Hay fever turned to COPD. Can this happen?

[pamsshed]

Went to Dr's due to chest infection. Expected to be given antibiotics but Sent to hospital? Pneumonia. Was admitted put on Iv abx. Consultant said not pneumonia, xray showed lower respiratory infection with signs of COPD. I was in total shock. Could this be right? I don't have asthma, just hay fever and Gord. I will be sent for a spirometry check at some point. I am at home now and on prednisone 30mg, amoxycillin 1gm and doxycillin 100mg. Thank you for any help. Pam

PS I first found out I had Hayfever 10 years or so ago.

[peege]

Hello, hang a minute....'signs of copd', not necessarily that it IS copd. Try to wait until you've had the spirometry test. If you do end up having copd it's probably very mild so time to make some adjustments.

Do you smoke? If so, time to quit. Good luck with your results. P

[pamsshed in reply to peege]

Thanks. I have never smoked, but my parents did and being a child of the 1950s most people smoked everywhere. My husband smoked although he now uses ecigs. I know I am panicking, but I know passive smoking can cause it. Thanks for your feedback it is reassuring, I just think about the Grandchildren. Thanks again Pam

[peege in reply to pamsshed]

Same here, brought up in 2nd hand smoke, London pollution and occasional smogs, although I don't have copd my lungs aren't great. There's lots you can do to stay well though so when you've had your spirometry be sure to come back for advice and support if you need to 🌺🌸🌹

[pamsshed in reply to peege]

Thank you very much. Yes I remember going to school in the smog, having to wear a scarf around my mouth and nose. I will let you know what happens.

[hypercat54]

Hi I have never heard of hay fever turning into copd and don't think this is possible. I agree with peege, you have been told there are signs but until you have a spirometry test you won't know. Like peege said even if you do have it it should only be very mild and if you lead a healthy lifestyle you should live forever. x

[pamsshed in reply to hypercat54]

Thank you, that is reassuring.

[hypercat54 in reply to pamsshed]

I was diagnosed mild in my 50's now 10 years later am still mild. As this is a progressive disease there are of course no guarantees but most people these days die with copd rather than from it. x

[pamsshed in reply to hypercat54]

Thank you. I hope you stay well. It just came out of the blue. I am in my 60"s so have been lucky so far.

[casper99]

I had a neighbour who, every year, had hay fever, which gave her Bronchitis. She used to be really poorly with it.

Try not to worry too much, even if you do have it, it's not a death sentence xx

[pamsshed in reply to casper99]

Thank you. It just knocked me for six. I have had chest infections in the past due to the hay fever but just took antibiotics and was OK. Then at the hospital to be told it was likely to be COPD and to have it put on my discharge letter infective exacerbation of COPD I thought how could this happen? Thanks Pam

[Badbessie]

Hay fever could cause some damage as it is an inflammatory process. As others have said signs of "copd" is not a definite diagnosis. From my own experience I had bilateral pneumonia and my lungs on my first CT scan looked very bad. However after treatment my follow up CT scan was much better and a lot less damage than first thought.

[pamsshed in reply to Badbessie]

Thank you.

[Superzob]

No connection between hayfever and COPD, but I have late onset asthma which is common with hayfever sufferers. I also have moderate/severe fixed small airways obstruction, but they don't call it COPD because I never smoked either. Given that yours is "slight" and mine is moderate/severe, and I have few symptoms, I don't think you have much to worry about - just get over the chest infection and have a rest. Don't forget, a lot of respiratory science is based on population averages and you can be deemed to have poor lung function if you are below the standard deviation - but that doesn't mean you have a significant problem as we're all different, and your lungs might be perfectly good enough for YOU. Take it easy and I hope things work out for you in the long run.

[pamsshed in reply to Superzob]

Thank you.

[pamsshed in reply to Superzob]

Thank you

[Superzob]

Small airways obstruction is when you retain some air in the alveoli when you exhale - you can see it as little bright lines on the CT scan. I believe that the alveoli lose their elasticity with age so they don't collapse sufficiently - smoking tends to exacerbate this effect, but also produces other lung conditions, the combination of which is generally referred to as COPD. However, I think this is a bit disingenuous, since small airways obstruction IS a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by any other name and the treatment is much the same (beta2-agonist to help the airways collapse on exhalation). I think the term COPD tends to alarm people (but didn't stop my GP from using it!), but there are various stages, and catching it early is helpful because medical opinion is that treatment can significantly reduce its progress. In fact, stopping smoking puts you back on the same natural lung deterioration curve that affects non-smokers (the deterioration curve for smokers is much steeper). All this is, of course, based on population averages, and none of us is "average". The tests should establish the exact nature of your condition and the most appropriate treatment; that should reassure you and will hopefully reduce the frequency of your lung infections (it certainly helped my incessant colds!).

[donut43]

Go with the flow- you may find your fears unfounded , at least you are being looked at and treated so go with it.

Dan

[pamsshed in reply to donut43]

Will do. Thank you