Questions to ask Pulmonologist

[LLWB]

Okay, on Tues I will have lung functions tests, then see the Puolmonologist for diagnosis. What questions should I ask? I have already had a Spirometry test, twice, with a lung function age shown as 76. I am 61. I'm a smoker with a lot of other health problems. After my official diagnosis (see how pessimistic I am!)  what questions should I ask? My husband had lung cancer, which metatastised to brain, bone, spine, and liver, and emphysema. He passed away 2 years ago, which has added to my stress. I have treied to quit smoking several times in the past, to no avail. I know that is the biggie to do, but what else? I have educated myself on-line as much as I can, but there isn't a lot of info out there to help in practical matters. And no explanation of the difference between COPD and emphysema.......or are they the same? Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you.

[zodiacqueen]

Hi, I am also an ex-smoker as of 1 yr ago.  I smoked for 20 yrs.  I have asthma, cough all the time, and get shortness of breath all the time.  I'm lucky that my lung function is well-above normal-but, as bad as I feel-it's a shocker!  What helped me to quit smoking, was the fear of my breathing getting worse.  That should be enough to scare you, too.  Your lungs ARE guaranteed to get worse, and you may get to carry oxygen around.  How would you feel about that?  I'm sure that your poor husband had a horrible time breathing with the lung cancer and emphysema, and do you think that will NEVER happen to you??  Do you think your husband would want you to continue smoking?  What about your love ones???

That should scare you enough, cuz I know it sure as "H" scared me enough to never pick up a cigarrette again.  You must stop now to preserve the lung function that you have left.  The doc can write you a script for Chantix-I've heard great things about it!  I didn't use it, I used the gum.  My cousin loved Chantix.

You should do some research on COPD on the internet, there's a lot of info out there-you need to educate yourself-knowledge is power.  Try copdforum.portalone.us and copd-international.com.  

I hope that this scared you enough to finally stop!!

[teko]

Asthma, bronkitis, emphasema are all covered under the umbrella of copd.  Asthma is a restrictive airway disease and emphasema is an obstructive airway disease. With emphasema your body cannot perform the exchange of carbon dioxide and fresh air like it should and the lungs usually are hyperinflated, meaning they have air in them that you cannot expel efficiantly. If you continue to smoke this disease will progress at an accelerated rate and your quality of living will be horrid. Some people, just bending over is almost impossible and with this disease comes congestive heart failure as your heart has to work overtime to perform normal function. Incurable, but quitting smoking can slow progression of the disease.

[teko]

Ask your pulmonologist to explain the numbers to you and get your lung age. If he puts you on inhalers, ask for the cheapest.  I just paid 190.00 for advair 250/50. This lasts 30 days. If you are diagnosed with emphasema, get a quit smoking plan going. I quit cold turkey the day I was diagnosed and have not smoked since, but did get paxil to help with the anxiety and anger.

[zodiacqueen]

I have asthma!!!  It is an obstructive disease, BUT, it is reversible, where COPD is not reversible with inhalers.  The restrictive conditions are the lung diseases that causes scarring, for example, pulmonary fibrosis.

Just wanted to clarify!


http://www.nutramed.com/asthma/intro.htm

[teko]

This is correct, both are obstructive, however emphasema is not reversable, quitting smoking is the ONLY thing that you can do to alter the future of the disease.