Hey everyone! I have my pulmnologist appointment tomorrow and I have no idea why to expect. What kinds of tests should I expect?

Thanks!!

Hey everyone! I have my pulmnologist appointment tomorrow and I have no idea why to expect. What kinds of tests should I expect?

Thanks!!

Mine required chest X-rays and breathing deeply into a machine. Also, he asked question about snoring and sleeping habits so he could decide whether to send me for a sleep study. It was quick and painless...good luck!!!!

They will probably check blood pressure and pulse and check your oxygen intake and then have you do a breathing test where you suck in as much air as possible and then blow it out as hard and as fast as you can. You'll do that a couple of different times and they'll record the readings. And they will ask you a lot of questions about your breathing to see if your asmatic. Oh, and they'll probably weigh you, too. I used to go often when I was having asthma issues, but now I only go once a year for my sleep apnea.

I didn't have to see pulmonologist. was that an insurance requirement?

Thank you for the help! I think my doctor required it. I think my insurance only required a letter of medical necessity lol

I was really freaked out going into this exam....it turned out to be very simple. I wrote a whole post about it on my blog called "just breathe" you should check it out.

To no one's surprise then had to go to the sleep study and have sleep apnea and am now on a breathing mask. I have to do this treatment for at least 30 days before I can go back for the clearance I need which is 1/8/13. It's just been so much, this journey but I have faith it will be well worth it.

Good luck!

I was really freaked out going into this exam....it turned out to be very simple. I wrote a whole post about it on my blog called "just breathe" you should check it out.

To no one's surprise then had to go to the sleep study and have sleep apnea and am now on a breathing mask. I have to do this treatment for at least 30 days before I can go back for the clearance I need which is 1/8/13. It's just been so much, this journey but I have faith it will be well worth it.

Good luck!

Thanks for your input! I read your post and now my heart if pounding because of that glass coffin!!! EEK!!!!

Okay, so my pulmonologist appointment is complete!

For those of you who do not know what to expect, I'll tell you how mine went. First, I met with the woman who was doing my pulmonology tests. I had to put this device (a tube-like device) that I did all of my breathing tests through. I kept a nose plug (looked like a clothes pin) the entire time. I put the device into my mouth and sealed with my with lips. I had to do multiple tests.. first, breathe normal, then take a deep breath then blow it out as hard and fast as possible until I had nothing left. Then I had to breathe in and out as fast and hard as possible. Then, I sat inside a clear tube/coffin like machine (not as scary as it sounds) and the woman told me what to do through the speakers.. pretty much the same breathing tests, except my device in my mouth was now connected to a tube in the machine. I had to pant like I was trying to fog up glass and something in the tube shuts half way through but I had to keep breathing (strange and a bit scary at first.. kind of hard). Then I was given an inhaler and repeated the first two tests to see if there was a change in my breathing. Finally, I met with the actual pulmonologist who asked about family history, my history of breathing, etc (if I snore, of wake up short of breath at night), how I am walking, going up a flight or two of stairs, etc.

The doctor said I breathe beautifully, thank goodness! I never met him before but he gave me the thumbs up for wanting the surgery!

So glad it went well for you!

Congrats!!! One step closer!