measuring my breathing capacity, but did nothing to improve my condition. Just my experience.
I use The Breather twice a day and a flutter device, Aerobika. Since beginning this daily regimen I’ve been stable for eight months, no exacerbations. I even tested positive for covid during that eight months and had zero lung complications. The Breather strengthened my respiratory muscles and opened up my lungs. The flutter device cleared the gunk out of my lungs. I’ll never be without them or stop my daily therapy.
, thanks so much for sharing what has been helpful to you! I'm glad to hear you have found something that is working for you. All the best, Sam S. (COPD.net team member).
How could I tell what my FEV1 number from using a Voldyne 5000, is there a chart somewhere? I was given one of these when I was in the Hospital 2 years ago.
I was given a test at my doctor’s office and my FEV1 number was 1.13 two months ago and yesterday I was tested again and the FEV1 number was 1.27. I would like something I could use at home to test to see what my FEV1 number is every so often. Also on the read out where it shows my FEV1 number it gives a percentage number along side of it. The FEV1 number 1.13 is 35% and the FEV1 number 1.27 is 40%. If there some charts of something I can look at I'm trying to learn about this?
Hi jahlah, and thanks for engaging in this topic further - it is a good one!
You should keep in mind that the Voldyne 5000 is a device that works during inhalation only. It is considered to be a type of 'incentive spirometer' and does not measure anything (volume or flow), during exhalation. Patients are instructed not to breathe into the device, but to inhale through it. That is how the measurement occurs - the volume of gas a patient inhales is measured by the spirometer.
You may want to discuss (with your doctor), if it would be of benefit to you (and the doctor), to have serial measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) on your record.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
