2011 told I had COPD during a telephone call from from a GP receptionist. Had spirometer test then told I didn't have COPD. A similar thing happened the following year. Put it out of my head and got on with life.
During the 1st lock down I had a telephone consultation with the GP, told him I got out of breath when walking and he said, "What do you expect you've got emphysema?" I asked since when and he told me 2012. This was a shock as I had forgotten what had been said in previous years.
To cut a long story short I was given an inhaler.
On the 6th October 2023 had excruciating pain in the lung and found it difficult to breath. Was told to phone 999, went to hospital and was told I had a blood clot on the lung and was put on blood thinners. Went back to hospital 4 days later for a CT scan. Told I didn't have a blood clot and was taken off blood thinners. Still not sure what it was although it says on a letter I received - moderate centrilobular emphyematous lungs with upper lobe predominance.
16th December had a spiro test and was told I didn't have emphysema I had asthma.
I am really confused with the contradictions and haven't got a clue whats wrong. I can't get a GP appointment to discuss it.
My question is do you get pain in the lungs with COPD?
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Kezz63
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If I were you, I would l request that your GP refers you to a Chest Physician for an expert opinion regarding your diagnosis and appropriate treatment. It is your right to request such, so don't be put off re potential waiting times, etc. It is important that you have a correct diagnosis .....
In answer to your question yes you can get chest pain from COPD. However the cause should be investigated by your GP. Spirometry is not that good at diagnosis but CT scans are. If the CT scan states you have emphysema then you have emphysema not Asthma. As I have already stated spirometry for various reasons can give erroneous results and I believe the nurse made her "diagnosis" of Asthma based on this and not reading your notes. To be honest I would ask to be referred to a respiratory specialist . Just giving you an inhaler with further education on your condition is not good practice.
Think your question as been answered , you need to be firm about a definite diagnosis, even though there is no cure for these types of illness the treatment its not the same for all. Emphysema is part of COPD , but asthma is a different airway disease. However you can have more than one airways illness, just as you can have more than one type of arthritis. Pain in the lung region needs to be investigate due to the many causes it could be including a serious illness like cancer. or clot that needs tablets . Take care
Good morning Kezz63. I am sorry to hear you are being given conflicting information. I have severe copd and I don't get lung pain and my Asthma was diagnosed with a blood test. Sadly there's no consistency in the way everyone does the job these days. I would suggest you get in touch with your GPS practice manager and tell them you need clarification on what conditions you have. Or be referred to a hospital department to investigate what's going on. Take care and let us know how you get on. Brian
Hi chook, I was told I have copd and after having chest xray told my emphysema hasn't progressed much????? I know they put all these conditions under one umbrella but it would be nice to actually know. Apparently the lungs have no pain receptors it's the tissue and other things that surround them. I am just getting to the end of my antibiotics and still don't know why my ribs are killing me. I think they just palmed me off to be honest with you. Although doctor actually said there wasn't sufficient air going into my right lung? I would ring them back, make an appointment and demand answers, it's your body and that's what they get paid for. Good luck 👍 😉
make a formal complaint to your gp practice. Advise themthey they have failed in their duty of care, and continue to do so. Tell, don't ask, them to secure a prompt appointment with a respiratory specialist. Exactly what you have needs to be ascertained and correct medication is required to attempt to reduce further lung problems or at the very least to control them.
Does sound like you really do need to make strong protest against such poor care
Such incompetance from each person you have seen is mind boggling. I really would insist on seeing a specialist at the hospital. I was treated for asthma for years and kept telling my gp that the inhalers made me worse, she wouldnt listen. Shame she had retired when I got the diagnosis for bronchiectasis and lucky for me I didnt use the inhalers x
Hi Kezz! I think you can judge by others' reactions to your story that your care has been severely lacking. I would go to the surgery and insist on being properly diagnosed as to exactly what is going on in your lungs so as you can receive appropriate medication and care.
As far as pain in lungs, it is tissue etc around them that transfer pain, as Mellywelly said.
I agree, you need specialist advice. I have mild COPD / emphysema… I only got anywhere when I paid to see a pulmonologist privately, best £160 I’ve ever spent… He spent 90mins talking me through my numbers / diagnosis / prognosis. I think respiratory medicine is highly specialised and ‘we’ need the input of specialists to get where we need to be… If your GP won’t refer you through the NHS ask for a private referral on the grounds you need ‘to do some life planning’ your GP can act as a gatekeeper to NHS services but it’s not for them to decide how you spend your own money…
You can't be diagnosed with COPD without spirometry, it's not possible. I don't mean to teach people to suck eggs but the ''O'' in COPD stands for obstructed. Damage seen on imaging will not give you any answers as to whether your breathing is obstructed. It's like looking at a photo of a sunny day and trying to guess the temperature. That photo could have been taken in the middle of summer when it's 30 degrees, or the middle of winter when it's minus 2 degrees.
Damage seen on a scan is actually really common, particularly amongst smokers/ex smokers.When spirometry is performed, many of these people have lung function within the normal ranges, no obstruction, no COPD! That's not to say that it won't turn into COPD in the future, especially if the person continues to hammer their lungs with smoking, dust, chemicals, infection etc.
As others have said, you really need to be seen by someone that is prepared to follow the correct procedures to diagnose your condition , if you have one, correctly.
I was diagnosed a few years ago with copd and I also have asthma. I sometimes get pain in the lungs. I get out of breath quite easily but when I am walking my dog I do push myself walking up a slight incline
the spirometer test measures lung function, a low reading indicates something is wrong but it cannot tell what is wrong, further tests a required to tell the cause. I think the term COPD is thrown about as an excuse to give a quick answer to a patient. At present only two conditions are officially classified as COPD Emphysema and chronic bronchitis both require diagnosis via CT scans, broncoscopy. When I meet my consultant he never mentions COPD only my emphysema and Aspergillosis, my GP only refers to my COPD as he his not experienced with aspergillosis
Oh my goodness. Sounds like you have had great advice from others. Hearing things like this and experiencing them myself, it makes me think the whole world has gone mad.
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