Emphysema/COPD

[badspella]

Hi,

My GP called my yesterday with the results of a chest X ray. She said I have emphysema. This does not completely surprise me, because I smoked heavily for a long time, although I gave up twenty years ago.

I also have iron deficiency anaemia, which is almost certainly caused through my restrictive eating habits (I used to have an ED and, although my weight is fine now, my eating habits are a bit eccentric).

I am not too worried. I know some stronger iron tablets will help with the anaemia , and this will also help with the breathlessness. However, I am curious about what stage the emphysema may be.

I tend to think that if signs are showing on an X ray, and it is causing breathlessness, chest pain and tightness in my chest, it may not be as mild as I hope. I have an appointment with the GP again on Thursday and she will do a pulmonary spirometry test. Would the reading from that indicate the stage of emphysema?

Thanks

Yes, the spirometry should classify your COPD as mild, moderate or severe, but severity also depends on symptoms. Well done for stopping smoking! You have already done the most important thing to protect your lungs. It's important to keep fit and active - ask your GP about pulmonary rehab if you are significantly limited in activity by breathlessness.

Thank you. Yes, I swim about three times a week and cycle when I cannot swim. Exercise is important to help increase lung function. The pulmonary rehab sounds interesting, thanks. I will ask the GP about this.

Well, I went to the appointment, expecting a spirometry/lung function test, and I was greeted by the GP in rubber gloves who wanted to do a rectal examination with respect to ruling out bowel problems, which could cause anaemia especially in slightly older people.

I was not ready for the examination, and explained to the GP that I had thought this was going to be a lung function test. Apparently, someone else will get in touch with me, at some time, to do that.

I asked a bit more about the chest X ray results, and the GP told me that hyperinflation of the lungs was found and this is common in COPD. She added that any COPD/emphysema would most likely be 'mild'.

I declined the rectal examination and was left with a lot of questions. First of all, I do not think COPD can be diagnosed from a chest X ray alone (I do have a history of smoking, although I stopped over 20 years ago), and hyperinflation of the lungs does not suggest the problem is 'mild'. A chest X ray was lost (albeit 3 years ago) and after the most recent X ray, the GP informed me that there was nothing on the X ray to explain the breathlessness and chest pain, then a week later told me about the hyperinflation and 'emphysema'. With respect to any bowel problems, a sample was returned to the GP because it had not been labelled properly, and although I have explained that the breathlessness is increasing, no advice (e.g. how to manage it) has been offered.

Anyway, that is the rant over with. I suppose I will just have to wait until the spirometry test is done and take it from there.

Hi, I just wondered how you're been getting on? I've recently been told my lungs are hyperinflated following a chest X ray, no diagnosis as yet but have seen a really good GP who has now given me an inhaler, steroids and made an appointment for a week's time to see how I get on. My 'research' online (of sensible UK sites lol), suggests COPD, which I think is an umbrella term for bronchitis, emphysema or asthma? I've been having some pretty dramatic episodes of coughing over the last few years and having seen the impact on family members I'm interested in getting on top of this without being a complete obsessive! Oh yes and ex smoker too ....Cheers x