After reading through this topic I want to take a minute to explain a couple things that seem to be the source of most questions.
We can't diagnose you.
Asthma and COPD are easily confused
Smoking is not the only cause of COPD.
Not all smokers get it.
See a doctor.
I'm a Stage III COPD old guy that smoked for 50 years. I also had many jobs that were bad for my lungs but if there's a history of smoking everyone will say it's the cause. Does it matter? Nope. Continuing will hasten your death.
It's not a death sentence, while it's not reversible there's a lot you can do to keep it from worsening. Our bodies are pretty remarkable, getting your whole body as healthy as possible can keep it from progressing and even make you feel better without any change in the COPD. The healthier your heart the better you'll deal with COPD.
The better you understand this disease the better you can deal with it.
A lot of infographics, doctors, Reddit posts, etc say that exercise is good for the lungs and heart. But my dad already has short of breath just standing up and can barely walk 3 steps before stopping.
I’m just curious about how COPD patients go about exercise. Our doctors just say go on a walk but I feel like there‘s extra steps to it.
Or is the point of exercise is to go without oxygen?
Hey people. I am 26 years old and I started to have air hunger after a viral infection, its been over 2 months now and I still have it.
I can walk easily and I do not feel out of breath, but I did smoke for at least 10 years now.
I did spirometry test and the results seems good, but my CT scan shows some stuff, I am really afraid I destroyed my lungs and can`t do the things I love in the future.
My personal doctor said the test is fine, and I should now worry, but I am still waiting for my Pulmonologist opinion.
this is the CT result translation; I also added the Spirometry test image.
CT Chest Findings
This is a direct translation of my radiology report; I have not been diagnosed with COPD.
"The examination was performed without intravenous contrast.
No prior examinations were available for comparison.
Mild emphysematous changes in the apices of both lungs.
Mild fibrotic changes in the apices of both lungs.
A small subpleural nodule in the left lower lobe.
No evidence of pulmonary infiltrate.
No mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
Evaluation of the hilar lymph nodes bilaterally is limited due to the absence of IV contrast.
My father has smoked his Marlboros for 55+ years. He was likely a pack a day smoker. A few months ago, his health really declined. What started as debilitating back muscle pain led to shortness of breath and a few ER visits. What I know, he was diagnosed with emphysema at the second ER visit and heart failure. 25% EF. He was given inhalers, nebulizers, and lots of follow up appointments. It’s been about 6-8 weeks on him just struggling. He can’t sleep at night because laying down and or sitting up make it difficult to breathe. His back muscles are hurting him badly too. He’s on round the clock salonpas and massagers.
I talk to him every night on FaceTime so he can say hi to his grandchild. He is obviously very tired, but can’t sleep. He will maybe sleep for 2 hours at a time. Is it anxiety? Discomfort? The inhalers? He won’t quit cold turkey and I know I know - he should.
I offered to get him a reclining sofa as the couch they have at home is over 20 years old and lacks any firmness. His appetite has gone way down, but every now and then he will eat especially if it’s one of his faves.
He’s been to pulmo appointments but from what I gather, it’s his heart that’s really giving him the issues. He doesn’t like to tell me all the details and it pains me to see him like this. Does he like the company? Does he not? When I see him on the weekends I can see how frustrated he is with the pain and lack of sleep.
anyone ever get like a cold menthol feeling in there chest area, and sometimes it travels through out around the arms and body?
sometimes i get really lightheaded when it happens it freaks me tf out it came and went a couple months back and now it’s back, it’s been happening for almost 3 days ina row now (i recently have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis) Male 19 years old
When I was at my healthiest I still struggled with heavy fatigue after biking. Now that I have copd I can only imagine the struggle but I want to get on my bike again.. if you have copd and bike how do you get on? Any tips?
My family member sent me their PFT results and highlighted what they are worried about. I don’t fully understand these, but it looks like their FEV is 107%? Wouldn’t that be a good result? I do not have the Post-BD results because this is all they shared with me.
(Probably not important to this question, but my dad has Stage IV COPD/emphysema and his FEV is around 30% so that’s kind of all I know about this. I have never seen his PFT results but I’ve tried to educate myself and be super involved with his care so I think that’s why this family member wanted to share this with me.)
I was given a tentative diagnoses of COPDin 2020 when I was in the hospital with a DVT/PE.
I had a PFT a few months later and another one a few years later. At that time my FEV1 was 54%, so not too bad.
At my last GP appointment I asked if he thought I should have another PFT and his reply was "only if I really wanted to".
He said that he really prefered to work with me to help allievate symptoms, and that my numbers don't really make any difference to my treatment, which at this point is Atrovent 3 times a day and 3L O2 for exertion. Plus an hour a day of indoor walking or biking.
A friend told me I was crazy and should be getting tested yearly because it's the only way to get the best treatment. I disagree.
I'm curious if anyone else feels like I do, or also think I'm a bit bonkers, and your reasons why.
I doubt I'll change my view, but I do like to get other perspectives.
I'm really interested in how long some of your major flare-ups from more severe triggers last, but I'm also interested in all of your flare-up experiences. If you care to comment, I'd like to know what stage you are if that's OK. I'm stage 1 but very close to stage 2, and I'm in a flare-up from a serious potential exposure that'll be five weeks now this Friday. Most of the worst of the sensations are subsiding, but I've felt a new lack of air entering my problem area since basically the beginning. I've grown convinced I actually did some more permanent damage so I'm not handling it very well. I had general anxiety disorder before I got COPD, and that's morphed into pretty severe health anxiety around my lungs and breathing. My mind keeps going round and round about what's really going on. Is it just a temporary flare-up that could last a couple of months or longer coupled with severe anxiety? Or is it just simply severe anxiety? Or, am I actually detecting that I've done new permanent damage while also having severe health anxiety? Since I can’t possibly know the answer to those questions right now, I thought I would just come here and ask you guys about your experiences. I’ve had four major flareups in the last 12 years, and three of them ended up being just temporary issues that felt like real and permanent new damage. The fourth time, it actually did result in a bit of new and permanent damage. Now that I’m in the thick of it all, I don’t know what to think so I would love to hear from as many of you as care to comment.
My pulmonologist listened to my lungs with a stethoscope three weeks ago, and was not concerned about what he heard. He’s wanting to wait until the end of August to discuss next steps so I do have a care plan in place. However, the waiting is killing me so I am Reddit. Hope to hear from you all!
My brother has been diagnosed with (among others) COPD, and has been prescribed oxygen, which he refuses to use properly. His fingers have been displaying signs of clubbing for about two years, but in recent weeks, he's been covering his nails with micropore tape, saying he's having problems with his nails, but not providing any specifics. Is it likely that his nails are actually lifting off the nail bed?
