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Not sure if its asthma or sinus condition or COPD or some other lung condition

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abhi3112
abhi3112

I am 31. Smoked for 9 yrs(Avg. 5-10 cigg per day). Had asthma and sinus issues as a child. My PFT results

FVC(L) - 4.29, FEV1(L) - 3.43, FEV1/FVC(%) - 80%

I have been having issues for past 4-5 months.  Not sure what is it ? Any ideas. I have been reading about stem cell therapy for COPD. Has anyone benefitted from it in past. Please help me. I am really scared. 

0 likes, 26 replies

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  • Vee2
    Vee2 abhi3112

    Posted

    Not sure why you are guessing, which it may be, medical professionals are the people to advise you.  If, assuming your doctor referred you for the pulmonary function test, I would wait to hear their diagnosis of COPD or other first before even contemplating stem cell therapy.  for a full calculation based on the print out of your PFT, check here:  

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

    Of course if you've already had a COPD diagnosis, to discuss the way forward for you as an individual do ask for a referral to a specialising respiratory consultant.

    Good luck with everything.

     

    • abhi3112
      abhi3112 Vee2

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply Vee2. The reason I am worried is because it has been over 4 months. on top of that I am diabetic type 2 which was a shoker for me as I dont have any family history. Day before yesterday I was feeling feverish. throat irritation with thick greenish yellow mucus  with a little blood from my nose, since then I am coughing up mucus a lot. my breathing has been the same though. I have read so many things about COPD that I am really scared and needed some help. I am going to see pulmonologist today hope I get better soon. As for stem cell. I have been reading a lot about this so thought of getting to someone who knows people who have gone through it as it is really a promising.
    • jude65855
      jude65855 abhi3112

      Posted

      Sorry to tell you, but you won't "get better" from COPD but if as I understand it you stil lhave 80% lung function you've been lucky to be diagnosed so early and the conditon can be managed for decades with the appropriate medication and breathing exercises, which is why I mentioned rehab in my first post.

      I was diagnosed over 3 years ago and my lung function is still at 70% and I smoked for much longer than you did.    Medication and rehab are the answers, plus exposing yourself as little as possible to air borne pollution, especially other people's cigarette smoke

  • jude65855
    jude65855 abhi3112

    Posted

    Your post is impossible to comment on without more detail:  what issues are you having and have you discussed them with your doctor?  Do you have the appropriate medication?   Are you going to rehab?
  • ladyjack51
    ladyjack51 abhi3112

    Posted

    Hi abhi3112,

    First let me say it's NOT impossible to comment on your post ...as you can see. You are just scared and new at this and you don't know what's relevent and what's not. But that's what this forum is for...anyone who wants to ask and share and we ALL learn from each other. I bet you are feeling better after your appt today bc if we go by the stats you shared...they caught it early and it's in the mild stages and you can live the rest of your normal life with those kind of stats. But...you may not have COPD...maybe asthma, maybe sinus congestion issues, maybe a bit of infection so calm down and tell us what happened at the Dr. Then we can talk some more if you want. Hoping for the best...ladyjack51

    • abhi3112
      abhi3112 ladyjack51

      Posted

      Thanks ladyjack51...My pulmonologist ruled out COPD..such a relief..but still I am really frustrated..as this is the first time that my asthma has gone this long...do people have persistent asthma for over 4 months.? When it first started my chest used to feel tight. wheezing, I was really short of breath, chest pain. I used to have burning sensation in my chest, it was really bad. I don't smoke anymore. I was a average smoker. I am not going to touch it ever in my life. Is there anyway I can make my lungs better ? is there any medicine that can treat persistent asthma ? I am getting better but the healing process is really slow. 
    • Vee2
      Vee2 abhi3112

      Posted

      You say your pulmonologist has ruled out COPD.

      So I think you need to ask your pulmonologist what may be the cause, its really of no valid reasoning for you to keep going down the COPD route.

      However you also say above ( quote)

      "  Day before yesterday I was feeling feverish. throat irritation with thick greenish yellow mucus  with a little blood from my nose, since then I am coughing up mucus a lot. my breathing has been the same though. " (unquote).

      It is possible to have a lung infection without COPD, lung infections need treating with ABs at least and sometimes with steroids as well.  In these circumstances you should always see your doctor as soon as possible to have your lungs listened to and to get the appropriate medicines.

      You might want to check out the asthma discussion forum:

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/asthma-18

      Regarding your query to ladyjack51.  Your doctor can prescribe the appropriate asthma medication for you.   

    • ladyjack51
      ladyjack51 abhi3112

      Posted

      That's great that he ruled out COPD! But yes you can definitely have adult asthma and you can have it for years or months...everyone is different. Some people grow out of it....but if u have adult asthma, you will probably sensitive to all things having to do with breathing...so yes, watch for allergies. Get a flu shot every year and pneumonia shot every 5 years. Just take your medicine and get to know your lungs and body. Sounds like right now you might have a bit of an infection so did he give you any antibiotics or steroids? Read all you can and ask your Dr questions too. It's manageable but take care of yourself especially as you get older. Keep me posted!! Ladyjack51
  • abhi3112
    abhi3112

    Posted

    My pulmonologist ruled out COPD..such a relief..but still I am really frustrated..as this is the first time that my asthma has gone this long...do people have persistent asthma for over 4 months.? When it first started my chest used to feel tight. wheezing, I was really short of breath, chest pain. I used to have burning sensation in my chest, it was really bad. I don't smoke anymore. I was a average smoker. I am not going to touch it ever in my life. Is there anyway I can make my lungs better ? is there any medicine that can treat persistent asthma ? I am getting better but the healing process is really slow. Is there a way to prevent any serious problems ? Any type of allergy shots or disease shots that I should get ?
    • Vee2
      Vee2 abhi3112

      Posted

      If you don't have COPD you need to go back to your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate medicines prescribed to you.

      To avoid getting COPD you have made the choice to never smoke again, that is the most helpful thing you can do for yourself.

      As mentioned above, your doctor can prescribe you with the appropriate medication for asthma.  

  • hypercat
    hypercat abhi3112

    Posted

    Hi I understand how scared you are but you need to wait until you know what the problem is (if indeed there is one).   I agree totally with Ladyjack - it sounds like you have a chest infection so you need ab's to clear it and your doctor is the one to see. 

    You probably haven't got copd as you are very young at 31 to have that diagnosis.  

    As far as asthma goes I got it as an adult at around the same age as you.  Generally asthma can be completely controlled with meds and you have professional sportspeople with it and they manage fine.   It's very good you have given up smoking - make sure you stay away from second hand smoke as well.  The main thing is to get some facts and wait until you know more.  There is no point making yourself sick with anxiety in the meantime.  Let us know how you get on please.  x 

      

    • abhi3112
      abhi3112 hypercat

      Posted

      Even though my doc. Has ruled out copd. Still I am confused because when it all started I was just wheezing, short of breath, chest tightness, burning sensation in my chest no coughing though. After about a month I started to cough up small amount of clear mucus that went away. I still wheez but chest tightness is almost gone. But as I said earlier 2 days back I had fever with throat irritation and had pretty thick yellow mucus from my nose with a little blood got me worried. Now I am coughing same yellowish mucus from chest. My breathing is still same though. Pulmonologist was the 3rd doc. That I went to. He prescribed a course of AB and advair which is a broncodilator. I am still not able to understand what is wrong with me. He also did echo cardiogram of heart which came out normal. I have had 2 PFT tests in past 4 months both seem to show almost same results. Do you think I should see an asthma expert or something else.
    • jude65855
      jude65855 abhi3112

      Posted

      COPD usually starts off much more gradually than you're describing, usually with shortness of breath and in my case a bit of chest pain but I don't know if the latter is universal.

      It sounds as if you have a lung infection which should respond to antibiotics:  if I were you I'd be waiting until you finish the course before you start worrying.

      It really doesn't sound like COPD to me, which is fairly simple to diagnoise with a spirometry test.

      Take it easy, take your medication and use the advair and see how you go ..... oh and drink lots of water to help the antibiotics get whatever it is out of your system faster.

      Good Luck!

    • Vee2
      Vee2 abhi3112

      Posted

      While your mucus is discoloured you need to return to the doc for further antibiotics, perhaps your doctor will want you to provide a sputum sample if this infection is not responding to ABsyou've been prescribed so far, there are different ABs to treat different bacteria infections in the lung, getting the correct AB will clear the infection.  Only by visiting your doctor can you resolve this and keep going back until your infection is clear if you are no better after a course of ABs, every lung infection you get can potentially cause you further lung damage so it is important to clear infections as quickly as possible.

      Check to see if your doctors surgery also has an asthma clinic.

      Check you know the difference - see https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tips-know-the-difference-478568

       

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