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paulc20- profile image
18 Replies

If you have been diagnosed with COPD & don t have a cough but breathing difficulties at times is it Emphysema ?

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paulc20- profile image
paulc20-
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18 Replies
Caspiana profile image
Caspiana

Hello paulc20- .

I doubt anyone here can diagnose your condition. It is very hard to say as everyone is different. My condition his not under the copd umbrella but when I was first diagnosed I did not have a cough. Now I have a bit of cough but it is dry. My impression of emphysema is patients usually have a productive cough. But again, I'm no expert. I think I you will need the guidance and test run by a professional to give you answers.

Best wishes,

Cas xx 🌼🌱

oulpete2 profile image
oulpete2 in reply to Caspiana

Hi Paul, I have exactly as you describe with a little phlegm. Under slight exertion I become very breathless but on the flat ok. A recent test was to see how far I could walk in 6 minutes, carefully calibrated, it was 300 strides, which pleased me no end. I nebulise Ventolin 4xdaily along with Trimbow 2xpuffsx twice daily. Hope this shows you are not alone, all the best. Oulpete.

oulpete2 profile image
oulpete2 in reply to oulpete2

Sorry, I have been diagnosed with Emphysema.

Badbessie profile image
Badbessie

I have moderate emphysema. I rarely cough or produce sputum. The best person to answer your question fully is your specialist. The affects of copd can be very individual and without the results gathered by your doctor any answer on here would at best be a guess.

garshe profile image
garshe

I have severe COPD. Diagnosed 9yrs ago. Had a cough when diagnosed but gave up smoking immediately .now never have a cough or phlegm.I take Mucodyne every day. Everyone is different though. My husband has mild COPD and he has a cough.

barbs47 profile image
barbs47

Hi I was diagnosed with emphysema over 25 years ago. I do not have a cough except when I’ve got an infection Barbs x

peege profile image
peege

Here in the uk copd means you have either emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Other countries may include asthma under the umbrella term of copd.

As badbessie says, only a medic can tell you which element you have. I think a (but not sure) that a CT scan and a lung function test are your best options for diagnosis. Good luck, P

peege profile image
peege in reply to peege

PS over the years I've read here that many people with copd improve with regular exercise, heathy weight, healthy diet, avoiding the bugs by using hand hygiene & people with coughs, colds, sneezes

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

Hi most people have copd with either chronic bronchitis as the primary conditon but with emphysema as well, or vice versa.

My copd nurse told me it is possible to have purely one or the other too. CB is damage to the upper airways and E the lower - the aveoli. x

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

Much too complicated for me I'm afraid. I gave a broad outline for the poster as explained to me by my doctor. x

wheezybronch profile image
wheezybronch

You need to have a consult with your doctor/consultant re your breathlessness so your treatment can be updated if need be. Emphysema is under the COPD umbrella along with ; Chronic bronchitis,chronic asthma and some doctors include some bronchiectasis patients. Like any lung diseases you need to keep your chest as clear as possible, keep exercising so that you make the most of whatever lung function you have remaining. Just getting breathless should not persuade you to stop exercising, more advice can be found on the BLF site or by ringing their helpline;

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

I have bronchiectasis and tracheobronchomalacia and when feeling breathless found myself panicking, this may be part of your problem, it is quite understandable but is completely counter productive.

Incidentally, have you been on a pulmonary rehabilitation course ?

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

My brain is stuffed full of cotton wool and I can't think of other Monday music choices I haven't already used. Can you? Otherwise I was thinking of having a break this week and doing a quiz instead? x

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

Ah thank you have picked one now. x

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

Aw thank you. It's good to know others enjoy it. x

SquirrelsHolt profile image
SquirrelsHolt

Thank you @RedSox for your very detailed explanation of COPD & Bronchitis. I never knew there were over 64 variations either. Thank you for the I do and I trust you picked your Monday song?

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuff

Oh my goodness I just deleted my reply. I thought I'd stopped doing that 🙄

Another suggestion would be landscapes like forest, seaside or mountain.

Anyway hypercat54 we need our music Mondays and as you can see we've given this some thought because it's Very Important so please keep doing these.

Spacecat1 profile image
Spacecat1

It could be. I don't cough. I have phlegm stuck in throat. So take carbestine from the docs helps sometimes. Have they diagnosed emphysema. If not might be worth seeing doctor so he can arrange e ray especially as you are struggling with your breathing

Durcot profile image
Durcot

My doctor said I have sever COPD and sever ASTHMA.

With some traces of EMPHYSEMA. I can agree because I was a heavy smoker 20 years qgo.

So what, I'm not giving up, you dont either

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