Could I have COPD

[steelie13]

Hi there, I am wondering if someone can help me out? I was having trouble sleeping, I was waking up panicky in the middle of the night. i went to my doc and told him that and he listened to my chest and said that something did not sound right. he sent me for an xray and he also gave me advair. He called me couple of days later and said I have COPD. I am 36 years old, Male and smoked when I was in my 20's for a total time of maybe 3 years at maybe half a pack a day. i had blood work done my blood was normal and I had a PFT. My results were FEV1 78 before the Salbuterol and 81 after. My FVC was 98 and FEV1FVC% was 80 before and 85 after.

My doc says it is chronic bronchitis by the looks of my xray because of the swelling on the xray. I did have bronchitis about 2 months prior to the xray.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike....

[Weffette]

Oh...I forgot!!!   Have you ever had a sleep study done?  Sleep apnea and COPD, many times, go hand in hand.  My want to talk with your doctor about this, too.

[Weffette]

Hi Mike,
I was told by a lung specialist that some forms of lung issues are hereditary.
Do you have anyone in your family with the same issues?  
What type of work do you do? Being a drywall finisher is not good for your lungs...a face mask should always be worn. Working with certain wood...treated lumber once had arsenic, but I believe that has been removed. But the saw dust can also be an irritant.
I have issues with diesel exhaust fumes...difficulty breathing, swallowing, etc...  I was exposed to raw asbestos from birth to 11 years old...I'm 51 now and I have problems, but no doctor will take me seriously, so I just try and do things at a slow, easy pace and I avoid humidity as much as possible (very difficult to do where I live).
COPD is not curable...but sometimes steroids will help breathing. Do you have a nebulizer in your home, so you can administer breathing treatments when symptoms arise?
Humidity is a HUGE contributor to difficulty with breathing, especially with COPD.
If you don't have a nebulizer for home, see if your doctor/insurance will supply you with one.
I wish you the best in better breathing, Mike.