My diagnosis
I have a hard time understanding my COPD myself. My O2 sats last time were 100% at the doctor appointment. My body gets enough oxygen. On the down side oxygen probabally won't help and brochodilators have not helped me. My pulmonologist says my lungs are like balloons that are almost full of air. When I get short of breath for whatever reason. I only have a small amount of space to breathe in. It is like there is a valve that lets air in but will only let it come out real slowly or traps the air. Oxygen exchange works so my alveoli are ok. So I still get very short of breath with exertion, resp infections, and anxiety. Scarey that I don't have the O2 and Albuterol to help me. He does want me to try Atrovent. We'll see. I don't really fit into a category of emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or pulmonary fibrosis etc. He says I have COPD and it is air trapping or hyperinflation. There are a few other names, but have forgotten right now. I will get to the point that I live in the moment. Just a lot of changes in my health status right now. I am having to adjust. I will get there again.
Replies
Me too...just the thought of how long you have to live is like being slaped in the face...When you are head of family and lose control everybody. Suffers and. Then comes blame. .my main problem is high co2 levels..with SOB...Fev down from 33 TO 22..DID NOT QUALIFY FOR SSD...Was out of work for five years before ...I got sick.even tthough I worked 25years before that....I guess career women need to be aware of that..
Oh how we all understand your emotions at this time. 5 Years ago they did not think I\'d make it thru the Winter. I\'m still here & fighting to keep a quality of life I can accept. Eat right, walk, & always keep rested. Thinking of you & sending hugs for encouragement.
I ran into the same problem with SSD! Its not fair, IMO, but I finally got tired of fighting it.
If I can afford to move my insurance from a PPO (have to drive from Iowa to Kansas City, MO to see specialists) to a regular type in a few months I\'m going to be really excited about seeing a real pulmonologist. My GP does the best he can, but without testing, he\'s really working in the dark.
hugs & blessings vicki
Ladybug, did you get an alpha-1 antitrypsin test? They poke your finger and about 4 drops of blood fall onto the paper-thingy. Then they send that to the lab to test your blood for the amount of alpha-1 antitrypsin in you. You get the results in about 2 weeks. I am alpha-1 antitrypsin deficient. (Alpha-1 for short.) My pulmonologist couldn\'t figure out why I had COPD so he gave me that test. My lungs are also hyperinflated.