Hey anyone who's reading this, I'm 30yo, smoked since i was 18, just a month ago became a dad for the first time and very soon after the birth i got pneumothorax on my right lung, spent a week hospitalized with a chest tube.
Obviously quit smoking the first day i got in the hospital. Went to a check up 2 days ago, did a CT scan before and now they tell me that on top of the cyst that i have which caused the pneumothorax i have emphysema in both lungs.
Still don't know what stage or how severe and my lung doctor appointment will be in a few months. I've been coughing a little this past few weeks with very little phlegm but feeling tired all day and now i notice a weird chest sound when inhaling air thru the mouth.
I don't know how to deal with all this, the internet just made it so much scarier, and i get so down when i look at my newborn and think that when he grows up i won't be able to be the healthy energetic dad i wanted to be. I try to be strong for my wife but i feel like falling apart.
Probably no solution can come of this but just wanted to vent and maybe someone was in my position and has tips on how to deal with all this.
Thanks for reading anyway.
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HagiHood
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Hello HagiHood. (Is there a story behind the name?)
Although you have a history of smoking you do seem to me to be very young to have emphysema. My first thought is anti-tripsin-deficiency. That can be ruled out with a simple blood test. Second thought: my condition looks very like emphysema. In fact the very first consultant I saw diagnosed me with emphysema. So if you feel comfortable I would suggest a little polite pushing for more explanation. Start compiling a list for your next appointment. Members here say don’t use Doctor Google. However, I do and have and I would not have got the diagnosis if I hadn’t informed myself as much as possible. This is a great forum and whatever king condition you have you will get shedloads of hell, advice and support.
Hi Katinka, you didn’t say what your actual condition is other than emphysema? I have to be honest and wondered about my own emphysema dx.....I have no cough and no phlegm just escalating breathlessness upon exertion.
I have two things going on inside my rib cage: chronic thromboembolic disease (damage to blood vessels) which caused obliterative bronchiolitis (damage in the small airways). Both rare and took forever to diagnose.
Hmmm.... Not really. Azithromycin can help some OB patients but it didn’t help me. Caspiana has OB as a result of rheumatoid arthritis and as I am sure you have read in her posts here she had a lung transplant. Luckily mine is not as severe as hers and is almost stable, deterioration is very slow. The CTED part of my condition is not addressed at all as according to the experts I do not have pulmonary hypertension. (Actually, I do, long story, aren’t they all?)
Thanks for the reply and yes very familiar with Cas’s story. Glad it is very slow progression and at least at this point has not gotten as bad as Cas’s did,
Bless your heart 💖. How awful for you. Good you have given up smoking 🚬. Let’s hope that they say it’s not too severe and your lungs clear up a little bit with not smoking. Your new baby son is a great incentive for you to carry on and try to improve your health. He will need you to play football ⚽️ with.
I have smoked cigarettes for 44 years and trying to stop every so often .
If your chest sound continues after the weekend it might be a good idea to see your G.P.
Good luck 😉 with everything and congratulations 🥳 on your son and stopping smoking. Take care. Lynn xxx
A very warm welcome to you HagiHood. I have a different lung condition than you but you should gain a lot of informtion and support here. Congratulatins on the birth of your son.
Hey yo pops” your son may say that one day, good job you quit smoking just like that! I can’t count how many times I quit then failed then quit again and failed til I finally quit permanently in 2012. You should talk to your wife about your fears and concerns along with your” here’s what I’m gonna do about it” list. You have a lot of years to get through with this woman, do what you would want her to do if roles were reversed at the same time remembering she’s going through some stuff of her own physically. Imagine sitting on the toilet and pooping out a 10lb turd ! Yes fellas out there- it be like that. You have to have a Dr. you fully trust, you have to avoid triggers, you have to take care of yourself, you don’t want cigarette smoke around your family! Hang in there it’s all gonna work out✌🏼
My husband was diagnosed with bronchiectasis (another lung condition) aged 28. He is now 75. In between we have had 2 children, and lived a full and happy life. Yes, there have been ups and downs health wise in recent years, but he still makes the most of life and has fun with his grandchildren.
Others will tell you that knowledge is the key and I wish we had had both the internet and this forum when we started out. Eat healthily, exercise once you are well again, take any meds you are prescribed, and don’t panic!
Congratulations on your new baby, I hope you soon feel well enough to fully enjoy him. Let us know how you get on.
Thanks everyone for reading and supporting! You made me feel much better about my new situation. Right now I'm trying to stay calm and wait for my tests which will tell me where my condition stands.
Hopefully I will have some better news soon. Thanks again everyone.
I was diagnosed with copd at 45 then 5 yrs ago empyhsemic you sound way to young get a second opinion pls congratulations on your new son and for stopping smoking go to docs ask questions don't leave it doctors have been wrong with diagnosis before
You have done the best thing you possibly could by having stopped smoking. I have had Emphysema now for 30 years and still manage to enjoy my life although as I get older things are slowing down but then they would have anyway as I am now 70 but its not all doom and gloom. You have a new baby concentrate on him. Don't smoke or vape, eat healthily and the key to it all is keep as fit as you can. Even a good daily walk with your son will keep you going and he will love his time with you. Best of luck
Congratulations on becoming a dad. You are bound to feel a bit shell shocked. Try not to over think things you are still recovering from your collapsed lung. Try and remember how you felt befor this happend. Thear is no reason why you cant get back to that level of fitness again. You have given up smoking this is the most important thing for your recovery and long term health. Healthy eating and exercise are also important. Dont pay to much attention to the internet stick to NHS sights and others of a similar rep. It sounds as if you are a bit wheeze may be a good idear to see your gp incase you have a infection. I agree at such a young age you should be checked for the alpha one antitryipsin deficiency. This will make no real difference to the treatment or long term prognosis. Push for information from your consultant. Apart from shortness of breath on exertion ther is often no other signs. Please ask on hear somone is bound to be able to help if you have any concerns.
Ps i was diagnosed with emphcemia at 35 (sever) i have the alpha one antitryipsin deficiency but im still enjoying life at 54
Hi HagiHood and welcome to the site. Well done on stopping smoking and congratulations on the birth of your son, what a gift. Take time to recover from your collapsed lung and try to eat well and keep as fit as you can, which will help. There are alot of people on here with emphysema who can give you good advice so ask questions. I wish you well and hope you have a speedy recovery x
Using Google is okay but just remember not everything you read is true or accurate. Some of it will be older information and doctors have learned a lot over the years. There currently is no cure but you are young enough that the probability of a cure during your lifetime is pretty good, given the advances being made in research. You are pretty young to have been diagnosed so hope you are still in the mild stage and now that you have quit smoking you may stay at the stage for many years.
Welcome. Please stay off google. I was diagnosed over 5 years ago. I tell ya I was mortified. Didn’t want to buy anything because I wouldn’t be around to enjoy it. Fast forward to present day, exercising about six days a week for approximately 40 minutes a go. Taking medicines on time, actually not doing anything less than I was. I have been told I am better now than before diagnosis. Sometimes have a down day but still continue to carry on. Used to be in garden all the time but a case of melanoma slowed that down. Sorry to ramble, long story short enjoy each and every day, never give up, you have a little one to guide thru life. 🐞
I was diagnosed 20 years ago and for a good few years it had no real affect on my life and then about 10 years ago it started to affect my life seriously.
Now it controls my life, even on oxygen 24/7 any physical activities will have me out of breath.
I have found the medical profession will look after your meds but you need to keep yourselves fit, the fitter you are the more able you will be able to handle the effects.
Do not start smoking again
Best wishes
Don't fret. My first ex wife (the witch) had a lung colapse some 25 years ago on holiday in Belgium. She smoked and smokes like a trooper. They told her she had emphysema. Today still fine, no medication or anything unlike me!
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis at such a young age. On the brighter side it is not too late for your body to repair itself. I cannot advise on the medical side but their is no doubt that you can help yourself enormously. Good diet, keeping the weight down, regular exercise and daily deep breathing exercise (just while watching telly) will help to ensure that you enjoy a long and healthy with your family. My mother was diagnosed at age 50 with severe empbysemia and lived to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren. As your health improves from this setback your positivity will grow. Good luck you all.
Hi HagiHood and welcome to the forum sorry to hear your bad news but on the forum you will find lots of good advice covering all lung related issues and there are regular posts I've found it's the best way to fathom out such issues, there are many meds and methods for our problems so there is a lot of promising options but keeping your docs etc up to date and write things down you want to say when you go to appts, it may seem a lot to take in at first but it's the best way to get familiar with all the jargon it's important they get you on the right meds and this can be some trial and error, there are lots they can do to help and are progressing all the time, advice on the forum is a great help and will help you better understand your condition as you are not alone and will be able to relate to other members issues this can be very helpful when you have to chat with docs etc, we do manage and cope for the most part and keep at your docs if you are not happy with any meds if you think they are not helping much what suits one person might not suit another person so try to be persistent if you are not happy with any meds but you do have to try new meds for a time before they take effect, I hope this will be of some help to you best wishes and take care.
Hi RedSox Having lived on both sides of the pond a ball is either for me. ⚽️🏈Both as good in my mind. Hopefully you are having a good day/night 😊Take care. Xxx 😚
Hi sorrry to hear that you don't think you will be an able & superfit father. As long as you give your child the attention and care he/she should expect. If you can't do things you can't do, but love what he/she does and let them know your feelings. They should be able to understand as disabled fathers know.
At your age there are treatments out there that will help, but emphysema does not get better so don't wait for it to clear up. Do some research to see what can be available to you talk it thro' with your Physician to see what course of action you can take.
Don't beat yourself up about it, accept it and then move forward.
Hello I have emphysema also have had it for 6yrs I’m also a father I’m 46 been in hospital countless times don’t be afraid just stay away from cigarettes if you can it’s such a slow disease you will live a normal life as long as you take your medication it seems you may have the first stage I have stage 2 I have attacks almost every week almost died on a number of occasions again don’t be afraid I can now control the attacks but have lost the ability too walk I’m in a wheel chair I can feel my legs but I carried on smoking for the six years silly mistake but I have quit and even at stage 2 I can breath really well with medication and standing up on occasions besafe be well hope this helps
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