COPD & Emphysema Support Group

Count your blessings. It means you are in early stages still. that you can walk around a building with the pulse oximeter on and not desaturate is wonderful. Congratulations.

JOAnn

hi, I second what JOAnn said. You don't know how lucky you are to find all this out when you have such a mild case of COPD. Just stay away from the cigs and you will be fine. I wish you the very best.
Hugs,
Nellie

Yes indeedy.....and that is wonderful news hon....Just a few words of encouragement....It can be a very slow progressing disease...If you smoke....stop if you can as they say it really does slow it down and at your stage most go on to live a full and almost normal lifespan....Take loving care of yourself my friend....and celebrate this time....consider this a real wake up call if you will...Life is so very precious and sadly most people never understand that until it is too late....Congrats....Have a fantastic holiday weekend!!!! Hugs...
Love and Many Blessings, Serenity

Thank you so very much for all your replies... My CT scan did say moderate emphysema. I did stop smoking a few days after I found out about the CT results and only had one cigarette a day for 4 days until I gave the cigarette up - but I have been trying to quit for 2 years - cantix - meditation - etc, etc...could not quit until the wake up call of my CT scan.

Happy 4th everyone .... Love you all...Julie

Julie,
A CT scan most accurately defines the extent of damage to your lungs by Emphysema! The Spirometry(quick office test) or Pulmonary Function Test(more detailed lung function test) can remain good up until,or past when your diagnosed with severe Emphysema! And the walking test(called six minute walk test) lets them know if you need supplemental oxygen, which some don't need even into their severe stages!

Hope this answers your question!

Thanks for your response. So that means I am not sick enough yet for oxygen? But will be in the future - when 2 years - 5 years ???
I am hoping they will be able to go other therapies in the near future. Maybe I am being too optimistic?

When will I be diagnosed with severe emphysema? Just wondering.
Thanks so much for your repsonse. very informative. Hugs, Julie

Julie,
A CT scan most accurately defines the extent of damage to your lungs by Emphysema! The Spirometry(quick office test) or Pulmonary Function Test(more detailed lung function test) can remain good up until,or past when your diagnosed with severe Emphysema! And the walking test(called six minute walk test) lets them know if you need supplemental oxygen, which some don't need even into their severe stages!

I continued to smoke for 20 years after first hearing the word emphysema. Of course, at 62 I went on O2 24/7. Been on it 7+ years. Not what you want in your future. No smoking and lots of walking, exercising with weights,etc.

That is great news. Stay away from smoking. .. and take good care of yourself.

Forgot to add that I did NOT go the exercise route. So get out there and keep moving and shaking and lifting those weights,pulling those bands and every other exercise you can think of. Water aerobics is wonderful - use empty one gallon milk containers with screw on lid and push them down in the water. Great resistance - same as weight training. You probably have decades especially if you didn't get SOB in the walking test. Hang in there - time is on your side. Nellie is right - you are lucky. Hugs

I want to thank you for the reply to my post. You make me feel like family. God bless. Wishing you good health and a great 4th.