Pulmonary Function Test Q. What are possible causes for one's *expiration* to be abnormal...?

Question

& breathing worse after the bronchodilator portion of the test?

The bronchodilator part of the test did not help breathing, so asthma & other conditions should be ruled out, right? Could it be COPD, Sarcoidosis-type probs, obesity, cardio probs? Thanks!!!

Other portions of the test were normal enough, btw.

CT shows enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes & a granulamatous nodule in left lung.

Answer 1

If it didn't get better with the bronchodialator then your pulmonologist needs to do further testing. There are many reasons you could have reduced expiration results both related to a specific illness/disease that needs to be treated or scar tissue that developed from past infections or damage to your lungs. They may suggest more in depth testing of your lung functions as well to make further determinations but, so that you know what to expect, they are similar to the PFT you've already done.

Answer 2

The fact that you cannot get the air OUT means that you have a restrictive, not an obstructive disease, so that rules out Cystic Fibrosis, Bronchitis, Asthma, Bronchiectasis and Emphysema, all are COPD disorders, all are obstructive. That leaves sarcoidosis, a tumor or mass, asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis or a number of any other diseases. Get a chest xray, it should be helpful

Answer 3

Emphysema, Asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, lung disease such as asbestosis, cylicosis, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer. Any of these may be the cause of decreased expiration.

Answer 4

There is a condition known as Vocal Cord Dysfunction...have you checked into that? The bronchodialator would not help that if you wanted it to.