Hi. Thanks very much for your response. I have stopped smoking - I haven't smoked a cigarette in about two weeks. That's the thing that's puzzling to me, though - I've never been a regular smoker and very often would go weeks, sometimes months, without smoking. May I ask you, just to gain some perspective, how much you smoked and for how many years? What made your doctor order a PFT? I suppose all my years of "social smoking" have finally caught up with me, but I'm also aware that some individuals in their 40s and beyond who smoke at least a half a pack a day or more never get this diagnosis. What is your treatment plan? Did your physician just tell you to stop smoking and then order a repeat test in four to six months? How are you dealing with the news of your diagnosis? Have you told anyone? I have been very fortunate up until this point that I have been completely healthy, and now, of course, I am kicking myself for ever having smoked at all and am ashamed at this self-imposed condition...Thanks in advance
Im 28. My PFT readings are similar to yours. My fev1 was 76% without bonchodilator and 79% after. I too was told by my pulmonologist that I have mild obstruction. No medication required but should quit smoking. My doctor also told that this obstruction will reverse partially. Have you stopped smoking yet? Dont worry about the diagnosis too much. Most people's fev1 improve after quitting cigarettes, but the degree of improvement I believe is unpredictable. So its technically still possible for us to reach the 80% fev1 mark ( or even more) and live like you never had COPD.
Hope that was helpful.