PFTs and Other Doctor Stuff

Had my yearly PFTs done about a week ago. Yes, my insurance only lets me do PFTs once a year instead of every CF clinic visit. That is part of the reason I am switching insurance. Anyway here are the results.

FVC 102.4
FEV1 93.5
FEV1/F 90.9
25-75 72.7
PEF 96.9
FEF 50 83.3
FEF 75 48.7

I am really pleased with these results, considering I had a bad cough for the weeks leading up to this test. Although I could not dig up my 2008 results, here are my 2007 results for comparison.

FVC 96.1
FEV1 85.6
FEV1/F 88.4
25-75 61.4
PEF 85.1
FEF 50 72.2
FEF 75 36.4

In other doctor news, I had to temporarily change PCP. My previous doc stopped taking my insurance. So, I met my new PCP. (PCP will be changing again with new insurance in January). Changing PCP was not a heartbreaking moment for me. I never cared for my previous PCP. I think she was in denial about having a patient with CF. Anytime I came in with a CF related problem, she would always say "Yeah, that's normal for you, you have CF." Ok, but that doesn't mean the problem doesn't need to be addressed. Other times she would try and treat me like I didn't have CF. If the CF doc thought I needed a special test, she would usually respond by saying "People in their 20's don't need that test." Generally, I just felt like she never listened and never really cared. The worst was when I needed to go on TOBI, but I needed her to order me a nebulizer. Her response was "that seems like over kill. Can't you just take regular antibiotics as a pill?" Oh, then there was the time I asked for a referral to a orthopedic surgeon for by back and she said "No you don't need back surgery." Five months later, I had back surgery. Yeah, that should of been enough for me. But it just seemed easier to stay. There just never seemed to be a good time to switch dotors. I regret not doing it sooner.

This new doctor seems really responsive. I went over all of my current health care needs. I would like to see all my specialist one last time before switching insurance. He gave me a referral to every single one (there are four). No questions, no making me feel guilty, no asking me to justify why. Hmmm, that is what I needed in a doctor all along. He also got me set up with a flu shot. While I am a little disappointed he will only be a temporary doctor, he gave me the names of a few doctors to check out under my new health plan. Hopefully, the transition will be smooth and I will find nothing but great doctors in my new adventure.