Apparently methotrexate can affect lung function, so normally before embarking on treatment through the NHS system you take a chest X-ray. My rheumatologist prefers a more rigorous 'belt and braces' approach and requested a full set of pulmonary function tests.
I found this surprisingly difficult. Surprising because I thought that I was quite an experienced breather and that sport had given me good control. It took about an hour in a sealed box or connected to tubes to measure rate of oxygen absorption, peak flow rates, lung capacity. Despite all my cycling, things were normal! Phewww
Given that this is a baseline measurement should I expect to go back in a year or two's time? Or only if I'm experiencing breathing problems? Next time will I have learnt some of the breathing control skills needed to improve my performance? These come down to simple things such as seal of mouth on breathing tube, height of the tube so that your chest is expanded and you're not slouched in the chair and of course whether your suffering any mild respiratory compaint such as a cold or hayfever.
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