Just told I have copd. I'm freaking out!!!!
Posted , 10 users are following.
Went in for a consult for sleep study today and they did a breathing test because I smoke. Then I was told I have moderate copd. I'm only 37 and want to see my kids at least grow up. Now understand I have panic disorder also. I didn't really push myself on the test because I wasn't there for that anyway. I didn't know I was seeing a pulmonary doc anyway. It said sleep doctor. I didn't know I was suppose to give it all I had on the test. I was in such shock I didn't really get many answers. All I remember was he said 80 to 100 was normal and I was at 61 which he said was moderate. I'm so lost and in tears because I'm so scared I won't see my kids grow. He gave me a inhaler blue one I have had before for mild asthma. Also gave me a once a day breo I think it's called but I am worried about that one because I have a higher then normal heart rate. Always have had that. Can someone please help me. Tell me what to do because I don't see this doc again till April. That's a long time for someone with anxiety panic disorder.
1 like, 40 replies
keith774
Posted
Update 2, I had a second opinion done today along with a second breathing test. Way different numbers.
FVC 101.1
FEV1 87.6
FEV1/FVC 87.6
The only bad number was the fef 25-75 which was 60 put that was up from the other doc test that said 40.
This doc said no to copd but yes to chronic bronchitis. Which can lead to copd he said. I am kinda confused because some sites copd is chronic bronchitis or emphysema and others say it has to be both dieses to be copd. Maybe you all can help me understand that.
He did say that while I might have been having a "bad lung" day or not giving it my all on the old test but the results on the old test showed chronic bronchitis not copd also. I'm kinda in a confused state at the moment. Are they saying the same thing just different wording???
But hey I am a week into smoke and nicotine free. So either way that's a plus.
pam34048 keith774
Posted
I am so happy for you. Stay smoke free my dr said anyone that smokes 20 years or more will get copd. I hope you don't become another statistic and stay smoke free. Don't forget about that little girl of yours you will need those lungs to take her to the park.
Nanny1086 keith774
Posted
Hi ,I'm glad you got better numbers ,,, I was diagnosed with asthma in 1992 ( that's when I stopped smoking ) I was aged 46 and had smoked sepince I was 15 on and off ,on average 15/20 a day ,since 2008 I was the diagnosed with bronchiectisis ,I think any lung /breathing condition they put under the umbrella of copd ,
aitarg35939 keith774
Posted
I put my reply in the wrong place but I tried to answer your questions. Medical info is fluid, not static. In recent years docs have changed how we use certain inhalers simply because as people used them, over time it became clear that the meds worked differently from what was originally believed.
It's the same with adding n re types of lung issues to the COPD umbrella: science has learned more over time. I still don't believe that every one who smokes 20 years gets COPD, based solely on my mom's large family of smokers. 6 sisters all smoked at least a pack/day for 30-60+ years. Two died young (age 59) from other causes & the rest made it into their 80s. One quit smoking in her mid-60s. I've known at least 15 other people who've smoked into their 60s or until death in their 80s. The 2 commonalities among them are that they all grew up in rural areas before the advent of modern farming practices, and that they didn't start smoking until age 20 or a bit later. Also when they started smoking there were no filtered cigarettes sold in this country so they just got the evils of tobacco without the added evil of inhaling fiberglass, etc. Many of them never switched when filters were added to packaged cigarettes.
Too small a sample to say anything more than that it's interesting and it's enough to keep me from accepting a statement by any doctor that everyone gets COPDif they smoke 20 years...
keith774
Posted
Yeah I see that it's very different depending on the doctor you see. Both the ones I seen where pulmonary docs but the first one was just, it's stage 2 copd..here is a inhaler and a long acting one...we will see how you do.
This new doc was really into talking and making sure I understood. He said he wouldn't say copd, more less stage 2 even with the old results the other doc had. I guess it has to do with numbers. The new doc is set on since I stopped smoking so fast and trying to exercise more, that I will be fine and get to see my kids grow up.
He would act shocked when I would answer things I shouldn't have known by myself. But I explained how much the people of this site have come together and helped me and how I have read other posts and the information was much better then what I seen on the Web. I have found true stories from people going through it is always better then a site just saying what to expect. Every case is different
Guess what I am trying to say is thank you to everyone on here again. I'm glad I found this site and glad everyone accepted me right in. I hope to be a support or at least helpful to someone else as everyone has me.