PFTs causing anxiety?

[Jane]

Josh had a huge anxiety attack before PFTs today (see my blog). Its been happening now for about a year. Because of that we can't get a true reading. Anyone else have this problem and what do you about it?

 

[anonymous]

I recently got a peak flow meter for home use. Maybe if he had one of these and sort of knew before the appt. if it was going to be good or bad it would take some the anxiety out of it. I know for me not knowing whether my results would be good or bad used to get me worked up a bit.

I would figure his anxiety is based on that if the 'performance' doesn't go well it's IV time. I used to stress about it a week ahead of time. You hear on this site people 'doing everything the can' to make their numbers better. Same type of thing.

The sooner he can get comfortable with the fact that he's doing everything in his power to keep himself healthy the more likely he'll be to 'release' the pft results to the powers at be.

 

[Scarlett81]

Unfortunately anxiety can be the difference between good pfts and bad ones. I used to have it too, but not as bad as Josh's sounds. As a kid I think its bad too b/c you know if your pfts are bad you have to have ivs and its a lot of stress for a kid.

Assurance is all you can give him I think. Maybe try telling him that PFTs aren't cut and dry either. They're a big indicator, but they don't always mean you're getting worse. Just so you can get a more accurate pft reading I'd try to downplay the whole pft thing. Its alot of stress for a kid.

I know that each morning when I'm driving to the doctors-I force myself to not think about my pfts and how they'll be today. B/c if I get worked up-guaranteed they'll be lower. So I put on the Beatles, start singing on the drive there, stop at McD's or get a treat for myself. Maybe try to make the drive there as fun as possible? This sounds so CHEESy, but I'll share it anyway-once my hubby and I played 'name that tune' on the way to my colonoscopy! We laughed SO hard and it really made me forget! So maybe trying that will help to calm him. Make sure you seem very calm and bubbly, b/c your kids sense wether mom is worried or not!

 

[thelizardqueen]

I suffer from anxiety every time I go in for PFTs. I even wonder if that's why my numbers are low. I mean when I'm at home and I'm not worried about my performance, my breathing is great, but as soon as I get to clinic and wait for my PFT appointment, my breathing becomes harder to do. Does he take Atavan? Maybe taking one of those shortly before his PFTs?

 

[blindhearted]

I have bad anxiety before I take my PFTs as well. I take a half of Xanax (0.25mg our of 0.5mg). I take it about 30 minutes before I get to the clinic since it takes about 45 mins to start working. I can handle 0.25, if I take the whole amount, well lets just say I wont have to worry about PFTs because I will be in la la Land in the car. If you try this you will have to see what you can or cannot handle. Doctors tell me that anxiety doesnt effect your PFTs but I have noticed the difference. If you have anxiety your chest is tight and its hard to breathe, for me, Xanax relaxes me so the chest tightness isnt as bad. But this is what I do, not sure if it is okay for everyone. If u take something, makes sure it doesnt surpress your breathing....xanax doesnt do that for me.

 

[Asexyblond23]

I totally agree with Danyell. I myself actually have panic disorder due to my cf and worring about my health. I agree that you should talk to the doc and let them know about the anexity and ask if they will prescribe a low dose of xanax to be taken about an hour before the PFT test. It is nothing that will affect the test, trust me Im on it everyday. It will just give him a calm feeling and then he can blow his heart out without the aneixty of worring about the resluts. And no matter what the docs say, yes that can and will effect his numbers. During a panic attack, you feel like you cant breathe and that a weight is on your chest. Not goos while trying to take deep breaths and show how good your lungs are doing!!

 

[ladybug]

I too find I am taking shorter, more labored breaths prior to pfts. Must be a characteristic many of us share cause of the added "pressure" of being "better" than the last time (or at least stable). I fret over it every time I take a pft. I mostly worry that the numbers will mean I'm getting "sicker", which is inevitable with CF. I just don't want to face it and it depresses me. Just know you're not alone. I don't think I could take an anxiety med, cause usually, even with ativan, I overcome the pill and still feel worried, so I'd probably have to be comatose before I'd feel its effects and then I'd be no good at all at pfts. For those that it works for, GREAT for you! GREAT idea if you're willing to try! My only hope is that you realize pfts and anxiety are very common and I think we all feel it at one time or another (or, in my case, EVERY time!) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[luke]

I too have PFT anxiety. I solve this problem by only doing them when they make me. Maybe I should do them more often but I may do 2 or 3 a year. I really just avoid it like the plague!


Luke

 

[EnergyGal]

I am thinking back to my cf lung days and I got some jitters not because of my result but because of what patient was there before me not knowing if they cleaned up well.

Post transplant I became hyper before my test because of the potential for rejection.

Since my second transplant I am more relaxed and have the idea if there is a problem lets take care of it.
I do some calming exercises while I am in the waiting room and I feel it helps me a lot.

Ciao
Risa

 

[EnergyGal]

I think it is important to put what the test means into perspective. If you treat the test as it could be your friend, helping you out and letting you know if you are stable or need some medicine, that might be a bit easier on your nerves.

What gets me hyper is when the tech says inhale then blow out you can get upset if the timing is off.

I feel it is important to let go and just say what the bleep and give it your best shot.

sometimes I pray but most of the time I focus on a goal and forget about it all.

 

[NoExcuses]

I agree with Risa. Kids hear weird things sometimes. If he has been hearing for years about HOW IMPORTANT PFT'S ARE and oh my gosh I hope your PFT's are OK. And if they're not OK you're sick and ifyou're sick your CF is getting worse. I'm not saying it's coming from you. Maybe his doc. Who knows.

But my 1st instinct is that PFT's have been hyped up in his mind. Panic attacks are really serious and don't just come on for no good reason. There is a trigger.

I think he needs to get things put in perspective by both you and his doc, like Risa said.

 

[anonymous]

I am not sure if this is a possibility but his brother looks healthier and somewhere in his mind he Might have the competitor fight or flight going on. So his thoughts are maybe I cannot do better than him so I will fail he gets all worked up and gets the panic attack.

 

[EnergyGal]

That was me. I am not saying that he consciously thinking of this but it could be a subconscious trigger. If I had a sibling with cf who looked better than me that would be a big problem for me.

 

[Jane]

Its funny you should mention about the competition Risa. Josh was always thin, but much healthier overall than Jesse. He was an athlete and very competitive with his brother regarding health stuff. The tables definately turned this year when Josh was so sick in the spring. Its done wonders for Jesse's self esteem though.

Clinic visits have been a trigger for Josh's anxiety for several years now. The PFTs, being the physical part of the visit cause the most reaction. He used to enjoy them, but after being hospitalized a few times, he started to see how much weight the numbers had in the doctors decision to use IV therapy. Many times now we just tell the technician that Josh just isn't up to it. At one point last year, we even told the doctor NOT to tell us anything during the exam, but to call us later at home with the update. Even so, Josh has learned not to trust his medical team. Yesterday the doctor came in to the room and said "you guys look great so there's no way I'm going to put you into the hospital this time". But Josh had shut off before she even came in the room.

 

[anonymous]

When things settle in, I would explain that this is their life and they need try and find a way that makes them happy by looking at themselves with their CF in a different setting. Looking at CF as a challenge is helpful. If they do all their treatments with determination each and everyday they will be healthier emotionally and that affects their physcial health big time. I think they need to learn that they are in control of their illness. When they step up to the plate several times a day they will see and feel more progress.

 

[anonymous]

That was me
Risa

 

[ladybug]

Hi, ya'll!

Just wanted to mention I just got back from a CF clinic in Salt Lake where I asked about the Peak Flow meter. Well, the RT was not convinced that Peak Flow does anything good. She said it is not at all indicitive of FEV1. My question then to her was, "does it really matter, even if it doesn't predict FEV1, can't you still track your OWN breathing patterns and chart so you know where you're at?" Meaning, even if its not accurate as compared to a PFT, won't it still be accurate to give a reliable reading? She said the readings are not at all reliable and when she used it once and did 5 consecutive readings and tried to breath the same on each, they were WAY different every single time, proving to her that it is not a reliable test, even if you are charting your own trends. I guess I sort of understand what she means... something has to be reliable and valid (statistically speaking) to tell you anything. If you're sick and blow and its giving you a high reading, and then you're feeling well and blow and it gives you a lower reading (if its not reliable and consistent), its told you nothing. This RT went on to say no one in the CF clinic useds peak flows, nor does the asthma doctors. They just don't think they show anything since they are so random.

Just an FYI from my clinic. I'd PERSONALLY still like one to do my own experimenting, but they wouldn't even give me an Rx for it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

 

[lightNlife]

Allow me to resort to silliness as a solution. I've come up with
something that not only helps improve PFTs (because it involves
positive pressure), but helps relieve the anxiety through
laughter.<br>
<br>
Start by placing your arms together at the wrist, palms open and
bent back from each other. Bring them up to your face in this
position, and rest your mouth against the place where the heels of
your hands touch. Fill your mouth with air, then
BLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br>
If this maneuver is carried out correctly, you should produce a
noise that sounds very much like flattulence! Repeat until you get
just the slightest case of the giggles. See if you can do "a
squeaky".<br>
<br>
I know, it's juvenile and crude, but oh so entertaining! Sometimes
laughter really is the best medicine. <br>
<br>
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/musicnote.gif" border="0"><br>

 

[onlyoneloveinmylife]

i have that same problem. i find that singing a favorite song in my
head can be relaxing, also thinking of a movie you want to watch, a
book you want to read, or maybe even a video game you want to play
 when you get home, all these methods to me are very helpful.