Emphysema

I’m 42 and female. Quit SMOKING 10 yrs ago at age 33. Just diagnosed with moderate emphasema. Welcome advice :)) TIA

[stone-UK]

Hi

Emphysema is damage to the Aveoli resulting in poor gas exchange and air trapping. Commonly caused by smoking or inhalation of toxic fumes. The condition is irreversible. But with sensible precautions can be slowed down tremendously.

Stopping smoking (which you have already done) is number one priority, and avoiding others who do smoke. Including any toxic fumes.

There are several products that can trigger a worsening of the condition in the short term even leading to being hospitalised.

Common triggers are air fresheners, aerosol sprays, some cleaning products. If it takes you breath away or makes you gasp, it’s likely to be or become a trigger.

Exercise is recommended, ask you GP can you be referred to pulmonary rehabilitation course, one hour exercise one hour education.

As you are moderate you are probably not experiencing any major set backs, a change in lifestyle can keep it that way for a very long time,

[Hidden in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks for the tips!

I just got back from seeing my doctor and my lung function tests came back above normal. So even though the CT scan shows emphysema, apparently my long function doesn’t. He said I have one boullous is in my upper left long and one smaller bullous is in my upper right long along with a some scarring damage. He said it was not even necessary to refer me to a pulmonary specialist. But I feel like I should go to one anyway just to get a rundown. This is all so confusing! Thank you for all of your help!

[zen800 in reply to Hidden]

That is good. Still recommend exercise. Very important to do a mixture of cardio and strength training. Check with your doctor. All the best.

[Hidden in reply to zen800]

Thanks I have been doing cardio and exercising for the past 10 years. I go five days a week. That’s why am so surprised I have moderate emphysema! But I will continue to go and hopefully it won’t get worse. If that’s possible?

[JagNut in reply to Hidden]

Hi Hidden,

New here, so heartening to note that your current status is almost exactly as the 'Bronc' Consultant diagnosed me!

Mine all started with a persistent cough arriving in December, then a wheeze at night joined it. The GP decided to send me for an X-Ray in February, & when the results came back "No Cancer, but an enlarged nymph node" he decided to to go for a CT scan, but because he felt that would take too long, put me on the 'Cancer Pathway', which was really impressive, as I was with the Consultant a week later He's going make recommendations to my GP "in a couple of weeks", so in the meantime I've already started on 'NAC' 600 mG daily, + Beta-Carotene & Vitamin K2, so now we'll see, but already the mucous generation is well down on what it has been, but part of that result is quite possibly down to my ever-caring Wife's insistence that I drink a 1/2 litre hot toddy of Manuka honey & lemon with Cyder Vinegar twice daily!

Cheers & good luck, JagNut

[jamorro]

As before - exercise regularly. If possible join a gym and see if they have a trainer who knows about emphysema. The more you can improve your cardiovascular muscles the better. And exercise the back muscles to keep you upright. Best of luck

[brinnie]

Excercise, excercise and then excercise some more.

Breathless not speechless is what to aim for.

Be aware of the weather though.

[lynisa48]

Hi and welcome when you say bullies do you mean bulkea which is a ballon like swelling in the lung I have a bulla just one but large but no emphysema apparently had it for years check with your doctor

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If you are blowing higher than normal then that could be Restrictive Lung Disease? The reason you can have lung issues but still look okay are the lungs are blowing out but then pretty much empty afterwards. This is a common issue as some of the nurses are not looking for anything but COPD and Asthma which will usually show a drop in the forced exhale.

lunginstitute.com/blog/the-...

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webmd.com/lung/obstructive-... This a more detailed link.

If I see a GP that does not know my history if they take a Peak flow they see 350 as good but they forget I have empty lungs and because of the restrictive nature of the lungs exhalation will be more powerful so moving the slide a little further.

I look at it as if you put a balloon in a plastic bottle it has a limit to how far it will expand and the bottle increase release pressure were as Obstructive is without the bottle and when released leaves a deflated but not empty?

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Interesting you mention Auto immune As my Mother, Father and Son have all had Leukaemia and my Sister has Lupus. It was only my son and a bone marrow transplant that has survived! My Sister is being monitored and treated as needed.

I have arthritis and Chronic Gout because of high Uric Acid without gout flairs. I might spell it wrong but I have Arthmylogya which is joints pains without swelling. I rarely swell on bone breaks. I broke 2 fingers in 7 places and they just looked bent in the wrong direction

I had one TOE awake and one I was under they are not pleasant at all are they?

[Offcut]

I must be complicated all my ablations have been local and all in the groin, First one 4 hours second 7.5 hours Third 2 hours but then 4.5 hours on a Fem Block refused to stop leaking

[Offcut]

Sorry to say no. I have had 9 Cardio versions and they have never lasted to long. I still get days were I am 150 bpm and have a jazz band playing in my chest some days.