Told i have mild emphysema

I am not smoking myself, but perhaps you meant to reply to john80670

I hear u,I'm 55, 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed W COPD stage 2,Atherscoliosis n my gallbladder has been gone 25 years! Lolllll!

I too smoked 40 years, I feel so stupid n ignorant for starting in the first place! I have quit for 8 years now n I had a hard time too, They were like tranquilizers! . I Still want them ,but I need to live as long as i can I can, I don't want to suffer!So why or how did u start?

John, in UK we have a specialist for lungs, the same specialist wouldn't discuss gallbladder or diverticulitis.  I am no doctor myself but I would say your weight loss is to do with your not eating properly.  You need to get the reflux, gallstones and diverticulities treated by the appropriate specialist and perhaps you want to check out the discussion groups for those illnesses separately.  'Search thousands of dicussions' search box to the right.>>>>>>>>>

Yes do get help with quitting smoking, its will aid your lung health and health generally.

I had a barium meal check when I was going through the process of elimination before emphysema was diagnosed, the barium meal I was told in my case it was to check and make sure its not cancer.  Fortunately it wasn't and hopefully your results will eliminate that too.

Yes I had the camera / throat check too earlier on before diagnosis.

At the time these checks are worrying but necessary so that a true diagnosis can be given.

Best wish for your future test results.

Search list diverticulitis:  https://patient.info/search.asp?searchterm=diverticulitis&searchcoll=All

Search list results for gallbladder stones:  https://patient.info/search.asp?searchterm=gallbladder+stones&searchcoll=All

Reflux:  https://patient.info/search.asp?searchterm=Reflux&searchcoll=All

Some people with COPD do get reflux but its not necessarily that one goes with the other but it can do with patients whose lungs have stretched, it doesn't normally happen with mild emphysema but do check with your lung doctor further about this.

Acid reflux can occur it you are not eating properly and its very important to have the reflux treated and not let it go untreated.

Best wishes V

For me it was a gradual change for the better.  Its not unusual for coughing to increase when stopping smoking, that is just the body wanting to expel the tar from the lungs, you will find black spots in what you cough up, well I did.  I gave up within 3 weeks of diagnosis, a long time ago now.

Get help with stopping smoking to help you succeed in quitting.  I found drinking water, eating oranges and going for a walk every time I got a craving, the distraction is the key to choosing an alternative to giving in to the craving.

After 12 years + of not smoking I don't miss it at all now and I know I have save my lungs further lung damage.

Good luck V

Thanks can i ask what stage your at and how long you have had it please, if you dn't mind.

I had mentioned how long I've 'had it above John...

I wasn't ever given a stage but you can check yours on the link below if you wish (scroll down under the heading Spirometry: )

See:-  https://patient.info/doctor/diagnosing-copd

Repeating some:-   .....  I was diagnosed over 12 years ago with 50% lung function.  I attended a Pulmonary rehabilitation course, stopped smoking and applied all the things known to help manage the condition (you learn all the does and don't on a PR course)

Currently my lung is functioning at 72% I continue to remain smoke free and I continue exercising as recommended, these 2 things and attending the PR course has to my mind been the result of improved lung function and remaining stable most of the years.

spirometry results can change year to year, one year showing improvement, another year showing a loss in lung function, results can improve or get worse and improve again or get worse again, it all depends how well we look after our health, if we have a lung infection, etc.  Someone who continues to smoke will run the risk of lung function loss year to year.    As I said previously the PR course will give all the information you need to help manage the condition successfully.

Repeating myself again (I've posted this info before), check with the Lung Foundation or Association in the country you reside and search the site for PR information or better still chat with their helpline.

Be selective in what you read on google and try always to select information from a reputable / reliable source.  In UK that may be the British Lung Foundation, NHS Choices, Patient UK, NICE, .gov sites etc.

Thank you i live in the UK but not had any help or Spirometry test, but i will ask my doctor in teh morning to get my results and some help hopefully.

i just listened again to the recording of what the doctor told me when i had my ct scan results. and he never said mild he just said there is signs of smoking i take it your a smoker but that's by the by and started talking about my other problems.

So did any one actually say you have mild emphysema ?

Being told after your CT scan results "there is signs of smoking" is not a diagnosis of emphysema / COPD

Get a copy of the report from the hospital that accompanied the CT scan, on that it will say if you are diagnosed with emphysema or not.

Doctor had my report today when he called and just i have cronic something COPD i think that's why he's booked me in for a Spirometry test in 2 weeks time.