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...

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OT update from my doctor

daniellanke
daniellanke
Hello everyone, sorry i have not been online for a while. I've been on the road driving and trying to get updates from my tests. Well, my PFT went ok. It Says I am pretty normal. Above normal for volume. Normal Spiro/flow/volume/and DLCO. I'm not to sure what DLCO is. The PA listened to my lungs and said she did not hear anything this time. If everything is normal, why does it feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest. We did another Xray and this morning we did more blood work. I have good volume just bad elasticity I think. Now I'll have to wait another week or so to get the results so I can schedule another appointment to get the results. I asked the PA if i would be assigned a Pulm Doctor and she said there is no reason for that.
You all have been such a help to me. Thank so much for everything. It has been almost 3 months and still no diagnoses except unsubstantiated diagnosis. Good lord help me. lol. I can only sleep about 4 or 5 hours a day now. It's getting pretty ridiculous.
Blessings to all of you
bjrapp2020
bjrapp2020
Honey, do not ASK your PA should you get a pulmologist, tell the doctor you want and will get a pulmologist. I am sure this doctor is good at what he does, or she, but you need a lung specialist for a proper diagnosis. It seems she did most of the test he would have done, but still, you would not send your car to a cafe to get fixed would you? So if you are having a lung problem, don.t go to a general doctor, go to the soecialist.
BJ
ChrissieUK
ChrissieUK
Oh I agree with bjrapp if you are having lung problems then a lung specialist is what you need...........I have learned with doctors it is no good asking you have to insist or demand. Good luck x x
jarca
jarca
just curious; all this started because the elephant sitting on your chest feeling or did you have a sickness also?
have you had your heart checked? also, doesn't GERD have that type of symptom?
i do hope your dr's are checking out other things that could have these sympthoms.

personally, the only time i get that "elephant sitting on my chest" feeling ( i'm stage 4/severe) is when i am going into an exacerbation. that feeling is not a "normal" daily COPD feeling to me.

also, i always thought i had to have a dr "refer" me to a specialist of any kind. that isn't so where i live. i can' call up any specialist and make an appointment for a consult. so maybe don't rely on your dr and just call and make an appointment with a pulmonary specialist yourself.
it's always good to get a 2nd opinion & a good dr will encourage that.