Probably COPD
Posted , 6 users are following.
Probably COPD
What does Probably COPD mean? I cannot help but wonder how many people have died or had to undergo more extensive treatment for things like lung cancer because of this diagnosis on a Lung x-ray. Or Probably anything else.
I would like to hear from anyone who has received this report on their lung x-ray. Probably COPD or Probably anything else is nothing more than a guess. It means we see something wrong but because we do not know what it is and the person has COPD, it is Probably COPD.
But what if it is not COPD? What if it is lung cancer or something else. At the very least, the patient's doctor ought to follow up on it. None of mine ever have. It is simply accepted as probably true and nothing else is done.
If this is happening to you, or you have not received the proper diagnosis because of it, please let your current doctor know that this is not acceptable. be sure to write about your experiences with it here.
regardless of whether it is Probably COPD or Probably ????, don't sit back and accept it. Do something about it.
Rick Stoneking Sr.
COPD Sufferer
1 like, 10 replies
josephine_30311 TheRickster
Posted
Jo
TheRickster josephine_30311
Posted
I have noticed it on xrays over the last couple years but I simply waited for the doctors report before I became proactive with my health
josephine_30311 TheRickster
Posted
Having COPD simply means your lungs don't work as well as they should .. for any number of reasons (mine was from smokng).
But although there isn't a cure for it, if you manage it well, it doesn't have to be a death sentence .. if you take your meds, and eat well, and exercise regularly, chances are you'll die WITH COPD but not FROM it.
From what you've said above, it looks like you're managing it very well. To go 15 years without any discernible worsening of youir condition, is great.
It's tough at times, I know .. but thats life.
You just get on with it, don't you? You have to.
patricia07829 TheRickster
Posted
To be honest I’ve never heard of this lung disease before , but I have now which apparently
Is the equilent to chronic bronchitis.
I’ve certainly had chest infections when I’ve caught the cold , since having this it’s more
difficult to get over the above things.
My previous GP was very vague in his explanation of what exactly causes this lung disease ,
Smoking but I know people who don’t smoke and they have so maybe there could be other
things that trigger this disease from occurring.
I’ve had various tests done which at the beginning were at a satisfactory level , but now its
progressed somewhat it maybe a completely different story.
TheRickster patricia07829
Posted
Hi Patricia,
I don't know what you mean by: "I’m sitting at 2/3 stages at the moment." I have never heard of stages with COPD before.
Vee2 TheRickster
Posted
Read all about it here: https://patient.info/health/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-leaflet
COPD is divided into mild, moderate and severe groups, depending on the level of airflow obstruction. The airflow obstruction is the FEV1, measured with spirometry.
Mild (stage 1) COPD is an FEV1 at least 80% of predicted value.
Moderate (stage 2) COPD is an FEV1 between 50% and 79% of predicted value.
Severe (stage 3) COPD is an FEV1 between 30% and 49% of predicted value.
Very severe (stage 4) COPD is an FEV1 less than 30% of predicted value.
aitarg35939 TheRickster
Posted
I've never heard of such a thing as what you've been told. I think most of us here were diagnosed off of PFTs Pulmonary Function Tests, also known as LFTs Lung Function Tests and "spirometry."
What I believe was meant is this: Doesn't have pneumonia & doesn't have lung cancer but might have any of the many diseases that are under the umbrella of COPD. The 2 most common seem to be emphysema & chronic bronchitis but there are others, we're told.
If you weren't referred for PFTs, that's very odd unless you were caught so early that you'd not yet completely crossed the threshold.
Lung cancer is pretty distinguishable, so much so these days that docs can see nodules on lung stays and know for sure that they're just nodules and not cancer.
I am sorry for your bad experiences. Having the disease is quite enough without having docs throw in nonsensical stuff, too.
TheRickster aitarg35939
Posted
Emis_Moderator TheRickster
Posted
I have removed the repeated linking to another website. If you want information on COPD our leaflet is here https://patient.info/health/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-leaflet and includes information on staging etc.
Vee2 TheRickster
Posted
Probably is not acceptable, ask your GP for a referral to specialist who will carry out further tests and scans.