Early signs of COPD

Hi Leo, I've been on here a few months, during the illness of, and after the passing of my Mother.

On my opening post, a very kind gentleman informed me that he had been wrongly diagnosed in the UK as having COPD, and went on to be correctly diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia. I'm not trying to say you have been wrongly diagnosed, moreover it may be worth doing some further research/reading, and perhaps further testing, if you feel you may have an incorrect diagnosis. Equally I would recommend you read up on the 'common' symptoms of COPD, www dot nhs dot uk has some good information, which may help you confirm in your own mind whether you believe you have the correct diagnosis.

Please let me know how you progress.

Kind regards and *hugs*, hanb

you are right the tired legs are due to deoxygenation and your lungs are not reoxygenating the muscles as quickly so you become tired. You are still in the early stages so don't panic.

Richard

I would get further testing and consult from a pulmonologist.

Hi Leo I really hope you haven't got any lung disease but if you have - don't panic.  While they are progressive you can do a lot to hold them back, especially COPD.  

No more passive smoking,  exercise,  good diet and taking any prescribed meds can hold it an early stage for many years.  I was diagnosed around 7 years ago (I am 60 now) and have just gone into the moderate stage and still have 2/3rds lung function and manage very well albeit a bit slower.  

I am on a couple of COPD sites and there are a number of people who weren't diagnosed until they were severe but they are still here and manage to have quality of life.  You will live for many years yet and will probably die of something else!  

Most important of all is to keep your sense of humour and carry on enjoying life as much as possible.  xx

Ps.  Please don't google indiscriminately - stick to recognised sites otherwise you might scare yourself to death.  Let us know what the diagnosis is please.  Good luck with it all.  x

Hi Leo!  

GREAT advice from both hanb and hypercat!  Another really important thing....don't dwell on "the future".....it can drive you nuts!  Concentrate on EVERYTHING that can keep you "status quo" and slow the progression.  Do everything that your medical people advise you to do.  This is a wonderful site to learn what others are going thru and HONEST experiences that can be beneficial.  Keep in touch and good luck!!

 

I think he should do a pulmonary function test on you before scaring u like that...just an XRay is not enough. But if you do have early signs then u are blessed bc it can be very manageable at that stage. 

I agree, your Pulmonologist should give you a Pulmonary Function Test (pft), and a cat scan. The pft will allow him to see how much air you put out of your lungs and retain, and more, and thecat scan will show what type and extent of damage, if any, on lungs. I had both, and went to Radiology and requested for them to copy me DVD of my cat scan...went home and looked up various pictures of other cat scans and compared to mine...it actually made me feel better, since 'the truth sets us free' and it helped me understand every detail about all my discomforts, and why and how I get them, and helped me realize future goals, and how they will help, such as 'coils', or lvrc (low volume reduction coils), or, lvrs (low volume reduction surgery), etc. I felt so much better after that. Also, the pft helped, since after retrieving a copy of it, read it throughly, and had a through understand about my exchange of gases, etc. I still ask questions though. Also, I am beginning my pulmonary rehab in three days, and their will be 36 sessions..I am a little bit nervous, I must admit!

Leo, you are welcome, and I am hoping everything goes well for you...also, thank you for the wishes regarding my rehab too!