Mild Emphazema Question

[Lilac22407]

Greeting from Virginia,

I was diagnosed with mild emphazema and doctor said after CT that it is not the cause of my not being able to climb stairs without being winded. How can that be?

[Titchy52]

Lilac22407 if your like me I've got emphysema like you but it's part of my cold hope that helps but that's my illness you might have something else take care x

[Titchy52 in reply to Titchy52]

Sorry meant copd x

[Lilac22407 in reply to Titchy52]

Thank you

[PastMeBest]

Hi Lilac22407 Welcome. You don't give much information about whether you have other problems so even a Doctor would have trouble giving any sort of diagnosis. Lots of things could be the cause of you getting winded and the possible cause/s need looking into.

The members of our forum aren't Doctors so won't give a diagnosis either but they can offer support in other ways. Based on their own experiences they can tell you what is available medication wise, how certain medications can affect you, what courses are available, such as Pulmonary Rehab and lots of other things. If you have any questions there is usually someone that can answer them or point you in the right direction. We all have good ears as well, if you just want to let off steam about something.

Being diagnosed with mild emphysema, your Doctor should have been giving you a better explanation instead of leaving you in a state of confusion wondering why you get breathless or offering to do other tests to find the cause. I would be going back to my Doctors with a list of questions that you need answers for.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Regards. John

[Lilac22407]

Thank John I will.

By the way. Here is my medical break down of major issues I have had.

Thyroid Cancer 1998

Lung Colapsed same year-diagnosed with pleurisy

Several non cancerous tumors removed-on back, uterus, pelvic, breast

Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2004 by three doctors-I did not believe the first one.

Thyroid cancer returned so had radical neck dissection

Diagnosed with Sleap Apnea, irritable bowl

And just found out I have a cyst and small tumor on my adrenal gland.

[Dedalus]

Welcome Lilac

[Lilac22407 in reply to Dedalus]

Thank you

[evermore]

Your doctor is very remiss not explaining any further, leaving you hanging is not acceptable. Seeing the very long list of your other health problems perhaps he/she just couldn't decide! There is a tip which might help you getting up the stairs whatever the reason may be. I assume you know what pursed lip breahing (PLB) is ? Okay, so get yourself calmly breathing at the foot of the stairs. Use tummy breathing and breath in tnrough your nose and out through your mouth using PLB. So breathe in to a count of 2, breath out to a count of 4. As you breath out step up one stair. You can change the numbers but always breathe out twice as long as you breathe in. You are making more room in your lungs that you can fill with air as you breath in. This method definitely helps the majority of people, you arrive much more slowly but much less out of breath at the top of the stairs. Did you know that the majority of people hold their breath when climbing stairs and then wonder why they puff. Breathing tricks can help us in many ways, we just need to pay attention to what we are doing. Many of us hold our breath when concentrating, we have to stop doing this, we have to learn a new way to live.

Please try this breathing method, give it a few goes, it takes a while to get used to, especially tummy breathing which is hard to master, but please try.

I do think you should get back to your GP and ask the right questions.

[Lilac22407]

Thank you and no-no one has told me about the breathing methods yet. I have however be to a sleep study Thru my Pulminoligist. After reading several post on here I am wondering why I have not been taught breathing skills.