Can someone help me understand my chest x-ray?

Thank you so much Eileen! You've made me feel a lot better. I've been having some health issues this last year so I always try to advocate for my own health hence me looking up my results on my own.

It's crazy how I didn't have noticeable breathing issues when I smoked but only when I stopped. I also have allergies so I know that doesn't help. I am definitely going to start using my inhaler!

I'm already on medicine for my acid reflux but sometimes it gets extra bad and when it happens so does my breathing, so that makes sense.

Thanks again for your response!

Yes, it does make sense - that's why I mentioned it. Acid reflux CAN be associated with breathing problems and that's why I think it should be brought tot he attention of an expert. The acid creeps up your throat and can cause problems with the gullet and also get into the breathing tubes - so it needs controlling better. At your age, they should really be looking for a reason - but being overweight, spicy food, eating too large meals and drinking too much alcohol are all risk factors - there are others too which need ruling out.

When you said you could only find HYPERinflation - with google at least, if you search hypoinflation it will come up with results for HYPERinflation - with the option underneath in small print to search for hypoinflation instead. Click on that and you will find what you want. I personally resent google telling me I don't know what I want to search for...

Yes, you're definitely correct. I will make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. My biggest problem with acid reflux is my nerves and at one time, my eating habits. I have a nervous stomach due to years of anxiety and I used to drink a lot throughout my twenties; and I smoked so I know all of this didn't help.

I am overweight but I try to avoid spicy food and greasy. I may have it here and there - for instance, if Im stuck on the road and have to eat fast food - but it's at the point where I don't want it at all due to the stomach problems it causes.

Google did keep changing my words and I would have to change it back. I was sifting through it but it happened so many times that I finally gave up and made a discussion. I figured maybe someone who went through this before would be on here.

I've been reading these posts between you and Hayhue and I would like to add that my problems are very similar to his(hers).  I have had GERD (acid reflux)  for several years and have tried to change up my diet (omit acidy foods, tomato based foods, drinking too much coffee or colas etc) and not to eat heavy meals but rather more smaller meals and never within a few hours of bedtime.  I also take omeprazole 1-2 times a day before I eat.  I smoked for almost 20 years and then after being diagnosed with COPD this past February I quit cold turkey soon after that diagnosis. It's funny that I felt better, more energy and seemed to breathe better when I smoked compared to now - wonder why that's the case? I also have Sleep Apnea ( diagnosed about 9 years ago) and have been on CPAP nightly for about the last 5 years (was very hard to get used to the mask for years at first).  I also am about 30 lbs. (or 14 kg) overweight that adds to me breathing problems.  I was put on 2 inhalers by my Sleep Doctor in Feb. this year but I've never seen them making a difference, so I had a full Pulmonary Function Test done with a different lung doctor who confirmed the COPD but said my numbers didn't look too bad so he told me NOT to use the inhalers (Soiriva and Ventolin).  I am so confused as to what to do but it seems like I breathe better WITHOUT the inhalers.  I also have asthma like symptons though never told I had asthma ( my throat feels like it's closing up and I get panicky when exposed to certain scents, air pollution, cats, and especially when I'm around someone who has insect repellant on).  I think I need to seek out a new doctor as I'm not getting the answers or help I need.  It sounds like you are very knowledgeable about many of these respiratory symptons Eileen so if you have any additional words of advice for me I would be appreciative.  Also, my chest x-rays do indicate I too have this Mild Basilar Atelectasis which my doctor never explained to me. 

The inhaler I meant to say was Spiriva Respimat, though I never feel like it's helping me breathe better so I rarely use it anymore.  Should I use it daily regardless of it not seeming to help?  I get short of breath mostly on exertion and sometimes when I talk for a very long time and when I eat I stop and rest sometimes while chewing my food.  But the funny thing is when I'm on the treadmill or other fitness equipment or just walking around the neighborhood I do fine and don't have to stop and catch my breath. I only walk at a brisk pace though, never jog or run because I have a back fracture.

Sorry Jeanette - not a respiratory expert, just know how to read and understand medical literature!

What I would say though is that it sounds as if you may have an allergy-type reaction to certain chemicals and you maybe do need to see a doctor who will take that aspect seriously, possibly doing some allergy testing.

The inhaler you have is a long term maintenance inhaler - it isn't the rescue type for acute symptoms. You have to use it regularly, exactly as the doctor has instructed for it to work effectively. That is important - it contains a substance called tiotropium:

"Tiotropium is used to treat lung diseases such as asthma and COPD (bronchitis,emphysema). It must be used regularly to prevent wheezing and shortness of breath. It works by relaxing the muscles around the airways so that they open up and you can breathe more easily. Tiotropium belongs to a class of drugs known as anticholinergics. Controlling symptoms of breathing problems can decrease time lost from work or school.

This medication must be used regularly to be effective. It does not work right away and should not be used to relieve sudden breathing problems. If wheezing or sudden shortness of breath occurs, use your quick-relief inhaler (such as albuterol, also called salbutamol in some countries) as prescribed."

Was it this inhaler the doctor told you not to use? It is very confusing when one doctor says one thing and another says another. The only way you can really tell if you need it or not is if you are better using it than not using it - only you can tell that. Does Ventolin help? 

This is so confusing for me.  My Sleep Medicine doctor who has only seen me for me sleep apnea over the past 9 years or so has never offered a lung test to me even though he knew I was a smoker.  I just kept telling him I was still tired during the day so he just kept upping the pressure on my CPAP.  Finally this past February I put my foot down and asked that he do more testing to see why I was still so tired.  So after 9 years he finally did a chest x-ray and a simple blow-through-the-tube spirometry test that only took a few seconds.  The 1st time it showed an FEV1 of 55, and on the next visit about a month later it showed an FEV1 of 76. (He shook his head at these 2nd readings and could not understand why the numbers went up). Of course he never explained anything to me, but did say I had some "small"  holes in my lung (didn't even say which lung or what that meant) he just blurted out "You have COPD!" And then he gave me samples of Spiriva Respimat mist and wrote out an RX for Ventolin HFA.  It was kind of confusing to me as to why he waited SO many years to do this testing when he was my go to doctor for my sleep apnea all this time!  So then after getting on these sites soon after his "diagnosis"  it was recommended that I go and see a real Lung Doctor and get a full PFT done (pulmonary function test).  So I set up an appointment with a Pulmonologist at a practice my mother used to go to and they did a full pulmonary test on my first visit - this test took about 30-45 minutes and was very thorough.  They also did another chest x-ray at the office.  This other doctor then looked at the results and I told him that my sleep doctor told me I had COPD and gave me 2 inhalers to use.  He just kind of shook his head and said my numbers didn't look bad and he never even mentioned using any inhalers to me.  But I was using them as per my sleep doctors recommendations for about 3 straight months before a follow up visit with this 2nd Pulmonologist.  I told him the inhalers weren't making any difference after 3 months using them and he told me to not use them, my "numbers"  weren't that bad and if they weren't making a difference that I shouldn't be using them.  So here in is where my dilemma is - do I listen to my sleep doctor and continue the Spiriva or do I listen to the Pulmonologist who had the complete and full PFT done and lay off them?  Maybe I should seek out a 3rd doctor and start from scratch???I know this all makes me sound like a crazy person, but my health concerns me and I want to do whatever it takes to slow down this disease.  I quit smoking 6 months ago and am in my 2nd month of Pulmonary Rehab and on an exercise program with diet changes.  I do the pursed lip breathing and stay away from smoky or polluted areas.  Any advice?  As far as the Ventolin goes, I've used it on occasion when I've had difficulty after being exposed to certain triggers or scents etc - no help whatsoever. So now what??

From what you say, the second doctor sounds more reliable than the sleep apnoea one - but it's all a mystery to me since I live in Europe where the healthcare is rather more joined-up in its thinking! But basically - if the inhalers don't appear to make a difference - why use them? 

Hi Jeanette! Have you noticed if watching the GERD has helped you breathe better? I've tried that and it seemed to make somewhat of a difference but my asthma feels like it comes and goes so I wasn't sure lol

I'm a female, if you were curious! Lol

Actually I;ve been more proactive in the treatment of my Acid Reflux lately.  I am real careful about not eating spicy or acidy foods and I take my prilosec (omeprazole) daily and I eat much smaller meals.  So I do think my breathing is better with being careful with my GERD and I've been getting way more exercise (lots of walking) than I used to.  I only wish I could lose a bit of weight so my Sleep Apnea might improve.  My biggest downfall is my lack of sleep - I'm lucky to get 5-6 hours a night and it's not quality sleep even with my CPAP because I put a night vision camera in my bedroom a few times and was shocked watching the video the next day - every few minutes I'm turning, tossing and moving about!  If I could get that under control I may feel halfway human!  My Gerd definitely is better and I do seem to struggle less with my breathing, so I guess it pays to listen to my ENT in this respect!

Thank you! I have lately, before I even saw the x-ray results, tried to do deep breathing to see if it would help. Thank you for the advice I'm going to look into it!