Vanderbilt Pulmonology Update

I met with Dr. Tolle at Vanderbilt Pulmonology today. He is a very nice doctor. He listened to Cathy and me, asked questions, did a thorough review of my records and recommend some additional pulmonary function testing (PFT).

This was the third set of PFT since May/June. The results were all low normal, and a little worse with each successive test. Most of the test involved inhaling and exhaling as quickly as possible. The current test results (although a little worse than August) do not indicate asthma or COPD. My lungs are clear and not congested. That is really good, but does not answer why I cannot breathe.

Dr. Tolle ordered a test I have not had previously. It was a Maximum Voluntary Ventilation test. This test is designed to measure respiratory muscle strength. Preliminary results indicate that my respiratory muscles are working at only about 40% of normal. This is consistent with my Myasthenia Gravis and would explain why I have so much trouble breathing.

More test and an appointment with my neurologist next.