Emphysema mild

[Jadex1986]

Hiya all I had a chest xray 6 weeks ago and was called onto my docs yesturday where he said I have a little damage to my lungs and it's mild emphysema. I've googled a lot since then and it all looks very gloomy. Does anyone have or have any advice for me. I'm only 32 have previously smoked and have a family history of COPD but come from a line of bricklayers on my dad's side. I feel I've not been given any solide advice the doc kind of pushed me out the door xxxx

[stone-UK]

Hi

Best advice you have already taken give up smoking, without being paranoid keep away from secondhand smoke, smoke filled environment, bonfires bbq etc. Beware of any toxic fumes which can cause irritation, if it makes you gasp or takes your breath away it may be or become a trigger.

Exercise and sensible diet will slow down the progression tremendously.

Being mild with common sense you can lead a near normal life Don’t google to much it can be to scary and unfounded.

[Jadex1986 in reply to stone-UK]

Thankyou I've just gone to my docs to get a print off of my results and it says "both lungs appear emphysematous so assuming this means emphysema??

[corriena]

You have done the hardest part to looking after your health long term by giving up smoking well done. Plenty of exercise and a good diet are your next steps. Then probably awareness. Chest infections can cause damage to your lungs so try and look after your immune system as defence is the best way to stop any progression of your empacemia. I was diagnosed as sever when i was mid 30s im still sever early 50 but i am better now than i was then by following the advice from my specialists and from the very knolageabl people on hear.

[Shancock]

It's odd that they diagnosed with an X-ray as an X-ray really shows very little. You should see a COPD nurse at the very least. But I suggest you ask (insist) for a referral to a respiratory specialist who can arrange for you to have a spirometry test, to look at how well your lungs function. If there's doubt they'll do a CT scan as that shows a real picture of the lungs and is the real way to diagnose this type of condition.

[Jadex1986]

This is what I was told too. To be honest my doctor really should have explained more to me. I've had to book my own tests even though it states on my results further investigation required. I've googled and it does say an xray won't give me an dianoises. When I spoke to a nurse from this website yesturday she also said with a chest infection your lungs can expand and also they should have organised a follow up 8 weeks after a infection too. I'm just lost with it all . Thankyou for replying xxx

[Ergendl]

I joined this site when I was diagnosed with moderate COPD in 2015, and tried out all the good suggestions others posted. From what people said, I've worked out I've got emphysema rather than chronic bronchitis because I don't have a lot of phlegm. I do a lot of singing and run some weekly singing groups. I also increased the number of steps I do daily from an average of 2500 in 2015 to regularly doing 10,000 this year. The result of that is that at my last chest clinic review I had improved from moderate lung function to the low end of normal function, with just the dip in the curve to show I've still got a restrictive lung condition. I've never felt fitter for a long long time.

So my advice is, take your diagnosis as a wake-up call and make some changes. It's okay to make them gradually so that you can cope with them on a daily basis and work to improve them. Just keep working to get healthier, and as a member on here once advised, don't commit suicide by sofa.

[adapting in reply to Ergendl]

Thank you, this is so motivating!