Has anyone here ever had a DCLO test?
Hi folks, it's me, you may not recognize me because I changed my username to just my initials.
I wanted to ask if anyone has ever had a DCLO and what it showed? Mine showed that my diffusion capacity is below the lower limits of normal. This concerns me. I was told by a nurse practitioner that this was normal for an asthmatic. I'm curious if anyone else has had this test done. All my other tests are usually normal, yet my symptoms are severe. I am diagnosed with moderate persistent asthma. They upped my maintenance med per my request.
Hey there! Took me a minute to figure out who "me" was. 😀 Good to see you!
Usual disclaimer: I am not a professional and can't give medical advice for your own safety.
DLCO isn't something we have information about here on the Asthma site, however, there is information about it on our sister site for people with COPD. Respiratory therapist John has written some articles about it there. Check out these two:
https://copd.net/clinical/diffusion-test
https://copd.net/clinical/asthma-risk-factors
Some things that stood out to me here:"The test is not helpful for diseases that affect your airways. Examples here are asthma and chronic bronchitis. These diseases obstruct airways, but they do not impact the ability of oxygen to diffuse from your lungs to your blood. So, with asthma and chronic bronchitis, your DLCO should be normal."
Also:
"Asthma also causes airflow obstructions. However, these are completely or almost completely reversible with time or treatment. This means that asthma can be controlled, meaning that symptoms can be prevented. This can be accomplished with proper treatment."
It's important to not worry that you have another condition, because that's not the case for many people. It sounds to me like a deeper conversation with your doctor could be helpful. They should be able to explain why you had the testing, what numbers would have been concerning to them, and what their plan is for the future.I hope this gives you some guidance on clearing this up with your providers. We're always here for ya! -Melissa, team member
