Neurologist?

[challny]

My pulmonary doctor has made an appointment for me with a neurologist. Has anybody ever heard of seeing one of these for emphysema/asthma? It seems strange to me.

[Ergendl]

Curious. Have you had back trouble?

[challny in reply to Ergendl]

No, no back trouble. My pulmonologist feels that my breathing complaints don't match my spirometry numbers. I'm maxed out on meds but feel SOB and fatigued all the time. She says my FEV1 is 70 percent. Frankly, I just think that's wrong. I've gone down hill in the last few months. My 02 sats are dropping, too. Not wildly, but from a near constant 98 for 2 years to 96, even once to 94. I do manage decent walks (3 miles) and continue rehab, but it's not easy. I sleep terribly. I don't know what a neurologist can do for me. Actually, I don't even know what they do. My inhalers don't seem to help me at all. I have emphysema with "some" asthma. I think the emphysema is my big problem.

[Ergendl in reply to challny]

Neurologists look at things like nerve pathways. Everything in our bodies has nerves connecting then to the brain and other structures to help them work. It sounds like your pulmonologist is checking that there is nothing fundamental causing a problem there, before he or she then explores other possibilities. Finding out what is wrong is a sort of medical detective story - some avenues may be red herrings, so don't get too worried about it at this stage. Hope you get a diagnosis and the right treatment soon.

[challny in reply to Ergendl]

You sound pretty knowledgeable, @Ergendl; thanks for your input. I'm pretty skeptical about seeing a neurologist, but I suppose my pulmonary doctor knows more than I do. Hope all is well with you, and, again, thanks.