Newly diagnosed copd

Hello

I have read some comments here and people are so helpful, and supportive.

I had a cough a year ago, went back and forth to the dr, was given antibiotics, nasal spray for post nasal drip, capsules for acid reflux, nothing helped, my dr seemed very uncaring. I changed my dr and he started me on Doxycycline and said to come for a test as it sounds like Asthma, I had the test which I now know is called a Spiro...., the nurse said it is not Asthma but I do have COPD, she gave me Incruse Ellipta inhaler and I have Ventolin, I have no figures just a diagnosis, I have to see the dr next week. I feel very scared, upset, trying not to worry as it does not help but it is hard not to. I have never smoked or been exposed to fumes/gasses or anything like that, I went to A and E (something I have never done) in July as my breathing was bad, they gave me Prednisone and an inhaler and said the pollen count was very high and to see my gp. so there you go. I am eating healthily, I stopped exercising because my breathing was not good but I now know I have to push through that. Thanks for reading. Jay x

[Katinka46]

It sounds as though the diagnosis has come from the nurse. No problem with that but the GP practices are so geared to COPD that it has become the default position. Can I ask you a few questions? How old are you? COPD almost always has a cause, the inhalation of toxic stuff, this can be from workplace, second hand cigarette smoke. There is a rare form of emphysema, Alpha1-anti-Tripsin-Deficiency, which occurs in people who lack the genetic immunity to the disease. This usually shows in people in their twenties and thirties. So when you go to the GP maybe take someone with you? And go with a list of questions. I know it is scary but as you have discovered there are people here who are very supportive and have lived with theses diseases for years. As for exercising, generally that is good, and getting breathless is fine for most lung conditions. But it maybe wise ti wait until you have a firm diagnosis before pushing it too much. Your GP can refer you for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, a programme of graduated exercise.

All the best

K

[Hidden in reply to Katinka46]

I am 66 years old, I never smoked, neither do my family and I have never worked near fumes etc

[Katinka46 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for getting back to me. It is very unusual to have COPD without a cause. I assume that your Spirometry test was done in two parts. The test would be done once, then you would have been given an inhaled dose of Ventolin and the test repeated after 15-20 minutes later. If there is no change then it is COPD, if there is over 15% improvement then it Asthma. The reason I advised a little caution over the exercise is that symptoms of lung conditions and heart conditions can be very similar: breathlessness and chest pain. There are other lung diseases that look like COPD, but as COPD is very common doctors tend to opt for that, too quickly in my opinion. On Spirometry my condition looks like COPD, but it isn’t. There is a more detailed lung test, a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) which is done in hospitals as an outpatient.

I would be interested to know how things develop for you. If you can try and get a copy of the Spirometry numbers and post them here. It is also possible to get information on line to help interpret them. But obviously your doctor is the best at that.

All the best

[Hidden in reply to Katinka46]

thanks for your reply.

Yes I did the test,had Ventolin then sat outside for 15 mins then took it again.

I will ask for the numbers when I see my GP next Friday.

I'm still trying to accept it not being just a Sinus infection at the moment.

Its comforting to know there are people who understand.

Jay x