Routine trip to the doctor

His advice was the very best to give and smoking is ADDING to "normal everyday pollution" plus the dust you work in.  You can't control the other issues, although you should be using protective gear at work, but you can control the MAJOR risk factor.

What you should do next apart from stopping smoking is ask your dr for a spirometry test, which will give you your luing function in % form, and then get yourself to rehab ASAP for learn how to manage it before it gets any worse.  Believe me, it is manageble for many many years before it becomes life-threatening, but the sooner you get on to it the better.   To give you my personal example, I was diagnosed 3 years ago with 70% lung function and it's at the same level because I stay away from cigarette smoke (I'd already given up a few years before) and pollution;  I exercise daily and use specific breathing techniques which make a heap of difference.

I envy you to be diagnosed so early:  you have a good chance of managing the conditon for a very long time

If your lung percentage loss is small you may not need medication yet but there's no point in even finding out if you continue to smoke - sorry, I smoked for decades believing that if it was harming my health I'd stop:  but it was and I stopped far too late and have emphysema/COPD.

Hi ,the only comment I can possibly make is ,,,,YES ,,,STOP ,,,,SMOKING ,

at this stage the benefits you will get from stopping are soo important ,

exersise is brilliant to get the oxygen into our lungs ,but id can't stress how important the smoking issue is ,,,,you have been told by the GP that you gave early stages of COPD. ,,,,,,so you must do everything you can to keep it that way ,,,there IS NO CURE for COPD. ,,,,,so stop now ,,,,don't wait like I did and carry on smoking ,,,only to be told by a consultant (  after being blue lighted into ICU.)  ,,,,,that the next one will kill you ,,,you can't do much to help your self regarding the pollution,,,, we all have to contend with that ,but the smoking ,,,,well that's down to you ,,,,carry on ,,,,no matter how many ,,,,,and the COPD ,,,,,WILL get worse,,,,,don't end up like me ,,,where I can't fly off on holiday because my oxygen levels drop sooooo much even with suplymentary oxygen ,,,,,and I can't go on a crips is as I have a great fear of the water,,,,

you can ask to see your X-ray if that helps you ,,,,I've seen loads of mine over ther years ,,,it doesn't help me ,,,,,

ask your GP to refer you to Pullmary rehab course ,,,they normally take place at your local gym,,,it's abp. 8 week course ,,,run by specialist cooed nurses and physio's ,,,,,they do exersise ,breathing technichs and advise on medication etc ,etc ,they will also tell you to STOP SMOKING ,

take care and do your best to give up ,that's basicly it ,

Hi Lumz......I can read between the lines and what both Jude and Nanny are telling you TRULY comes from their hearts and experience!!  Please heed what they say because you ARE very fortunate to have been diagnosed early.  If your GP won't follow through with a spirometry, then seek a second opinion.

Go back to your doctor and don't allow him to be blase about your condition, tell him you want referred to a specialist and ask to see the report from the hospital with details of your X-Ray.  You have worked all your life and at only 50 I would not let this go.  I am 72 and if my doctor acted like yours he would hear me from Cork and I live in NI !"!! lol Please do not let him treat you like this, you pay your national incurance and taxes so you are entitled to an empathetic and supportive doctor who works for your NHS.. Never let him forget that point.  Hope this helps, Good Luck 

PS. it is you right to see any medical records or reports pertaining to you!!

Does anyone no if stem cell treatment for your lungs works?  I have COPD, I use an ecig and went from 3 packs a day down to half pack.  I walk daily and just started doing yoga.  I don't take any meds or inhalers for breathing. O2 runs 96-97%.  BUT.. X-ray shows significant changes in my lungs in a year.  SCARED to death!!!  The worst thing is, when I get up and watch the sun rise, I like to sit on my swing with a coffee and smoke a cig.  I ENJOY that cig.