Looking for help understanding my Emphysema & breathing test results ..

[Mizzymac]

Hi am 42 years old i was diagnosed with COPD when i was 26, Now i have Bullous emphysema , Half my left lung is an empty sack also it's all over my right lung now to .. My lung specialist told me there's an Operation he could put me forward for but as i was still a smoker he couldn't but if i went back to him in four months & told him I've stopped he'd refer me for this operation . I'm now on day 9 of using the patches so far so good !!

I came across my breathing test results from doctors surgery from last year it goes like this .

VC FEV1 FVC PEF VAR

Base 0.98 1.16 2.99

base 0.92 1.15 3.09 -3%

base 0.87 1.07 2.77 - 9%

Index base %pred ( min pred max ) units

VC 1

FEV1 0.98 31 2.36 3.20 4.04 1

FVC 1.16 30 2.81 3.81 4.81 1

PEF 2.99 36 6.22 8.21 10.20 1/s

FEV0.75/FVC 75

LUNG AGE 71

DYSPNOEA 3

I know i've had this condition for many years but i am very ignorant to it all ,I guess as i still smoked & wasn't prepared to help myself whats the point in wasting there time explaining it to me, so it all went over my head until now I know I've a lot of questions i should of asked when i seen my lung specialist last unfortunately i didn't ask ...I've joined this site to try get a better understanding of my lung condition so i can understand what my specialist is talking about Any help more than welcome ! .

Thanks mizzymac.

[Jo_BLFHelpline British Lung Foundation]

Hi Mizzymac

Well done for not smoking - a hard thing to stop.

If you can contact us with your details we can arrange for you to speak to one of our nurses regarding your spirometry results - spirometry results can be complex and if possible it can be easier to discuss them over the phone.

03000 030 555 or e mail us at [e-mail]

We can also help with all of those questions you have - we are here to help.

Cheers

Jo

[tiesto]

Hi Mizzymac. I cant help with your question but i would like to say well done with your no smoking and hope everything goes well in the future : )

[Mizzymac]

Thanks Jo , i might just give use a call tomorrow ,yes they are very complex to me !! Thanks for supporting me with my stop smoking also thanks to Tiesto as well ,One day at a time it's all i can do, may the god lord be looking down on me giving me strength to beat it ...

Cheers Mizzymac

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Hi and welcome Mizzymac. Best of luck with the fags. The best thing you can do and good luck with it.

[ingy]

Hi Mizzymac, yes good luck with the cigs. Ask yourself this.........What do you want more? a smoke or life? Thats what I did, yes its hard, but it keeps things in perspective. You are still young, and the op could change your life. Best wishes

ingrid

[pollyjj]

Well done stopping smoking, lots of us on here know how hard it is.

polly xx

[Stu1939]

Best of luck with the smoking , I know its hard I'm still craving and I haven't had a fag for over 2yrs.

[jeanghost in reply to Stu1939]

Hi Mizzymac

Keep up the good work. My husband started smoking at about 13 and stopped when he was roughly 67. He used to roll his own and he said he really enjoyed it. We have been married 47 years and for many, many of them I asked him to stop. In the end he made the choice to stop and gave it up just like that, he is now 73.

I have to add that I have never smoked (I tried and never liked it) so I suppose it is hard for me to understand.

Unfortunately my husband was diagnosed with COPD about 4 years ago. He started off on oxygen for a few hours a day and now is on it 24/7. I would not wish it on anyone it completely changes your life. It makes it hard to go out as you need enough cylinders to cover the time you are out and we have to use a wheelchair as the cylinders are too heavy to carry.

I have found this site very helpful and go on it every day.

[Hidden]

Morning, well done with the stopping smoking, its not easy but worth it. Call us here at the helpline if you need any suppport. Take care, keep smiling.

H