[John Marshall]

Most important in my mind is what I read by Dr Noah Greenspan about not letting your SpO2 fall below 85 and ideally not below 90.

From time to time I conduct my own on a flat promenade on Bondi. I use GPS in my phone to get the distance and also the app for SpO2 which uses the same tech as oximeter; it also measures bpm.  If I feel bad I slow and check SpO2 and if below 90 I slow more or stop. The results vary, but are within a range close but not as good as my hospital test last December. I do better on warmer days when there is sun and no wind. If its windy I tend to get a runny nose and that is bad for my breathing.

Because I always start at the same spot I know as I am going where my best finish is and best midpoint. I know if I really push and get SpO2 below 80 I could beat my previous best but I don’t. My goal is to get as close as I can without dropping below 90. I am finding I can control my breathing a little better by this discipline and I now have a good feel for my limits, which is a good thing.

[John Marshall]

Hi generally and @tmoriarty. What devices are you using to measure O2 levels and FEV1 etc?

[John Marshall]

Well that is a mess?

Does typing in word then pasting not work?

[John Marshall]

I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in late 2017. The working diagnosis is that I have HP, although the differential diagnosis is IPF. The purpose of this post is to discuss objective measurement tools which can be used to see how I am going; more specifically to see the rate of my deterioration.

So far I have worked out medical professionals have 4 objective measurement tools. First is the lung function test using quite an elaborate machine in what is almost laboratory controlled environment. I have these done every 3 months.  are measurements of SpO are assessments based on comparing CT scan results?  Is the 6 minute walk test. Are there any other objective measurement tools that anybody knows of?

In order to monitor my own progress I can replicate a 6 minute walk test on flat ground on the promenade near my home. I can also fairly well replicate measurements of SpO using a program on my Samsung phone (called Samsung health). It seems to use the same technology as the more advanced devices used in hospitals and at the physiotherapist where I was once about to start pulmonary rehab. I have read in various posts on forums that people have measurements of the oxygen. I assume that they are using devices similar to the one I use. Does anybody else have a different way they measure SpO?

I also found a home hand-held device which measures lung function to some extent; it is produced by MIR and is called smart one. I use it every few days to take a measurement. It seems quite variable and I think the main variability has been getting used to the technique as to how to draw in the large breath and how to blow. I think by a long way that accounts for the variations that I have experienced. For example when I first started using it I was not as good as I was in the 3  or 4 time but felt no better in those few days and put it down to getting better technique on the device. Are there any other easy ways to measure lung function at home?