How quickly can this progress?

I understand the most important thing is how you feel not what your figures say and that the FEV1 is the most important figure.    Do you still feel ok and fit enough to do what you have to and want to do?  If so then I wouldn't worry too much about it.   At your level you wouldn't usually progress quickly and it will probably be many years before you start having real difficulty,  if at all.   When I was diagnosed with copd at age 56 my doctor said not to worry as something else would probably get me first ie old age.  

Only about 1 in 4 people end up with copd and you are very unlucky to have got it especially as you have never smoked.  You must be ususually sensitive to pollutants as you are isuffering due to second hand smoke.  

As long as you lead a healthy lifestyle you might not progress much it at all for a long time.   No one can predict the progress exactly as we all vary,   x

I feel very sympathetic to your situation.  It is very difficult.  I guess you are in US? The time of the posting and the terminology you use indicates that.  I cannot help a lot as I am not a doctor, only a patient and I am concerned in case I worry you more. But it seems you are worried anyway. Exactly what was the diagnosis of emphysema based on?  What did your pulmonologist (we call them respiratory consultants in the UK) see on the scan that led to that conclusion? It seems highly unlikely that your smoking history and the exposure to your mother's smoking can be significant. COPD, (which is an umbrella term for the group of conditions containing emphysema,) as far as I know, always has a cause. It doesn't just pop up. As you know Alpha1-anti-tripsin-deficicncy seems to be the only other cause. And that has been ruled out. In my exderience, and others may disagree with me, the worst about these puzzling medical matters is not knowing what a disease is. Even if it is a nasty one I believe we are generally better off knowing. We know what we are dealing with, we can access the help and support of doctor and nurses with the expertise.  It does sound as though your pulmonologist is doing her/his best to get to the bottom of it. One of my bugbears is that I believe doctors are too quick to diagnose COPD because it is common.  So push for the answers. There are other conditions that fit the profile that your tests show. 

Sorry I can't offer bland reassurances.  My condiiton is somewhat similar to yours, and it is proving hard to diagnose. 

I do hope you get seme help.

K xx

Also,  a child who might have many respiratory infections etc may lead to COPD eventually.

Second hand smoke can also cause damage over the years.

The important thing to accept and build on is the knowledge that unlike many medical conditions (eg lung cancer) the rate of progression can be slowed down considerably if we can learn to manage the condition.  My strong recommendation is that you switch your focus from the possible causes, which is something you have no control over, to getting yourself to pulmonary rehab ASAP,  because that IS something you have control over.

No one can tell you how fast your COPD will progress because there are far too many variables:  all you can do is manage it as best you can.

I know other forum members will have read this story of mine many times before, but you're new so I'll repeat it again for you:  when I was shocked and depressed and scared after diagnosis, my then gp told me to stop panicking, that she'd just been to the funeral of patient in her 80's who'd had COPD for decades.

I think this is transferred by the geans of your mother. Concern with other specialist might he helps you out. 

I moved house 18 months after that. My new GP took one look at me and said I did't have COPD and took me off the salbutamol which had been prescribed.

The last few months I've had some problems at home and found that even the walk to school (1.5 miles each way) was too much for me.

I don't smoke but I did for about 20 years. I panic every day that I have lung cancer. My husband tells me that I wouldnt be here now if I did have it as I've coughed for years now.

Do you find that you cough more when you are panicking? Do you take your inhaler too much? This can make the panic worse.

Hope you are okay x

As for emphysema, this can stabilise if you look after your lungs as best you can, ask your doctor if you can be referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation course so you can best learn how to manage the illness and symptoms, precautions you should take etc.  The most important thing for now as we are in winter is wherevern you can try to avoid contact with people who have colds and flu, always wash hands when you come in from shopping and teach your children to wash their hands when they come in from shopping, school as well.  If you get a cold act quickly to avoid it going to your chest.  First signs of a cold, scratchy throat I gargle with listerine total 3 x daily.  If the cold goes to your chest try to get to see your GP quickly to get your lungs checked and if needed anti biotics and prednisolone will be prescribed.

The DLCO, I know it as (UK) is the main thing that affects my situation, but my DLCO is quite a bit lower than yours. but I've only had the DLCO recorded on my initial diagnosis, I think the DLCO can vary as can the FEV from one test to another, so try not to worry about that, just ask for it to be checked again in 6 months or so, ask the alpha1 people if they also check the DLCO, 

The progression of the illness varies from person to person, but I've noticed personally over the years that those who looking after themselves really well, live a much long life with more stable health, than those who continue to smoke, don't eat properly, don't exercise etc etc.  That's why the pulmonary rehabilitation course is a good thing, you get to know the does and don'ts.

I've been diagnosed 12 years now and I suspect I've got at least another 12 years left in me if not more

Just aim for getting all the tests done and out of the way, get on a PR course, do the best you can to maintain as good health as you can so that you can stabilise your condition and this will help you live a long a happy life in to old age.  

Best wishes V