Just spoken with hospital registrar with results of various heart scans due to breathlessness and chest tightness. I have some calcification in an artery so awaiting scan with dye appointment but he said my heart and muscle looked good but he thinks my shortness of breath is caused by my lungs as he said historical lung changes were seen on my ct scan which could be from previous smoking. Any idea what historical changes mean? I had a bad chest infection in December 2020 so could it be that showing?
I’m an ex smoker - gave up in April so I’m assuming I have COPD? He’s going to contact my gp for a referral to respiratory team. is that where they check breathing and give inhalers?
I’m scared as to what it means for me in my future. I can tell my lung function isn’t brilliant but I’m 69 and smoked for many years.
Thanks
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Yoga2011
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Hi Yoga and welcome. I don't know what "historical lung changes" means I'm afraid, but I just wanted to say that even if you do get diagnosed with COPD not to be scared of your future. You have given up smoking which is the best thing you could have done (and the most difficult!), healthy eating and exercise are the two next best things you can do 🙂. These and taking prescribed medications can give you a decent quality of life so please don't be scared.
You have come to the right place to have questions answered, friendly advice and support plus giggles, and we look forward to hearing how you get on. All the best Laurie xx
Thank you for your friendly reply and it’s nice to know advice and support with giggles is here! I don’t really know anyone with COPD apart from a neighbour whose breathing is quite bad with it when she walks up stairs or exerts herself, she’s 66. I’m hoping it won’t be too long before I see the respiratory nurse at the surgery so I know what I have and what to do re inhalers etc. Do you have COPD?
Sorry, I missed your previous posts, but what I say obviously still stands!! I do have COPD and when I was first diagnosed I knew nothing about it so was extremely happy to chance by this place 😃 My consultant and my respiratory team don't go with numbers or grades of the disease, they treat me with what works for me and I trust them on that.
I hope your team is as lovely as mine and that as Alberta says, you may see an improvement with their guidance. Good luck and keep in touch xx
I agree with leo60 . The diagnosis doesn’t change who you are, it simply enables medical professionals to treat the condition. Don’t compare yourself with anyone else with or without the condition, as that can be very misleading because individual symptoms, responses, etc can be very different.
The most important point to remember is that everyone’s lungs deteriorate over time, and the diagnosis of COPD is based on a comparison with the so-called 95percentile population, taking account of age, height, gender, etc; so you would expect everyone’s lungs to deteriorate as they get older. When you stop smoking, the excessive rate of lung deterioration tends to slow down to the same rate as non-smokers; you can’t reverse the damage, but you can slow down any further damage significantly.
My lung age (90) hasn’t changed in the 8 years since I was first diagnosed with moderate/severe COPD (though I never smoked and the only symptoms were incessant winter colds!), so I suspect the treatment has stabilised it (which is obviously what you want any treatment to do); my actual age (73) is gradually catching up with my lungs! So it’s entirely possible that, with the right treatment, your lungs could simply deteriorate at the same rate as everyone else’s.
Welcome to the forum. Leo is right. Hopefully when you've been seen by the respiratory team and given suitable medication, as well as advice about your life style, you will find there is still a lot you can do. I can walk upstairs much more easily than I could prediagnosis. Hopefully you will see improvement too.
I was a little similar, breathlessness and chest pain, referred for heart scans, then cardiac dept realised it was lungs. In my case the lung people then diagnosed asthma.
The lovely thing is they helped me to nearly double my lung capacity with their drugs.
So getting a diagnosis is always scary, but it also means they can help you.
That sounds like me although I do have artery calcification which I’m having another scan for. It’s good to read your lung capacity has got better as I didn’t know that could happen. I’ll be glad when I get the help I need. Not sure I have asthma as I don’t cough or wheeze, only the shortness of breath with the rib tightness sometimes. Thank you
historical lung changes probably refers to lung scarring, it’s the result of age, infections and smoking and it is common. COPD is a name given to emphysema and chronic bronchitis which can be seen on x-ray and CT scan. A broncoscopy is normally used to confirm. I have emphysema and Aspergillosis, the emphysema was picked up by broncoscopy and CT scan when investigated an anomaly in a chest x-ray. A lung function test is an indication of the state of your lungs against an “average” the first sets your current condition and is used as a guide for further tests to see if the lungs are getting better or worse. I was diagnosed 20 years ago and a recent check up shows no significant changes to my lung condition in the last two years I do have inhalers, and have been referred for an other pulmonary rehab course, which can be beneficial if you have shortness of breath
Sorry to read about both your illnesses so thanks for replying. I had a ct scan which picked up the lung changes s thanks for the info on that as I didn’t have a clue what that meant. I’m having another ct scan with dye in January to check the calcification of an artery, they’ve tried one before but couldn’t find a good enough vein lol. I have a peak flow meter I was given years ago by a friend and have started trying it but was horrified by my low number! Think I’ll wait for the respiratory team to test me and diagnose. I’m glad you don’t have any changes to your lungs, good news for you. Pulmonary rehab sounds good and if offered it will definitely go.
Good morning Yoga2011. You have been given some very good advice from people in this group already. Yes it is frightening for all of us when we are 1st diagnosed with copd and you think the worst. But you will hear of people in this group who have been living with the condition for 20 and 30 years. The only other advice I would add. Is when you see your Respiratory nurse for your lung function tests. Ask her about going on a Pulmonary rehabilitation course. Which educates you on how your lungs work and basic exercises that will help you to keep as active and as well as possible with your breathing. Keep in touch with us all and we support each other. Brian
thanks Brian. Everyone has been so helpful and supportive. Yes I’ll definitely go on a rehab course if offered it and I’ll do any exercises they suggest as I don’t want to get worse. I’ll update and keep in touch here. Ruth
I’ve had a ct scan which picked up the lung changes but that’s all I was told, apart from the scan showing I have calcification in an artery. I’m now being referred to respiratory team as consultant thinks my breathing problem may be because of my lungs. They’ve ruled out angina. Thanks
After the CT scan, the consultant should write to your GP with a copy to you, telling the results and diagnosis of the scan, and suggested course of action. This can take a while to happen. How long ago did you have the scan?
I had the scan in June along with ECG and an echocardiogram which was July and my gp hasn’t had any results when I checked last month. But the consultant rang last Friday and said my heart and muscle was good apart from calcification in an artery and historical lung changes. That’s the first time I’ve spoken with him since being referred in May! He’s referring me to respiratory team. Never had any results in writing. I’m also having another try at a dye ct scan in January to check my artery, hospital tried in October but my veins weren’t good enough for the cannula.
Hi, Historical lung changes could mean some scarring due to smoking, or lung damage caused by smoke or pollutants like asbestos - Sounds like COPD - Healthy smoke free living is a must and works, leo60 was spot on.
I’ll be back to yoga in the new year and exercising more now I know I’m not at risk of a heart attack. I’ve been careful not to exert myself as my husband was very worried. I try to eat well but Christmas is coming lol.
Worse thing you can do is worry about what ifs , wait until after your angio results , looks like they are just covering all the bases to see if they can give you a diagnosis and future plan.Worry about the things you can change not the ones you cant.
You’re right but it’s hard not to worry sometimes. It’s good they are covering all bases for me and I’ll get a diagnosis and treatment plan early next year hopefully. Thank you.
I have 14 stents now lost count of angiograms, 3 heart attacks since 1996 . Angiogram ,as you are wheeled out after you will wonder why you were worried so much , if you are really nervous tell them and ask for sedation , it really helps relax you
As long you keep away from dreaded weed it should improve also take up cycling it expands your lungs that's the way forward beat it or it will beat you .
Hi Dean. I haven’t smoked at all and won’t ever again. I’ve been diagnosed with emphysema and have lung function tests in August. Can’t do cycling as my bones aren’t good. Will be getting a treadmill for home for days when I can’t go out. I’ll keep up my yoga as well. Thanks x
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