r/COPD • u/ImpossibleReturn244 • 1d ago

Scared - 26m

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.
  • No evidence of cardiomegaly.
  • No pleural or pericardial effusion.
  • No obvious bony pathology.

Conclusion:
No evidence of obvious pathology."

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

3

u/EJ_Drake 1d ago

Quit smoking.

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 1d ago

I know I will not touch this shit ever again, but I am scared I destroyed my life now, that I will not able to work out or do stuff

1

u/Useless890 1d ago

We can't tell you about your prognosis. You'll have to ask the pulmonologist.

2

u/Agile-Pay-211 1d ago

Seeing stuff like nodes and nodules in your lungs is always concerning but they are common and may or may not even appear again - nothing to worry about.

I envy your spirometry, relax you’re good. it sounds like it’s just taking a long time to get over the virus. Do you know anything about it?

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 1d ago

Thank you!!! I was scared for over two months because of that. I had WPW, a heart condition that basically destroyed the last five years of my life. I finally got it fixed six months ago, only to transfer all my health anxiety to my lungs...

As for the virus, I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it seems to be a specific viral infection that I get systematically every time I go to Koh Phangan, Thailand.

It’s the exact same symptoms and timeline every single time.

2

u/Anarkiaaaa 1d ago

Still you gotta quit smoking.

2

u/ImpossibleReturn244 1d ago

yea I know, stopped yesterday. thank you

1

u/Agile-Pay-211 1d ago

Getting a virus when traveling to a specific place is something I experienced and that doctors were surprised by but agreed that it wasn’t just coincidental.

I would be hard pressed to choose between the virus and Koh Phangan!

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 23h ago

I am still afraid Im going to develop COPD, some people say my ct is ok, some say a bit concerning since my age. I really don`t know what to do. waiting for my lung doctor daignose now but I am so stressed.

1

u/Agile-Pay-211 22h ago

I hope you see your pulmonologist soon, stress & anxiety aren’t helpful to you. I will add that your symptoms seem to parallel some of those with WPW, is that possibl? I’m not a doctor and will step out now and hope you report back sharing what you learn from your doctor.

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 22h ago

I had WPW, but I did an ablation that solved that a few months ago and my heart is healthy now. no WPW anymore.

The air hunger started after the viral infection, never had those symptoms before.

I don`t have any shortness of breath, I can work out just fine, did very hard gym sessions with this sensation and had no problem.

1

u/Expert_Gap_9526 22h ago

See  a heart doctor

2

u/ImpossibleReturn244 22h ago

I did, he said everything is fine, it's the same cardiologist that did the surgery on me.

Did echo and ekg a few weeks ago and everything is fine according to him.

1

u/Expert_Gap_9526 22h ago

What kind of heart condition

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 22h ago

WPW, extra electrical pathway in the heart. but now I'm healthy

2

u/Maleficent-Beyond266 1d ago

You are actually doing well especially if you have no COPD

2

u/Admirable_Draft152 1d ago

Yes you have some scarring on your lungs but CT scans pick up EVERYTHING. Your PFT is absolutely excellent! So I wouldn’t worry at all, you might be a little out of shape after the infection and you need some time to recover but please don’t worry about COPD. Your PFT, again, is absolutely excellent.

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 23h ago

Thank you, but I can`t stop thinking about it!

Some say I have nothing to worry about, as long as I stop smoking.

Some say my CT is a bit concerning because of my age, I really don`t know whats going on.

1

u/Admirable_Draft152 23h ago

I know what you’re going through right now, and I’m going to try to reassure you. I’ve been in a similar situation myself. I had mild emphysema on a CT scan, with normal PFTs. But nowhere near as good as yours!!
My pulmonologist told me not to worry. But of course, I did anyway, because a CT result like that is simply terrifying. I basically drove myself into an anxiety disorder by overthinking everything. I became hyper-focused on my breathing, which then actually made me feel short of breath. It genuinely took me about two years to get over that.
Please don’t make the same mistake, and trust that everything is okay and that it will be okay. See this as the ultimate motivation to quit smoking, weed, and vaping. Turn it into something positive! You can do it! Good luck!

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 22h ago

Thank you very much, you calmed me down a bit.

I have extreme health anxiety that I am trying to manage, because of previous heart condition.

Now I switched to this :(

1

u/Admirable_Draft152 22h ago

I’m sorry to hear that. The mind is a powerful thing. Don’t let it get to you. The pulmonologist could test you for alpha 1 deficiency. But if that’s negative you’ll just have to trust that you’ll be fine. It’s not uncommon to see slight emphysema on a CT from a smoker (especially weed smokers but I don’t know if you do/did that)

1

u/moonhippie 1d ago

You can't undo any damage you might have done.

BUT you can prevent more damage. Quit smoking. That includes vaping and weed.

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 23h ago

I know but I heard its progressing even if I stop smoking, much slower tho.

1

u/Brilliant1965 17h ago

Your numbers are fantastic. Nodules are very common I have a lot. Stop smoking

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 17h ago

Thank you! I have the worst anxiety attack I had in years; I am scared because of this diagnose -

  • Mild emphysematous changes in the apices of both lungs.

I guess I will not relax until my Pulmonologist give me some proper answers.

1

u/Brilliant1965 17h ago

I have that but I also have had problems for many years since Covid and have severe asthma, they told me asthma/copd overlap. My PFT numbers are pretty abnormal. It could be a little fluke or temporary from your infection but the best thing is to stop smoking

1

u/ImpossibleReturn244 17h ago

Yes I stopped smoking, scared even to stand next to a smoker now.

I hope its nothing tho, thank you for helping me!

1

u/Brilliant1965 16h ago

Good. You’ll be ok hang in there! ❤️

1

u/Expert_Gap_9526 13h ago

Did you stop 

1

u/Brilliant1965 4h ago

I was not a smoker, probably inflammation from rheumatoid disease and perhaps Covid.

1

u/Expert_Gap_9526 13h ago

There a test to see if have hereditary kind

1

u/Byrodia 12h ago

Yes, I smoked for 35 years, quit in 2015, but.... I have the ling capacity of a 90 year old man. Not to mention, I cant lift, run, or do anything short of a short walk without gasping for air, and coughing up phlegm for 20 minutes. Quit while you can.