Chest X Ray results

[dan2k7]

Hello, I hope everyone is keeping OK. I have had episodes of feeling breathless for several years. I have had numerous tests conducted. I have finally got the results from an X Ray 11 months ago and the results are concerning me.

I had a telephone consultation with a doctor who said he had reviewed all of my tests and had no concerns. However in the letter I was sent it said that the chest x Ray showed some trapped air possibly as a result of COPD. Has anyone had similar? I am just very confused and anxious at the moment.

[Troilus]

Yes. I have. I had what I thought was an asthma attack (although I had no indication prior that I had asthma. Treated with nebuliser and oxygen at home. Ambulance to hospital, more nebs. Another ecg and chest x ray. More nebs. I was asked if I smoked or had ever smoked, which I had ( I’d supposed two years prior because of the cost) I was told I had hyperinflated lung (trapped air pushing the diaphragm down) and therefore I had copd.

I got home and the A&E doctor rang asking me to go back for another ecg. Went back. Heart consultant came to see me to tell me that my ecg looked like I had had a heart attack, but that, although my troponin levels were raised they were not high enough to indicate a heart attack. He said heart problems could cause breathlessness and that I might have silent angina. Said he didn’t want me to go home because I could have a heart attack so I was admitted for 24 hr monitoring and further tests.

Further tests were heart echo and angiogram which came back clear. He then said that he thought my breathlessness had put a strain on the heart and that he wanted to refer me for pulmonary function tests for copd and I got a lecture about not smoking 😡 ( Why don’t these people listen)

Got home, research copd but looking at symptoms my episode looked like asthma. PFT’ s were done. Asthma. I was 63.

I would be inclined to speak to your GP. If you haven’t already got a blue inhaler I would ask for one - I’m not offering up a diagnosis here, but if you still have trapped air then the blue inhaler might just open up the airways to let the air out.

[dan2k7 in reply to Troilus]

Hi thank you for your reply. I have been prescribed a blur inhaler. Whenever i have been feeling breathless I have used it but it has not offered any relief when used.

[Troilus in reply to dan2k7]

What did you GP say? I was discharged from hospital with a course of prednisone and then had another a month later - it reduces any inflammation/swelling in the airways- the blue inhaler just relaxes them, to varying degrees for about 4 hours. You can also get a so called preventer inhaler. These relax the airways for 12 hours and contain a small amount of steroid, but it takes longer for this method to get rid of any inflammation.

I would think that the GP should carry out further investigations to find out why you have air trapping. Could be spirometry/prescribing and monitoring response/asking you to take peak flow readings etc.

[dan2k7 in reply to Troilus]

Hi the doctor is booking me in for a face to face consultation.

They also sent me for spirometry tests. They were OK except for evidence of some air trapping same as chest X Ray.

I have done Peak flows at home, plotted them on a chart as requested. Results quite healthy averaging 700

[Troilus]

I’m pleased your GP is investigating. Hopefully you will get some answers when you see him/her

[dan2k7 in reply to Troilus]

I do hope so, thank you for your replies.