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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linda50 02/27/2012

so when I went to the hospital last sunday,thats what they said I had how ever i was there in sept 11, 2011 they then said I had pneumonia. so they took another x ray sunday and said well it looks better! I thought what looks better! so Im asking myself how bad is this and to what degree do i have copd! the way my breathing is I would say bad! I go c my droctor tomorrow, and hope she can tell me something. my point here is why when I was there in sept why did they say i had PNEUMONIA? then take another xray and say you haveUPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION/ COPD EXACERBATION? Iam new to all thia altho I have been reading lots, Im NOT READY TO GIVE UP!.......... and hope my doctor can help me
just a little confused here and would love some in put on this.obtw my oxgen level at the hospital was 97 not bad right????// was put on predisone and inhalers and antib..

LilEllie 02/27/2012

linda50, to my knowledge, x-rays can't really diagnose that you have COPD. That takes PFT testing, CT Scan and a really good discussion with a pulmonologist. 97% is an excellent reading.

I can understand that you are confused. I have had pneumonia numerous times in my life but the diagnosis of COPD takes more than apparently you have been tested for.

Either that or I am really missing something here. Please ask you doctor to give you an exact diagnosis.

Try not to stree too much until you have the necessary testing and diagnosis.

linda50 02/27/2012

yes I have heard that too. so can pneumona stay in your lungs for 5 mos? also since my oxgen was at 97 why was and still am having such a hard time beeathing...... mostly at nite I wiill fall a sleep for only10 to 15 mins and feel out of breath, I will stay up for like two days w/out sleep, then usually on the 3rd night I sleep just fine at least 6 hrs of sleep! this has caused a lot of ANXIETY for me and trying so hard to not panic. I know that makes it makes worse! this was a pac that I seen and very young,and didnt seam to know what she was talking abt in my opion! thanks for the reply!

LilEllie 02/27/2012

I have x-rays in the past and the doctor will ask "so when did you have pneumonia?" For 5mos, yes, I would expect it could if your weren't treated for it. When I had what is called "walking pneumonia" My chest felt like it had a tight band on it.

This could account for your breathing difficulty but this is all conjecture and your really do need to see a doctor and get some help. Anything that causes difficulty in breathing is possibly damaging your lungs further.

Please go and let us know.

deleted_user 02/27/2012

Linda,

Just to add...an oxygen level reading of 97 can be misleading, if combined with carbon monoxide. If one smokes, this will skew a pulse ox reading. The only way to be sure how much oxygen is being carried by your blood is with an Arterial Blood Gas (blood taken from an artery rather than a vein).

"Pulse oximeters will display an oxygen saturation which is approximately equal to the percentage of haemoglobin combined with oxygen plus the percentage of haemoglobin combined with carbon monoxide 1. So if someone has 25% of their haemoglobin saturated with carbon monoxide and a true oxygen saturation of 70% a pulse oximeter will display an oxygen saturation of about 95%. This is obviously extremely dangerous and for this reason pulse oximeters should not be used with people who may have inhaled smoke, ie anyone who has been involved with any sort of fire, unless you are certain that they do not have any significant level of carbon monoxide in their blood."

http://www.pulseox/limits5.htm

I'm with LilEllie on the PFT testing. Sounds like this needs to be done. Also, you might ask your doc about sleep apnea...your symptoms are very similar.

BTW, I was just in the hospital for pneumonia myself AND an upper respiratory infection. It takes a bit to recover (a nurse mentioned to me that it takes 6 mos.) so be easy on yourself and try not to stress too much....it will get better!

kaput 02/27/2012

Yes, what Jams says is correct. Like my SPO at rest is in the upper 90's, but if I move it drops precipitously! You need to have PFT's, a CT scan & a night time sleep test done. That's when I first needed O2, at night. Some of us have sleep apnea or like in my case, just a shallow breather at night. They do the ABG tests in hospital because they have to go directly to the lab for an accurate reading, They do that test when they do the PFT's normally. You need to have these done so you know where you stand. Not knowing is the worst. Ignorance (in this case anyways) is not bliss. Good luck & God Bless :>)

linda50 02/27/2012

OK I have a dr appt 2morr at 8:15 am. will let ya'll know how things go ! I just hope I can sleep tonight! I want to thank you all for yr support , Im so happy IM here cuz I know nothing abt this COPD except its very scary! im almost 55 and smoked for yrs I HATE CIG AND WISH I NEVER STARTED SMOKING! little late now. I also work in a hospital and hope I don't have to give it up, you know being around sick ppl most of the day! I love my job! I JUST WANT TO BREATH NORMAL AGAIN,FORGOT WHAT THAT WAS LIKE! HUGS TO ALLL!

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