diagnosis

[tigga]

Could I, ask about the diagnosis I have Emphesyma (mild) I keep getting conflicting advice. my question is can Emphesyma be diagnosed by a chest x-ray only or by ct scan, or should it be both? Rang BLF nurse for the answer & she didn't know but said a lot of people get the wrong diagnosis, Thanks for reading

[Sandyeggo]

I’m not expert but there is a lady on this site who is. Im SURE she’ll answer whenever she’s well enough. They tried telling me I had it in 2012 I asked him to show me and he used the X-ray to reference so... the bottom line is to take care of yourself and do what it takes to stay well and breath baby breath easy

[tigga in reply to Sandyeggo]

Thanks for prompt reply,sandyeggo.I had a chest Xray after a chest infection, rang Doctors for my results & told it was ok & no further action required,3 days later Respiratory nurse rang & told me id got Emphysema? I don't have any symptoms, so very confused!

[Sandyeggo in reply to tigga]

Well then if you have no symptoms I wouldn’t be too concerned. If you were coughing or finding it hard to breath but RedSox would be 100% correct in the advice to quit smoking. Even if you DONT have Emphysema please quit smoking.

[christina1947 in reply to Sandyeggo]

Your right in saying no excuse for smoking can I ask what’s causing the pain do everything you can get all the help you can but get off the cigs think of this diagnosis has a red flag !!!! Take care xxx

[Shaurene in reply to christina1947]

Hi Christina

I just did 2 post to Tigga I forget to say I used to get a heavy pain in the centre of my chest in the day and in the night normally around 2-3 am and it woke me up and I had a good caugh at the same time, it would go after 30 to 40 minutes after the caugh. From The second day after stopping the smokes I have never had the pain, touch wood. I am 77. I guess you are 71 with your 1947 after your name. Read my post to Tigga. Best luck.i am havin my best luck now.

[stone-UK]

Hi

Diagnosis is usually by Spirometer.

X-Ray to rule out other causes.

CT Scan shows size and location rather than diagnosis.

[tigga in reply to stone-UK]

Thank you very much, Stone!

[hypercat54 in reply to stone-UK]

In a nutshell x

[tigga]

Hi, I've been given an inhaler ANORA to use once a day,! a spirometry test, a result of that, was -mild Emphysema,im a smoker who has cut down, finding it very difficult to stop, as coping with chronic pain daily, not an excuse, I just can't cope with both the pain plus withdrawals at the moment. Thank you for your advice Redsox

[Laraspike in reply to tigga]

Please try a vape. I was a heavy smoker for 28 years. I'm now on a vape and went from med nicotine to low in a month. Don't try any vape oil tobacco flavoured i use black ice which is a bit like black current tunes. I've been on it for over 5 weeks now and don't miss the fags at all. I'm 43 with 4 kids 3 under 10 and I want to live as long as possible. Good luck let me know how you get on xxx

[Laraspike in reply to Laraspike]

Ps you can try cbd oil in a vape too xxx

[tigga in reply to Laraspike]

Hi, Larkspur thank you for your kind words & advice! May I ask where I could buy CBD oil(I'm in the UK) I've heard about the one you can buy in Holland & Barrett but reviews suggest its not much use I believe its called Hemp oil.

[Laraspike in reply to tigga]

Hi. You can buy CBD oil in most vape shops nowadays. Try VIP you can do a Google search and find your local one. We have a CBD cafe in kirkcaldy. You can also buy CBD oil that comes in a dropper to be put under your tongue. There's loads of information online about it now. If you get it persevere as like any medicine it takes a few days to get into your system. Let me know how you get on and best of luck xxx

[tigga in reply to Laraspike]

Thank you Laraspike, another question (sorry) do you find it very helpful for pain by using it in a vape?

[Laraspike in reply to tigga]

Hi again. I'm personally not using it in my vape but I have friends who do and it does help. I have a friend who uses the dropper and they don't take pain killers. You can only try and if it means you don't rattle with all the drugs it surely must be a good sign. I've not had a cigarette for 46 days now only my vape on low strength nicotine. I saw someone posted about champix. If it works but not everybody can take it. Check with your doctor to see if you're eligible or just try a vape. VIP sell a starter vape for £15 with a free oil. I use black ice which is like black current tunes. Good luck xxx

[tigga in reply to Laraspike]

Thanks for your prompt reply Laraspike, inspiring to hear of your friend who doesn't take painkillers, mine do not work, pain clinic tried pain injections, a acupuncture, to no avail. By the way, thanks for following me.xx

[Laraspike in reply to tigga]

You're very welcome. If pain killers don't work in sure you'll try anything. It must be so hard for you being in so much pain. There's plenty of advice and help online and in shops about CBD. Good luck xxx

[Shaurene in reply to tigga]

Hi Tigga

I have COPD AND Emphasema, I went and seen the specialist month or so back. He put me on Anora. I had 3 other inhailers and he told me to stop useing them as been on them for few years. He said the other inhailers had steroids in them and he wanted me off them after years on steroid inhailers. I smoked since I was 14, 62 yrs ago. I would caugh up flem every day quite a bit of it. Suffered with cronic Broncitis many times. I cut down to 4 fags a day for a month. I asked my Doc for Champix. Decided my quitting day 10 days later Monday 17 Sept. It is Sat 22nd and not touched one not really desperate, thought a few times but only last for a second or 2. I feel so much better, very little caughing and flem when I do it is the old stuff coming up. I am breathing with NO RASPING in my throat. Sleeping through out the night, no waking at 2 or 3 o'clock for a good caugh like I did every night. Never felt so good for a bloody long time. Ask you Doc for the Champix Tigga, You must ALSO WANT to stop smoking for them to work.

Best luck Mate.

[adapting in reply to tigga]

Hi Tigga, I also have chronic pain, from fibromyalgia, I stopped smoking about 3 weeks ago and feel infinitely better- and that was immediate! I had wanted to stop for a long time but kidded myself that I couldn't do it, I was a chain smoker of roll-ups, I can't explain it but I have found it real easy! Give it a go! x

[adapting in reply to adapting]

Another thing, don't stop from fear, fear feeds the craving. Think of all you have to gain, in only three weeks I am now so much more active and able to do lots of things I thought I never could again. It's like a new life!

[tigga in reply to adapting]

Adapting, , hi, thanks for your wise words!! I too smoke roll-ups(prefer them to cigarettes )If I could get the pain down from 9 out of 10 to around 4 or 5 out of 10, I'm sure bid be able to cope with the awful withdrawals of smoking. Once again thank you for your reply.

[buster2]

I have the same I got told of a xray to be honest don't no much I went to doctors to get a,different inhala he wouldn't give me one he said you have to get on with it

[Shaurene]

I think only if it is acute. The Doctor mainly goes by you symptoms for mild. CT scan picks it up.

[Hidden]

Cat scan is pretty darn accurate. My husband went to a dr for sudden inflammatory joint pain thinking he’d developed some type of arthritis. The rheumatologist prescribed methotrexate and told him a side affect can be shortness of breath. He said if that begins stop the med ASAP and call me. It happened. The dr then sent the hubby to a pulmonologist who ordered a cat scan. My hubby was then diagnosed stage 3 emphysema with spirometry at 42% Fev1. My point being this is how far along his emphysema had progressed and he didn’t even know he had it. He was 47 yrs old at the time and had stopped smoking when he was 26 yrs old. He is now 57 yrs old is at stage 4 and Fev1 25%.

[Phil749]

Yes it’s there main source on detecting it

[lKeith]

tiggs

Hi, the diagnosis for me on emphysema was both . The xray alerted the process then followed by ct scan and then various other tests, breathing etc. Mine now is severe and am having to try stem cell for some improvement. Hope your doesn't get that bead . Keep monitoring it and do some research on treatments, some of which you may have to pay for privately.

IKeith

[janet1944 in reply to lKeith]

Ikeith just read your post I too have severe emphysema. Using oxygen, but your stem cell treatment pricked up my ears, but maybe we are in quite different age brackets, I’m 74 but with a good pair of lungs I could climb mountains and run marathons, as my body excluding lungs is Fit.

Which part of the country do you reside, as reading over the years we are not at all equally cared for. I am in Staffordshire. You sound very upbeat which I admire, me personally get quite annoyed on opening my eyes every morning. It probably sounds terrible knowing others are desperate to live, maybe it’s depression. It’s certainly true loneliness is a killer. Here’s wishing you all very best wishes. Stay healthy. Janet.

[lKeith in reply to janet1944]

janet1944

Hi Janet,

Thanks for the response, we might be some distance apart but age nearly the same I'm 73. I was in hospital; earlier this year for about 5 weeks, whilst there I discovered the Palliative care team and thro' their guidance & help I've ended up with a few things that make life a little easier. Try your local team see what they can do for you.

The stem cell treatment has risks and has had it's failures over the years. The UK seems to lag behind the rest of the world in the use of. I have tried most of the clinics offering stem cell treatment but many only do cosmetic (Probably more money in it & less risk). a couple of members on this forum have had mixed results, it's still not main stream medicine. I got very excited about a new method called Mesenchymal stem cell

which uses different techniques & a different blood source, mine is contaminated with a cancer, hence no treatment available to me. It's unfortunately a long winded process although effects have been experienced within 3 days in some & up to 3 weeks in others. Long term results are not yet known due probably it's infantile stage. 12/15 months from now what effect will it have had? On the bright side a little longer in the sunshine matters to all, therefore what's to lose.

You must feel a little more positive when you wake there's a whole world out there and for you now a lot to research, I know it is difficult to motivate oneself but work around it. If you can't do something you can't do it, do something you can do and it sounds like you have good lungs, so get about walking the area. Staffordshire has some beautiful spots get & see them. Don't beat yourself up & get depressed.

This has turned into more of an epistle than I intended, sorry I have a a habit of going on a bit.

IKeith

[tigga]

Thanks to you all for your informed info, in answer to Christina, i have undiagnosed chronic abdominal pain for 6-7 hours a day, had camera in every orifice, seen Gastrologist & pain clinic .onOramorph, gabapentin, dicycloverine,,colpermin none takes the pain away, get some relief early evening, it badly affects my life .doubled up with a hot water bottle for hours every day. Praying for a miracle!

[Neville33]

Hi there...usually a CT is a more detailed Xray and shows up everything....u probably need just low density, because it's 1/2 the radiation...X-rays do t show everything