COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Hello all my wonderful friends on here ... I went to see the nurse today and had a spirometry test ....well two actually , because she thought the machine was wrong ... basically I was expecting it to be much better than last time because I feel fine, but my FEV1 had dropped dramatically from 64 to 39 ... I just dont get it ...my oxygen was 98% so thats fine and I have been comenting over the last month or so how good I feel ....not any more ....I said to the doctor who I saw straight away ....so this means I will be dead in 5 years yes? ....not NECESSARILY was his answer ...I am only 43 ....I went right back to depression mode ....the only 'good' thing was that the doc said it just does not add up , he said he would have expected me to be out of breath at that FEV 1 .........................oh I dont know ..I wish I hadn't have bothered with it now ...I diddnt even get the Onbrez inhaler
http://www.irelandseye.com/paddy3/preview2.htm
As far as what COPD'rs end up dying from, I would think it would be the complications of it that kills, like pneumonia (which killed actress Brittany Murphy earlier this year who had no known COPD or airway disease) or something like lung cancer, pulmonary embolisms or such. I've had great readings when I felt awful like someone else said here, My reg doc does a spirometry test on me during each exacerbation, does'nt really show my actual because I am sick at the time..seems like I am always sick lately. Hang in there,
I'll be keeping you in my prayers, you take care!
Rosey
I have score higher and dind't understand.
I think you can't say you going to bit the dust in 5 years.
God only knows and how you take care of yourself.
Who really knows for sure.
Bee
That will show just how damaged your lungs really are!
Rosey, I was at 64% fev 10 months ago ...and the nurse said the machine had been calibrated that morning ...the crazy thing is I feel MUCH better than I did 10 months ago ...the doc and the nurse said that on the reading I was/am on I should be sob ...I aint and I havn't had any exacerbation for ages .......weird innit
Bee , of course you are right , no one knows for sure when their time is up ///......it's just that us copders have a graph that acts like a mental fuse
I dont know sometimes I think I would have been better off just not knowing
This is one disease that you have to be involved with your care!
Your too young to have "smokers" Emphysema, so I would do whats necessary to explore the other possible causes! (A1AD blood test and CT lung scan will show what type of Emphysema you have)
I would also want a "full" and complete Pulmonary Function Test! (DLCO included)
Not an office Spirometry! (there's a difference!)
God Bless you and yes deman a new CT Scan!!!!! what there is no skin off their nose if you have one.
Go for it!!!!
hey your in the driver seat and it's your body!!!!