1. Community
  2. Chest and lungs
  3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Possible mild COPD please help

Posted , 5 users are following.

adam111
adam111

Hi I'm a 22 yr old male who has had been having a horrible time with my breathing for 8 months now. I have had chest xray an chest ct both clear also have had a pulmonary function test results as shown

Fev1 90%

Fvc 104%

Fev1%E 85%

Pef 113%

With the report saying I showed a mild obstructive breathing pattern.

My specialist has said they are all normal results and put it down to my anxiety causing these breathing problems.

To my understanding my Fev1E is on the lower end of normal.

Could someone please help me understand this as I believe the specialist may be wrong . I am terrified. Thankyou

0 likes, 30 replies

30 Replies

Next
  • adam111
    adam111

    Posted

    I should also add my symptoms

    Constant breathlessness/labored breathing and tightness in chest. I don't seem to be SOB but I feel this sensation when exercising also.

    No cough

    No wheeze.

    Also I have never smoked cigarettes only pot occasionally, I work in dusty invornments and also some chemicals. Thabkyou

  • carmwoman
    carmwoman adam111

    Posted

    Hi Adan,

    ​Have you thought it may be anxiety......cant figure how you have such a great high Fev 1 score, and be breathless.

  • Bluberripenguin
    Bluberripenguin adam111

    Posted

    You may have asthma or allergies or both. Are u taking meds for your anxiety? How often are you having trouble breathing? Are you short of breath / not walking long periods of time?
  • adam111
    adam111

    Posted

    Hi thank you for your replies I have had the asthma tests where they try and induce the asthma but nothing happened, also had skin prick tests for allergies.

    I don't get short of breathe walking around but I constantly have this breathlessness ferling and constant labored breathing and a full pain in my chest. it has Been 8 months and hasn't improved at all.

    Yes my Fev1 is 90% of pred. But my Fev1%E is just within normal limits

    • Bluberripenguin
      Bluberripenguin adam111

      Posted

      Have you gone for a stress test to check your heart? Blood work for any gland issues? Have you changed anything /quit something/ started something/ got new meds in these past 8 months?
    • adam111
      adam111 Bluberripenguin

      Posted

      I have had echocardiogram of my heart and they found nothing wrong. I have been to the emergency 2 times where they have done chest xray and blood work and all have been clear.. I have been on anxiety medication over the past 8 months but this isn't causing my symptoms as it started when I wasn't on any medication at all.
  • adam111
    adam111

    Posted

    Sorry a dull pain in my chest*
  • adam111
    adam111

    Posted

    Can someone please help me to people with copd get puffed from just walking around the house? I have been running and can usually run 2-3ks. My breathing is so labored and forced can anxiety really cause such a constant symptom for such a long time
    • Bluberripenguin
      Bluberripenguin adam111

      Posted

      It could be a side effect or reaction to any meds. I thought it started when you started the anxiety meds, when did it start?
  • abhi3112
    abhi3112 adam111

    Posted

    Sorry to hear you suffer. I have exact same symptoms as yours. It's almost a year for me with this. Xray and CT scan came clear. Nothing in blood work. Chest tightness and pain around my chest and back. Have seen so many docs but no one seem to understand what it is. I feel helpless. How did your symptoms start .
    • adam111
      adam111 abhi3112

      Posted

      It's horrible do you have constant breathing difficulty?
    • abhi3112
      abhi3112 adam111

      Posted

      Yes..ithe all started the when I actually started running I started to feel pain in my chest. The next day I woke up with chest tightness as wheezing. Since then it has improved but I am not quite 100% yet. I still feel that restriction in my chest.
  • Vee2
    Vee2 adam111

    Posted

    Hi adam it does sound like your work and smoking pot can be an indication your lungs are not happy, however your CT scan was clear and the CT scan does reveal the type of lung damage if any that a consultant can interpret.

    Dust and chemicals will irritate the lungs and airways, especially if you are exposed to this daily week after week, month after month.  etc.

    You can check your spirometry results here:  (just enter the details in the boxes then click calculate)  https://patient.info/doctor/spirometry-calculator

    You could also ask if your doctor to arrange for you to be tested for Alpha1 antytripsin deficiency to diagnose or eliminate :  https://patient.info/health/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-leaflet

    It may pay you to think about changing your occupation to avoid irritation to your airways and lungs.

    Best wishes V

    • adam111
      adam111 Vee2

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply, also if I had lung damage I would have a persistent cough and wheeze??
    • Vee2
      Vee2 adam111

      Posted

      Not necessarily, I have emphysema / COPD I don't have a persistent cough and wheeze. 
    • adam111
      adam111 Vee2

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that vee2 what are your main symptoms then SOB? also how old are you if you don't mind me asking. Thankyou
    • Vee2
      Vee2 adam111

      Posted

      Hi Admin, yes shortness of breath more so when active, tiredness when over active etc, but I am a young fit lady in her 60s wink who attends gym regularly and can still turn a head wink smile

      I've had a lot more exposure to pollutants over the years than when I was 22 for sure 

      With luck you can avoid COPD as you age if you take the right steps now.   The possible may not be probable !

      If you continue to have breathing difficulty I wonder if you consider taking leave of absence from your current job for a month or so and lay off the pot, see if your breathing improves then.  If it does you have your answer.  Alternatively a 2 week holiday.

      Do you wear a mask when working in the dusty environement? may pay you to do that too.

      I used to mix my own pottery glazes they are very fine mineral dust some highly toxic and I made the mistake of not always wearing a mask, one of my relatives was a baker back in the 1930s when bakers were baking bread in the old way without modern digital equipment, this relative got emphysema at the age of 30, kept smoking but changed occupation and lived till 79 years but the last 20 years of life were not very pleasant, breathing just deteriorated more and more and mobility was restricted, its not advisable to continuing doing something that you know can be causing damage to health and lungs.

      Wishing you a long and easy breathing life adam

      all the best to you V

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.