Hyperinflated lungs???

[julie]

mark had a chest Xray done yesterday at his primary care office (not a CF clinic). The doc called and said it's typical CF lungs (not that he would ever know what that looks like) with bronchistasis (which Mark has always had) but he also mentioned hyperinflated lungs. I've never seen/heard anything like that on Mark's xrays before.

We will be taking these xrays to the CF clinic next time we go to of course, get an expert opinion (and hope to get his previous ones for comparison) but for the time being, does anyone know anything about hyperinflated lungs related to CF. Does it mean anything?

I looked aroudn online but can't find anything CF related.

 

[JennifersHope]

Hyperinflated ususally means that he has air trapping, which is typical for CFers. That is what usually causes the barrel chest.. It is real common in people with people with lung disease.

On a PFT when the RT has you blow your air out and she/he says "Keep blowing" that is what they are looking for, how fast you can get the air out of your lungs and if you have air trapping.

Hope that helps, I am blindly tired and not sure I am making sense.

Chat soon,


Jennifer

 

[Allie]

From what I understand, hyperinflated lungs are when air can get in, but because of inflammation, it can't get out. It's common in CF, I thought, because it's what gives you a barrel chest. Anyway, that's what I know...if it was unhelpful, incorrect, or stupid, ignore it.

 

[JennifersHope]

Oh one more thing, if you looked up COPD you might be able to find more information out..Sorry for the piss poor explanation.. I am beat

I will work on a better explanation tomorrow

 

[Alyssa]

Ditto on "air trapping" that's how it's been explained to me -- they mentioned it on my son's CT scan.

 

[julie]

Thanks Jen, Allie and Alyssa. THat answers my questions. I appreciate it!

I'm happy to see a post once in a while Allie. I miss you! I keep missing out on chat, I'm usually in there too early and I'm all alone in there <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">. Plus for the past few day's I've been so tired (much much more than usual) that all I do is eat sleep and... well you know <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Purplelungz]

so my question is. can the trapped air leave ever? and will that make the barrel chest go down or is it one of those things...the damage was done and now it stays