Do I have COPD?

I'm a little confused when I see someone says "my lung function is 66% or 72% etc".  I was SO frightened when I was first diagnosed that I didn't ask for a result of my tests.  I now have a copy of my results.  Under lung volumes it shows:  SVC(LL), IC(L), ERV(L), TGV(L), RV (Pleth)(L), TLC (PLeth)(LL), and RV/TLC(Pleth)(%).  What does all this mean and which number should I be watching?

Ditto to DawnD!!!!  I was at Level 2 when I was diagnosed; however, I too am facing it head on, doing everything possible and not taking a negative attitude!!  Bless you Dawn!!

 

Hello Cookie! I have been on a 5 year journey with this. I didn't know what was causing the persistent cough and congestion that started in my lungs 5 yrs ago, but a co-worker thought I had walking pneumonia and said I should see a dr. So, I did...and he prescribed prednisone for 10 days & 2 inhalers, and said that it would clear up, BUT, if the symptoms return, I would have to quit my job, sell my house and MOVE because I was lving in the worst place in the nation for molds and pollen in the air. Well, I didn't fully believe this was possible, but, the symptoms did return. Well, I thought perhaps it was food allergies and stopped eating all kinds of potentially allergic foods. That didn't help (except that I lost 25 lbs)   I tried air purfiers, that ddn't help much either. I was scared to have a chest xray for fear of cancer. But I was getting worse and worse. Could not get off prednisone and ephedrine to breathe. So, after months and months of my own research I found that my symptoms definitely indicated mold/fungus in my lungs. The building where I worked was discovered to have black mold infestation in the walls and ductwork; the barn for my horses is where our hay is stored and I learned that even the cleanest hay has alot of mold spores in it; we disovered our basement had mold..

Mold/fungi in the lungs is rarely diagnosed in patients presenting with COPD symptoms. It is only very recently that it is being recognized as a very widespread problem. Even when mold hides behind walls, it is able to penetrate through. Spores can find their way through the tiniest openings. We are often unaware it exists in our environment until we start looking for it.

It is very serious. Some molds release a deadly poison called aflatoxin.

If there is any suspicion that you may have been exposed to mold, and suspect you may have mold/fungi in your lungs, there is really only one way to kill it...and that is by starving it. Fungi thrive on sugar. So, when you eat sugars and simple carbohydrates which turn to sugar in the body, you are literally feeding the fungi and they continue to thrive and grow and wreak havoc in your lungs.

After 5 miserable years, when all other therapies failed, and I had lost all quality of life, I finally, in desperation, tried this sugar-elimination therapy diet and removed all sugars and carbs from all  my meals. It took a couple of weeks to start weaning myself off my usual foods, and finding non-sugar substitutes, and it was difficult, but I had to do something or else my life expectancy was only going to be 7-10 years. I'm only 60 and I was scared.

After the transition/weaning 2 week period, I became more vigilant. (when I would have a temptaion to cheat, I would remember that I would be feeding those nasty fungi in my lungs). After the next 2 weeks I noticed a SIGNIFICANT improvement. I was able to reduce the ephedrine from 5 tablets a day to only 1 in am and ½ in pm. My prednisone is now down to 5mg a day. Over the next several weeks I am planning on completely weaning myself off the prednisone, and then the ephedrine.

My 2-hour coughing fits occurring 3x a day, are gone. Once in awhile I will cough up a little bit, but nothing like the horrible coughing sessions like before. I have more energy. Definitely breathing better. I wear a mask (3m #1820 procedure mask filters >99% of bacteria and particulates) whenever I suspect I may be in an environment of impure air. We treated our house with Mold Bomb aerosols to kill the mold. Also treated the workplace. But I have to stay out of the barn and away from hay and straw.

Also try to avoid going out in cold weather unless you wear a protective mask.. Cold air irritates my lungs. I also know I don't get enough sleep, and I must change my sleeping habits. Try to get 7-8 hrs of sleep a night. Best time to sleep is between 10pm and 5am...for some reason the body seems to rest better during these times.

 There are vitamins and herbs that are also helpful and a good naturopathic practitioner can help with that. There's a lot of online info too.

I recently learned about the buteyko method of breathing which is also very helpful and lung flutes which use sound waves to help clear out the lungs.

All of these things are new things I have learned about and all are very helpful. I finally have new hope of getting my life back and livng many more long years of life!

I hope this is helpful to you also!.