cDiver.net
The Commercial Diver Network
C.O.P.D. Obstructed Airway, or just a shallow breather.
Just throwing this out here to see what I get back. Want to know of peoples stories of getting shut down on dive physicals from not having a high enough score on a Pulmonary Function Test - You know the "BLOW BLOW BLOW BLOW BLOW " Test where the nurse trys to coax you into blowing your a****** out your mouth!! Ya that one. Anyway a few years back I got shut down for diving because of a low PFT, I had never passed the test in the first place, I ALWAYS blew like a 73-74, with a passing score being 75. The company I work for had a few diving related incidents, and everyones pucker factor went through the roof, so they tightened up and I was shut down. Now after supervising for a few years and dealing with all the B.S. that entails, I am looking to get back in the water. Just wondering if anyone out there has had experience with having a low score on a PFT, then after a period of time going back in and successfully passing the PFT. Tips, tricks and lies all welcome.
Views: 784
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Dive Diva on
-
Had lunch today with a girlfriend that's a Respiratory Therapist, trained and certified to do PFTs. She had these tips to pass on to y'all.
Before the test:
1) Don't take the test if you're drunk or hung over (no one wants to clean up the mess).
2) Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing. For the gals ditch the corsets, girdles, anything with stays in it and the one size too small jeans.
3) Don't eat a big meal before taking the test, a full stomach can decrease the diaphargm's ablity to expand fully.
4) Don't use any inhaled medicines for 4-6 hours before the test as it will alter the test, even OTC meds like Primatene Mist, Afrin, etc.
5) Don't smoke before the test. The longer you can go without prior to the test the better.
The test:
1) You will be asked to place the spirometer mouthpiece in your mouth. You want to make sure you have a tight seal, so no air leaks around the mouthpiece. You will be given a noseclip to keep air from leaking out through your nose when you exhale. The noseclip is necessary, otherwise you will have air leakage that will negatively effect the test results because that nasal air isnt going into the Spirometer.
2) You will be asked to take a few normal breaths with the mouthpiece in place. Then you will be instructed to breathe out slowly until your lungs are empty.
3) Next you will take a hugh deep breath in to fill up your lungs completely. You want to inhale until you can't possibly inhale any more air.
4) As soon as you lungs are full, you will blow out as fast and hard as you can until your lungs are empty. HERE'S THE KEY AS YOU REACH THE END OF YOUR ABILITY TO BLOW OUT, YOU STILL HAVE AIR LEFT IN YOUR LUNGS. RIGHT AT THE END WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO KEEL OVER, YOU WANT TO "HUFF" USING YOUR DIAPHRAGM MUSCLE TO PUSH UPWARD TO PUSH THE LAST OF THE AIR OUT OF YOUR LUNGS.
5) If you don't get that "huff" from the diaphargm you won't get a true reading. The reading should look like the picture I've attached. You see were the "huff" causes the respiratory effort to hike up and you can see to the right of that "huff" the remaining air that is exhaled. This is what a good test result should look like. The technician will have you repeat the PFT until they get 3 good tests from you.
Ways to improve your PFT results:
1) Don't smoke, if you do quit.
2) Exercise - doesn't have to be heavy duty. A brisk walk around the block every day will do it.
3) You don't need a fancy ping pong ball gadget to involve your lung capacity. Do a rep of 10 slow deep breathes inhale your nose and exhale through your mouth, a couple times a day and you get the same results as using the gadget.
-
Permalink Reply by Toby Dodd on
-
colby, i worked with you on the dancer when i was a red hat. prob don't remember me. anyway, you think you really want to get back into diving with some kind of issue with that? i'd be worried.
-
Permalink Reply by colby lowe on
-
I remember you well Toby, 4" pulling head they were picking up broke free and almost took your legs with the bite of rope that was attached to it. I never had any problems diving, never dizzy, no O2 hits, never bent. They want a 75 on a pft, i was always 73-74 they sent me to a specialist and he didnt find anything wrong. Think about this,Would you rather be responsible for yourself in the water, or EVERYBODY that gets in the water. This Career of ours is getting more and more stringent on the "who's responsible for this" side of things. I.E. who's in charge so we can hang em. minimum allowance for PFT or maximum blood pressure?! One or the other, I choose the Minimum PFT all things considered. Take care, thanks for the concern, and stay safe.
-
-
yep, that was me. well, i get your point. if they didn't find anything wrong, i would assume there's nothing wrong. as long as you feel comfortable with it and you've got the doc saying you're ok.
stay safe
-
Permalink Reply by John Gentry on
-
When I had my phisical for dive school I blew a low score on that test. The nurse told me to blow for as long as I could, what she should have said was blow as "hard" as I can. They had me run on a treadmill for ten minutes at a sprinting pace, and do the test again. I almost passed out. But I passed the test, and the lesson is that when you do it give it your all and don't worry about how "long" you blow for, just how hard you blow. I'm not sure that this information will apply to you, but give it a shot.
-
Permalink Reply by George Patterson on
-
i quit smoking and my score went up by almost 25% in 6 months makes you think
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Adam Broetje.
Powered by
