COPD

[polarbear54]

Good afternoon, just been knocked sideways after a phone call from my GP. He sent me for a chest Xray 2 weeks ago and result showed elongated lungs which suggested COPD/Emphysemia. I have to make an appointment with a respiratory nurse in 3 weeks time.What should I expect to happen next?

[2greys]

Hi polarbear54. I'm sorry that you have had this news. The next thing that will happen will probably be a Spirometry test to determine if you have COPD and if you do the severity of it. You will also be asked to about your certain factors of your lifestyle/work life and family medical history, ie were you exposed to chemical or welding fumes/dust/asbestos through your life at work, family instances of COPD, Asthma or Cancer. You may also be referred to see a specialist consultant at your hospital and have a CT Scan.

If you smoke then you must quit, smoking either directly or second hand smoke WILL accelerate the progress of COPD.

Elongated lungs or long lungs is also know as hyperinflation and is caused by emphysema. The elasticity of the lungs has been compromised so they do not shrink back on their own when you breath out. The diaphragm muscles only really work to breathe in with, not out hence there is difficulty in exhaling all the stale air. Also with emphysema the aveoli walls break down, the aveoli is where gas exchange takes place, O2 for CO2, so the surface area is reduced which means less oxygen can enter your blood stream. All this damage is permanent, there is no cure at the present time, so it is of the utmost importance that you do not smoke at all, to try to keep what you have left of your lungs in a healthy working condition.

COPD can be controlled with lifestyle changes and medication. Eating a healthy diet and exercise. After quitting smoking, being active and exercising is the next best thing you can do to help yourself.

Once you have a proper diagnosis then come back here for guidance and support. There are many, many members here that live with COPD who will "show you the ropes" I am just one of them.

[Spacecat1 in reply to 2greys]

Hi. If they do say you are retaining C02. They will help you at the hospital on how to wear a mask at night needs to be worn all night. And occasionally during the day to help you. Sounds a bit scary but you get used to wearing the mask good luck hope all gose well

[polarbear54 in reply to Spacecat1]

Hi lizzric. Thanks for responding to me. I will keep you posted.

[Shancock in reply to 2greys]

When I had chest X-ray last year it showed my left lung was hyper inflated but when I had the CT scan all was very well with my lungs? I went through it with the respiratory consultant as she showed me the scan on her PC and so either the X-ray perhaps wasn't ever mine? It's a possibility I guess or it was just as result of the bad chest infection I had, but if so then it all went back as should be? Also my lung function test was very good and she was convinced I didn't have any COPD or Bronchiectasis. So can sometimes the lungs hyper inflate when you've got infection then return to normal do you think?

[polarbear54 in reply to Shancock]

Hi Shancock, thanks for responding to me. It's reassuring to know there are people I can talk too. Hopefully it has just ben a bad chest infection causing this. I will keep you posted.

[Shancock in reply to polarbear54]

Your welcome, I've just remembered what my specialist told me, anyone can show hyoerinflated lungs on an x Ray she said just depends on how deep breath you take at the time they take the X-ray it absolutely needs investigating but it is no definitive diagnosis and a CT scan will show far more detail. So hyperinflated lungs on an X-ray does not necessarily mean you have COPD. So at this stage try not to panic too much.

[polarbear54 in reply to 2greys]

Hi 2greys. Thanks for responding to me. It's reassuring to know there are people I can talk too. I will keep you posted.

[santisuk in reply to 2greys]

See my comment casted in your (and, less specifically others) direction in a comment I posted against the OP Polar Bear later in this thread. Cheers!

[Lizzie34 in reply to 2greys]

Fantastic infomation

[Shancock]

You do need to have a CT scan, it cannot be diagnosed with just an X-ray, and a lung function test (spirometry test).

My X-ray showed what they thought was Bronchiectasis then I had ct scan and it didn't. So X-rays aren't good enough to base a diagnosis.

[Fleurbaby in reply to Shancock]

That is true about CT scan! Copd is pretty invisible to CT. Spirometry & gas blood test, or a basic 6minute stress test will tell the experts everything.

[polarbear54 in reply to Fleurbaby]

Hi Fleurbaby, Thanks for responding to me. It's reassuring to know what the tests are going to be like. I will keep you posted.

[Shazrab]

Hi polarbear, I have copd and also been told I’ve got large lungs, my breathing issues have been bad since 2015/2016 I got so many tests done I honestly couldn’t tell you what ones gave them the copd answer. I did have a few X-ray s ct scans and more recently over past few years a lot more tests as I have a condition were my body keeps making blood clots and they can’t tell me it’s call chronic thrombotic lung disease, I’m really just wanted to say hello and I hope your drs get to the bottom of this quickly as I know worry about what’s going on in our bodies can be so frightening and stressful please keep us informed on how you get on . I wish you all the best 🌹🌹

[polarbear54 in reply to Shazrab]

Hi Shazrab, Thanks, I will keep you posted.

[Ergendl]

Good luck with the tests. Do let us know how you get on.

[polarbear54 in reply to Ergendl]

Thanks Ergendl, I will.

[Meowgirl]

HI polariser, you will have spirometer tests, blowing into a tube that measures your puff, oxygen levels while walking for 6 minutes if I remember correctly then more controlled tests using graphics on a monitor but nothing you have to do is painful or invasive xx

[polarbear54 in reply to Meowgirl]

Thanks Meowgirl, that's reassuring coz I am a big coward.

[polarbear54]

Hi RedSox Thank you. I will keep you posted.

[santisuk]

Comment directed to the respondents like Two Greys on here that seem to have a good working knowledge of COPD/empysema.

I'm a bronchiectasis sufferer and find the 63 page guide issued as guidelines for practitoners on bronchectasis (or some such title) by the British Thoracic Society extremely valuable detailed advice on every aspect of diagnosis, expectations, treatments and maintenance. Albeit now a little long in the tooth - updates promised and in progress to the current 2010 publication - its the closest I've found to a 'bible' on the condition.

Is there something similar on COPD/emphysema that could be recommended to the myriad posters (much more than for the less common bronchiectasis). It wouldn't replace the good summary guidance and tips that you guys and gals provide because the initial requests are for the kind of high level experiential advice that you all give - bibles are at first arrival a little indigestible but in the second wave answer so many questions of detail.

[2greys in reply to santisuk]

Read my reply again, where I state "if you have COPD". Yes I do have a working knowledge of COPD/Empysema, I have spent over 2 years studying the condition, because I suffering with it. I have also studied NSLC extensively for the same reason. Not being a big head, but if somebody asks a question that is related to my own, then I feel obliged to answer to the best of my knowledge.

[santisuk in reply to 2greys]

I must have phrased my comment badly then 2greys as I interpret your response as being a response to what you thought was a criticism from me. If you re-read my post with the added explanations herein you might see that I was not doubting your ability to answer questions. In fact I was confirming it. My point was to ask you and other similarly helpful sufferer regular respondents to nebie questions whether you knew if there was a COPD/Emphysema bible-like publication similar to one that exists for bronchiectasis and a suggestion that helpful people like you could add a reference to such a publication if it exists when responding to newbies posts in addition to giving your own helpful experiential sufferer advice.

I wasn't implying any criticism as might have been logically taken if I had said "there is a publication called '[whatever it's called, if one such does exist]' and you should have told the OP about this rather than giving your own views".

[2greys]

I will concede to your point and understand the limitations and confusion that can arise from forums having been on the "Web" since '95, please see your pm that i am about to write.

[santisuk in reply to 2greys]

Many thanks 2greys. I agree with your point about the limitations of written interactions, notwithstanding I think we can all agree that internet forums* like these provide a huge net benefit.

Thanks for the PM too from which I detect that there is a wide range of authoritative material around in the COPD/emphysema arena (both US and UK) so it's less easy to plump for one particular comprehensive, reliable and digestible source such that helpful posters like you could include in recommendations to newbies to the condition(s).

For avoidance of doubt I was not planning myself on trying to get involved in responding on these conditions. Have enough to do with managing my two conditions, bronchiectasis and osteoarthritis and commenting on those wherever I think it can be helpful

*fora may be the gramatically correct word, but always looks to me to be awkward and like a typo when used!

[2greys in reply to santisuk]

* Precisely why I will not use it, it creates confusion of intent.

[Joblogg]

Hello there ,I have also had a recent chest X-ray ,as became very breathless over short space of time .I have asthma anyhow ,so thought this was a flare up .had the chest X-ray which shows hyper inflated lungs suggestive of copd . This has devastated me as I live alone and care for my elderly parents .I also work in the nhs .I want to continue my nursing role .just waiting for ct of lungs now ,and considering a private appt with a respiratory specialist .I am so glad to have found this excellent site .take care .regards