COPD or no COPD?

It was horrible.  At times I felt as if I was dying, literally.  Finally my GP said to me one day "You have copd."  I thought, "What?"  At first, after hearing this diagnosis, I thought I must have been diagnosed years ago and forgotten about it or something or went into denial.  After doing some digging it turns out that a Dr. I had seen years before had diagnosed with me mild copd and shortly after I moved and never received her diagnosis.  Anyway, after many visits by ambulance to the ER, (twice for mini strokes) because of the panic/anxiety, a Doc. in the ER prescribed a puffer for me that actually works.  Haven't had an attack since that time.

My body, system whatever you want to call it doesn't like meds., seems that just about every single med. that is prescribed to me gives me such terrible side effects that I have to quit taking it.  (including some antibiotics, one nearly killed me and did do further damage to my lungs).  I don't believe that doctors knowingly would diagnosis someone with an illness as a scare tactic, I do believe that they are definitely in the pharmacutical businness, ie. to make money by constantly prescribing medication to their patients. 

So the panic attacks and feelings you prescribed are almost exactly what I felt, and for me, yes it was "normal" because I couldn't breathe!  Take care.

For people with a COPD diagnosis however things are different.  In colder weather damaged lungs may have more difficulty, my lungs hurt in colder weather, naturally shortness of breath is experienced, that is life with COPD, it restricts your ability to be active, slows your mobility, increased shortness of breath etc etc.

If your breathing difficulties worsen and your are pretty sure its not connected with panic attacks you should go back to your doctor and ask for something to help your breathe easier and make an appointment with the respiratory nurse at your GP surgery for spiro check.  It should be pretty obvious if your wheeze, tight chest only occurs when you have a panic attack.

Just pray you never get lung cancer, but without any symptoms I would say there is no need for any worrying of this kind.

there is a forum for panic attacks on patient uk you may wish to join:  https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/anxiety-disorders-70

Some people with COPD can have anxiety attacks, but not all do, some get anxiety attacks but don't have COPD.

Whether your doc used scare tactics on you, to make you give up smoking who knows.  Scare tactics on the one hand can be a good thing.  Especially when you are told for every cigarette you smoke from now on could cause further lung damage.  If you've ever seen anyone with extreme difficulty talking because they can't breathe, you might be able to understand how important it is to preserve lung health and in this case scare tactics are real.  It is scarey not being able to breathe because of lung damage, smoke of any kind can damage the lungs.

If lung damage is very very mild some people can live without any noticeable symptoms and without medication.  That is fortunate.

People have been known to be misdiagnosed with different lung conditions (there are many)  however, it unusual for a doctor to mistake a panic attack for COPD, but a patient might.

My advice, check out the anxiety forum link provided above, but do go back to your doctor if your breathing deteriorates.  Meantime I would say enjoy your life, be proud and thankful to the doctor who scared you into stopping smoking and appreciate your ability to walk 6 miles and feel fine :O)

Bes wishes V

My consultant explained what my COPD was, for example if you could spread an healthy pair of lungs out and they could cover a football field, then mine would cover the 18 yard area, Walking 6 miles think think yourself a very lucky person, I'm out breathe just thinking about it.

COPD is not curable, but it IS manageable:  with the right medication, healthy lifestyle, no smoking (including other people's smoke) or exposure to pollution and breathing exercises it can . be kept stable for many years.   The symptoms can also vary from day to day, so it's not unusual to be able to walk much further one day and not hte next:   I have the same experience, usually for no reason I can work out.

If I were you I'd be having a spirometry test to check your lung function and that will determine fairly accurately whether or not you do have COPD and if so, you'll have the correct medication prescribed and hopefully get yourself to a pulmonary rehab group.

However, if you can walk ten miles I'd be very surprised if you have COPD or anything else wrong with your lungs.

Your panic attacks are entirely separate from your possible COPD and if the antidepressants you're taking (some of which can CAUSE anxiety in some peopel) aren't preventing them you could talk to your gp about another type and/or try meditation or Cognitive Behavior Therapy.   DON'T go off them cold turkey, that's extremely dangerous with many anti depressants.   

Unfortunately COPD is not curable. You can only manage it and do things so that it does not get worse.

Sounds like your new doctor could be right, though you could have a very very mild form of it that does not need medication, just a change of life-style habits, which sounds like is what you have done.

Having panic attacks may feel like you have a problem with your lungs or heart but that's all it is.

All the best.

Kev  (UK)