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Slightly Reduced Diffusing Capacity???

Posted , 7 users are following.

browneyedgirl75
browneyedgirl75

Hello everyone,

I am wondering if someone can tell me if this is a big deal or not.  My doctor sent me to a Pulmonologist because of these results on my Pulmonary Function Test and I don't really want to keep the appointment.

My Grandpa died of Lung Cancer, my Grandma died of Emphasema, my Dad passed of Lung Cancer and his sister is currently fighting Lung Cancer.  We do seem to have bad lungs in our family but I haven't smoked in 14 years.

 

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • jude65855
    jude65855 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    What are "these results"?   I can understand your fear with that family history, but if you do have emphysema it's really worth getting a diagnosis, because there's so much you can do to slow down the deterioration rate.    Were all those family members smokers?    

    I'm guessing the prospect of lung cancer must be the really terrifying possibility:  up to you whether or not you want to know what's going on and deal with it, which would be my personal course of action, but of course we all have a choice.  

    Take care, do what's best for yourself and try not to let fear paralyse you

     

  • jude65855
    jude65855 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    PS:   I should've added that if what's in your heading is all the doctor told you, it's meaningless unless you were told how much your capacity is reduced.   If your overall  lung function percentage is only slightly reduced and you do have emphysema, you do have a good chance of living well with it for many years, especially if you can find a pulmonary rehab group.
  • ladyjack51
    ladyjack51 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    Hi browneyedgirl75,

    Sweetie come on, what are you wanting us to say? You are asking us, people who already have COPD and Lung issues if you should follow up as your Dr told you to, bc he's NOT a specialist and can't test or treat you properly.....the answer is YESSSSSS!

    Clearly you know your family tree and so you should act on it...although only certain issues are genetic. You want to be pushed? Here's your push

    /////////// lol....that's me leaning on you to go! You can live a very long time nowadays and it doesn't mean you have cancer. You might just have adult asthma or something. Either way, let's get treatment going early and then you can feel better. Ok? So go, And Let Us Know The Results And How It went!! Ladyjack51

    • jude65855
      jude65855 ladyjack51

      Posted

      Good response except it's not always true that a non-specialist can't test or treat properly:   practice nurses are quite capable of administering spirometry tests and my gp knows enough about COPD to treat me properly.

       

    • ladyjack51
      ladyjack51 jude65855

      Posted

      Jude65855,

      Don't disect that hard, it's unnecessary. My regular Dr can also treat me with some COPD things....but it's true, just as her Dr is trying to do, they try to send you to a specialist when they suspect something that other Dr's specialize in...almost like a second opinion. That's what they are supposed to do. So...let's not make this a separate issue. The point is browneyedgirl needs to go and get the more educated diagnosis from a Dr who deals in it all the time....just as her Dr wants her to.

  • sandy58386
    sandy58386 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    Well said Ladyjack!!!  I'll give an extra shove and a little kick in the buttkis!!  Ignorance can lead to problems later on - it's better to know and get proper treatment OR peace of mind!  XOX  Best of luck!
  • brenda62546
    brenda62546 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    Yes, it is sooo true, and such a blessing, if you could know early about COPD, than later. Remember that knowledge is powerful, and this is very powerful indeed.  I ended up finding out at a later stage, since I had absolutely no symptoms until late. If you can find out earlier, then you can learn ways of possibly 'prolonging'  for when the later stages happen. Now,  I wish I could have had that earlier knowledge and opportunity, now that my later stage has popped up unknowingly. I could have possibly made my later stage happen at an older age, or even better, never happen at all, as long as I am alive! I have been finding that there still is a lot I can do, even at my later stage, so imagine how much nicer it would have been if found earlier. 
  • sandy58386
    sandy58386 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    Good Morning Browneyedgirl!!  I certainly hope that you are going to follow through and see a Pulmonary specialist.  I re-read your original post and noted that you said you "hadn't smoked for 14 years".  Well.......I haven't smoked for 13 years and when I DID smoke, it was as a stupid young adult that smoked "socially or casually"....maybe the maximum of 10 cigarettes a week off and on. I would sometimes go YEARS without smoking, then due to people we were socially interacting with, I might start up for a while again.   Really, I was not a "regular" smoker and would start and stop at will.  So, evidentally ANY smoking is not good for us.  What made me quit permanently???  One day my husband said "we need to quit........I want to see our grandchildren grow up".  He had been a hard core smoker for 40 years but does NOT have any lung issues.  I guess this disease picks and chooses whomever it wants to.  And yes, I did have the blood test to determine if it was hereditary and that came up negative.  Obviously, statistics show that there are millions of people walking around with COPD that are not even aware of it.  I attribute MOST of my problem to environmental issues.  PLEASE, have further testing done.......and stay on this website, you will receive a LOT of support!!  XO
    • ladyjack51
      ladyjack51 sandy58386

      Posted

      Hi sandy58386,

      Thanks for that informative post. You are sooo right. It does pick and choose bc some folks have it and have never smoked!! Plus...I just asked the genetic question recently and didn't think it was. So did you find that it can be genetic???? I didn't know that!! Again...thanks!

  • sandy58386
    sandy58386 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    Browneyedgirl......The test I referred to is to determine if your blood shows a genetic Alpha1-Antitrypsin indicator.  My Father had emphysema but my test determined that I did not have that genetic factor.
  • karen78573
    karen78573 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    browneyedgirl75

    Your mind my dear will never be at ease without knowing,please be brave & put your mind at rest & get the treatment that's needed!& please let us know!x

  • kevin53196
    kevin53196 browneyedgirl75

    Posted

    Hi

    To be quite honest with you, normally I would say not, but as it is obviously running in your immediate family it would be very foolish not to go to this appointment. I do not want to sound hard, you really need to go, if other than to rest your mind on a few things.

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