what # did you get on your puff??

[sweetz0625]

Hey everyone,
I was just wondering when you took the puff test at your doctors what was your score?? I got a 15, and was just wondering what other womens #'s were.
Thanks

[Berkshire Road]

27. But I had been trying to get a diagnosis for nine years by that point. Maybe if I'd gotten treatment earlier it wouldn't have gotten that bad.

[unknown user]

? What's a puff test?

[tigger_gal]

thats what I was thinking Em.

[Berkshire Road]

It's a symptoms questionairre that a lot of doctors use to make a preliminary diagnosis. The higher the score, the more likely that you have IC. It's been found to be more than 99% reliable compared to cisto/hydro.

[hensleyi]

I think mine was around 20.

[Kathy in Canada]

here is a link for the PUF test

Here is a link for the PUF test at the site of one of the well known IC physicians. You can print it out and see what your score is. I got 21.

http://drlowellparsons.org/wst_page4.html

Kathy

[pingpong]

That test is interesting! I scored 21.

[sweetz0625]

so I got a 15 and am confused on what my level is IC is. I guess mild, since I dont know anyone else who has got a 15?

[Bessie]

I scored 34

[ihurttoo]

I cant remember mine, but I dont think this is the way the severity of one's illness is graded. There are people with high scores when they initially take the test, (prior to their official d/x), yet they may respond well to early meds and treatments. Others, may have lower scores, yet are in extreme pain and/or dont respond to treatments and meds. Also, someone may have a lower score, yet their bladder could be much worse when viewed on Cysto/Hydro than someone with a higher score. So, it isnt an accurate way to rate severity. However, it is a great tool to help Drs screen for IC.

[Berkshire Road]

34! Good heavens, I thought mine was high! I can't imagine how much you must have been suffering.

[Berkshire Road]

I just went and re-did it, and after two years of treatment my score has dropped from 27 to -- drumroll, please -- 26. And people wonder why I'm applying for SSD!

[Kathy in Canada]

Good Resources on This Site on IC Diagnosis/Management That Have Info About PUF Test

The ICN site has some good articles under physician resources regarding the diagnosis and management of IC. They both discuss the PUF test. Here they are:

http://www.ic-network.com/md/OP371a_8_28.pdf

http://www.ic-network.com/md/Clinical_Courier0705.pdf

I have found the articles very helpful to find up-to-date information that finally led to my being diagnosed with IC and receiving proper treatment.

Since my diagnosis, I have given copies of the articles to several physicians that I have seen in the past to increase their knowledge of IC. I hope they suspect IC in more patients with pelvic pain in the future because of the articles.


Take care

[Judith56]

I just took it and remembered what my symptoms were before I had my bladder out. I scored 35.