Have I really got COPD?

Thankyou for your reply.  Do you also have a cough, I'm beginning to believe my undiagnosed chronic cough is part and parcel of COPD.  One other thing I didn't mention is I sometimes have sharp pain below the breasts, sometimes left, sometimes right.  It lasts a minute or two.  I will mention that to my Dr. when I see him as I don't know if that' related to COPD or being slightly overweight.

Thankyou for your reply.  I guess I have to except the disappointing fact I have COPD.  From what I have been reading it's a blanket name covering different lung problems.

Yes, it is a blanket term. I've got the chronic bronchitis form, courtesy of a massive lung infection in '85 ,,, and continuing to smoke after that infection. You're also right about many of us having chronic coughs as part of this. Sometimes those are improved by inhalers, some of which gave to build up in your system for 1-3 months. Tell your docs that you're still coughing.

I have had a problem with my voice for so long I now think of it as my normal voice, maybe it is caused by meds for blood pressure and cholesterol which I have been on for a very long time.  I saw another Dr. not long ago (for bad back pain) as my  Dr is not open on weekends .  He took me off 2 blood pressure meds and 1 pain med (for my back) and put me on 1 blood pressure med. in the hope my cough would stop, it didn't.  When I returned to my Dr. he put me back on the tablet for back pain.

Anyway my voice has always been husky and people have commented asking if I have a cold or whatever.  Sometimes it has faded away all together.

Incidentally this 2nd Dr. said I don't have COPD because I don't and have never smoked.

I'm sorry but the doc who says you can't have COPD because you never smoked is wrong. The spirometry is the guide. Sometimes with meds we may come back up to a healthy level for our age group on the tests but we still continue on the meds.

I replied to you in a different thread about your deep cough & its effect on your voice but didn't know there that you're on cholesterol meds. Lipitor can have a huge impact on the vocal cords, as can some puffers. Not everyone suffers those side effects.

Also people who have never smoked can still get COPD and other lung issues.  Even by passive smoking or occupation where fine dust exposure, printers inks, baker (bread flour) potter, pottery glazes, builder cement mix. so many things can damage the lungs where regular exposure occurs.

Thankyou for your reply, I read Tips + know the difference.   my 2 puffers Flutiform and Spiolto Respimat do not work or if they are working they do very little .  I'm having a spirometry test tomorrow, have had 3 attempts at this test over last 2 weeks.  The part you breath into attached to the computer have not been working on my previous visits.  Looking forward to some decent answers.

I am a respiratory therapist. If you are still having symptoms the pulmonary functions test will probably not be as exact as you and your physician want them to be. If he/she is looking to see where you are heading then it shouldn't be a problem.  In order to take the exam your inhaled meds need to be held. for your bronchodilators ventolin or duonebs need to be held 4 hours prior to the exam. your inhaled steroids and long term bronchodilators even longer. the exception is if the doctor wants you to take the test with them.  Each pulmonologist or pulmonologist group have different orders when it comes to taking respiratory medications and having a pulmonary functions exam. Good luck those exams usually make a person with healthy lungs work out a bit.

Thankyou for your reply.  I had a Spirometry test today.  I get the result on Wed. when I see the Dr.  The nurse who did the test said I haven't got asthma (which I have had since I was 7). She said the 4 puffs of Ventolin given during the test did absolutely nothing for me.  That's as much as I know so far.  I didn't use my preventive puffers that morning before the test. I have noticed when I use Ventolin I am still breathless upon any kind of exertion. 

If they gave you a copy of the report look at the fef 25-75% pre and post that number is a sensitive number and the first to drop pre then improve on post. Your flow volume loop can look almost normal. It's those numbers that I always look at

I'm in Australia..  I have the report but there is no fef on it.  Only FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, ELA, FEF2575, FET, FIVC, FEV1/VC with lots of columns and numbers which mean nothing to me.  I see my Dr. tomorrow for his explanation of what is going on. 

THE FEF 2575 IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WE JUST EXPRESS IT DIFFERENT IN THE STATES. I DIDNT KNOW HOW YOUR COUNTRY E XPRESSED IT

You must have missed the bit on the tips and know the different page.  If you go to link below, its explains all about the abbreviations and with the print out you can use the calculator.

https://patient.info/doctor/spirometry-calculator

 

Thanks for your input mattlipsey

I know the abbreviations and calculations I have the speciality credentials in pulmonary functions exams. My reports print out FEF 25-75% the report she received had FEF2575 per her communication . That was the point I was trying to make

yes I understood that mattlipsey

I couldn't fill out the spirometry calculator as each Parameter has 10 columns of numbers, I didn't know which ones to put down.

?Seems I may not actually have COPD as I have been off my preventive inhalers 2 days.  The Dr.. said stop them for a week to see if my cough stops..  He said results of spirometry not too bad, said I have asthma/COPD.  Today ((2nd day) I went for a walk, used Ventolin before I went, weather was cool for a change and I was less breathless than usual.  Had a sleep this afternoon and used Ventolin to stop wheezing so I could rest.  Tomorrow I will try to do without Ventolin at all. 

Have hardly coughed at all

 

For your preventative medications to work you have to build a plasma level which may take up to 30 days. It may take several days with out taking your maintenance meds to where you begin to lose your plasma level and once you do that you will begin to notice it especially when the weather changes. On your spirometry exam all of your information should have been entered so the computer can calculate the needed values.

No I don't cough much at all either, but I know my diagnosis without doubt.