EMPHYSEMA QUESTION

[DENNISAMERICA]

Hi everyone again, hears a picture of my annual pft basic spirometry results i just had last month on 8-8-2017.. still wake up alot in middle of nite and cough alot with mucus all day and still get very tired all day. my lung doctor ses i still have mild emphysema and i also had another chest ct scan 2 months ago in july and it show minimal emphysema changes in upper lungs and still classified as mild .. why do i feel so bad all the time.... also feel very bloated ... i cant believe my doctor when he tells me its only mild... any ideas or advise

[Hidden]

Still smoking?

[DENNISAMERICA in reply to Hidden]

YES BUT CUT WAY DOWN TO LESS THAN A PACK AND STILL TRYING TO VERY HARD...

[chris54 in reply to DENNISAMERICA]

ok if you want to feel better give up and get on to vaping before its to late, i was told i had empheysema last year, i gave up smoking after 40 years smoking a pipe, and now i vape....

[Offcut]

Quick question it seems they did not do the second test with a reliever which will see what help it will be to you?

Sleep or lack of it will give the effects you describe. Also it is not uncommon to have reflux with a lung condition. Which can bloat you.

Be well

[soulsaver in reply to Offcut]

Those results are after nebulised albuterol.

[DENNISAMERICA in reply to Offcut]

my lung doctor said my spirometry numbers were very good for a 45 year smoker and my ct scan still just showed some mild spots of emphysema on my upper lungs and didnt feel i needed to do the breathing test again with any pro dialators..... my biggest complaint is feeling lightheaded when walking and like im in a fog

[Offcut in reply to DENNISAMERICA]

My Doctor told me " I can Confirm your lungs are CRAP!" At least he was being honest and he was one that blamed all my breathing problems on my heart conditions, which took some guts?

[DENNISAMERICA in reply to Offcut]

does that mean its my heart causing my problems or is it my lungs?

[Hidden]

Hi your more severe symptoms with very mild emphysema are caused by your smoking. I was the same as you and blamed my more severe symptoms on my copd and past smoking.

That was until I packed in the ciggies and to my amazement most of my symptoms disappeared. I found I could walk like I was 20 years younger, breathe a lot better and rarely coughed. I realised it was the CURRENT smoking which was causing most of the problems - not the copd itself nor past smoking. Pack it in and you will feel so much better.

[DENNISAMERICA in reply to Hidden]

THANK YOU.... SORRY ABOUT ALL THE CAPS MY KEYBOARD IS STUCK IN CAPS LOCK ..... BUT I DIDNT HAVE ALOT OF THESE SYMPTOMS FOR THE FIRST 40 YEARS OF SMOKING NOW THE PAST 3 OR 4 YEARS I FIND ALL THESE SYMPTOMS POPPING UP... ... DID YOU SEE MY PFT TEST RSULTS I POSTED ...... THE BLOATED STOMACH AND LIGHT HEADEDNESS WHEN WALKING IS THE WORST EVERYDAY........ I BLIEVE I HAVE ALOT OF AIR TRAPPING

[Hidden in reply to DENNISAMERICA]

Dennis I didn't have a lot of these symptoms until the last 5 years or so of smoking either. Smoking also causes air trapping and can cause bloating too. Believe your doctor - you have mild emphysema.

To be honest I think you are also suffering from anxiety especially health anxiety. It is not uncommon in a chronic disease but I would advise you to start dealing with this and getting help. You clearly not only don't believe your doctor but also all of us. I am telling you my experiences and you don't seem to believe me either. I don't think anyone can reassure you.

Your lung function is the envy of nearly all of us on here who would kill to be as good as you. Do you read and answer other posts to get a more realistic view of your illness? I think joining in with the site more would help you a lot. It would also take you mind off yourself too.

.

[DENNISAMERICA in reply to Hidden]

i hAVE JOINED IN AND I 100% BELIEVE I HAVE EMPHYSEMA BECAUSE IT SHOWS SMALL BLACK SPOTS IN MY UPPER LUNGS ON 3 CT SCANS I HAVE HAD EACH YEAR SINCE 2015 BUT IT HAS STAYED THE SAME MY DOCTOR SAID... WILL THE AIR TRAPPING GO AWAY IF I QUIT SMOKING?../ AND YES I HAVE ALOT OF ANXIETY AS I AM 57 YEARS OLD AND RAISING 3 CHILDREN SINCE MY WIFE PASSED 12 YEARS AGO... I AM ALSO IN RECOVERY FOR 32 YEARS SINCE I WAS 25 FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUGS BEEN COMPLETLY CLEAN 32 YEARS BUT I JUST CANT SEEM TO QUIT THESE BLOODY CIGS...

[Hidden in reply to DENNISAMERICA]

I can't tell you whether the air trapping will go away if you quit smoking coz I am not a doctor. You need to see your doctor to ask questions like this.

I can only say to you that it might well as you would be surprised what smoking can do for you. There is a good quit smoking site on here so why not join it. It is called Quit.