recently diagnosed with COPD but no symptoms

[Debs398]

Hubby has recently been diagnosed but we are finding it hard to believe, he has no cough, can easily walk 15 miles in as day, no breathlessness, wheezing or anything, we are a bit confused, not to mention concerned. Is it normal to be diagnosed with no symptoms? He is not on any medication

[music]

I thought that i was not that bad when first diagnosed last year with moderate COPD and i must admit i can still trot for 10 mins or run upstairs and walk a few miles, but my lung funtion was 62% and i have another spirometry lung test tomorow.

I would think if you have COPD it must be very mild if you can still be active like you are so try not to worry and keep up the exercise and most of all stop smoking thats if you do smoke..good luck

[music]

forgot to mention im 57 anything you want to ask please do will help if i can

[Hidden]

It didn't used to be but they have recently changed the range of COPD. When I was first diagnosed with very mild copd it was with a lung function of 67%. Then it went up to 73% and I was told I didn't have it after all. Then the ranges were changed so if your lung function test was between 70% and 80% it is now classed as mild copd. It sounds like he is very mild. I didn't have any real symptoms until my lung function test dropped again to 66%. The trouble is that it is a progressive disease and once you have it it does tend to get worse over the years. He can do a lot to help himself. If he is smoking he needs to stop. Exercise and a good diet are important as well. I think he should go back to the doctor and ask for an explanation of his diagnosis.

[Debs398]

Thank you both very much, I have arranged for the nurse to phone us and explain as we don't have any readings or anything, (he was probably given them but didn't listen) he is in the process of giving up smoking and we walk long distances so hopefully the exercise will help.

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi Debs, The exercise will definitely definitely help together with giving up smoking. Good Luck TAD xx

[coastal1]

Though I was diagnosed with copd and test results showed lung function of only 55.% in October i am pretty much symptom free .( touch wood ) at present . I had had a severe cough with wheezing and spluttering together with frequent chest infections for the previous 2/3 years.

I quit smoking in November and the cough disappeared! I too can walk miles and do most activities without shortage of breath. I am 63 and had smoked for 48 years

[coastal1]

Sorry if i have missed something but am just a little puzzled as to why your husband was given tests for copd if

he wasn't shoing any symptoms. ?

However quitting smoking is an excellent choice ......still can't believe the difference it has made to me even after all those years Cheers Coastal

[Debs398]

That's good to hear! He had a chest infection in December and bad cough, Dr wasn't happy with his peak flow and told him to see asthma nurse end of January and it all went from there, hoping he succeeds at giving up smoking, will show him your responses, thank you

[esgatch]

he doesn't have c.o.p.d. I have pulmonary fibrosis and all the symptoms, but people with genuine copd live on ibuterol, etc...

[Cococat4 in reply to esgatch]

That's just not true. I have COPD, diagnosed as I had a slight annoying cough. I am a non-smoker. It shows up on a CT scan and on breathing tests. And I am not yet on any medications, as it is still mild. Be careful what you say, people may take it as fact.

[Hidden in reply to Cococat4]

I concur.

[Debs398]

Well I can only go on what the Dr gave as a diagnosis, I wish he hadn't been diagnosed with it as not only is it affecting him mentally but it's affecting us financially as in travel insurance etc

He has had spirometry checks etc but he was too upset when they told him to remember what they said, I am speaking with the nurse about it tomorrow

[twilliamson in reply to Debs398]

How does it affect travel insurance, especially if your not on any meds or anything. Just curious

[Debs398 in reply to twilliamson]

Some people won't touch him for travel insurance, some will cover him but exclude anything arising from COPD. Other than that we get a loaded premium each time so have to shop around. We don't seem to be able to get annual insurance anymore either

[doublecee]

I was only diagnosed in 1989 but when I think back it was obvious that I had a problem as early as 1973.I was prescribed Ventolin Tablets as a "one-off". I just wish i'd been referred and had a proper investigation at that time. I would have stopped smoking there and then. Instead I stopped smoking in 1988 and fell foul of Sod's Law, and was diagnosed after my first set of tests the following year.

So it is possible your hubby has got a head start. Good Luck to him, Cheers.

[onamission]

This takes me back a few years when I had mild COPD would give anything to be mild COPD again

[coastal1]

Everyone seems to vary with how copd affects them .However there seem to be quite a few on here who function very well at the mild and moderate stages .There are even some people still managing to work at severe and very severe stage . Others struggle at milder levels .

Doctor told me that probably because I had always been fairly fit and active this was now heping compensate for lack of lung function .( sounds as if your husband could be similar )

He also said that keeping off cigarettes was essential in stopping fairly rapid deterioration. Getting rid of a wheezing , rattling , spluttering cough which kept me awake most of the night has been a big incentive. (Was also getting embarrassing going out )

Strangely enough writing this is helping reinforce need to stay ciggy free as still get some cravings .

Cheers Coastal

[Debs398 in reply to coastal1]

A big thanks to everyone who has replied, it's really helped and reinforced to hubby that he needs to stay off the cigs, hope everyone stays as healthy as possible, thanks so much

[suejames]

really enjoyed reading all the posts thanks keep them coming