diagnosed with emphysema

dr.diagnosed emphysema after looking at a chest x-ray but didn't say to do anything else but quit smoking which i have. shouldn't i be going to a dr.to check lung capacity or something? To me i feel like he gave me a death sentence and said o.k. see ya later.

[sudie58]

if you look at my own post , you will see thats more or less what happened to me, you dont come from the uk do you? i ask because i do and we are just left to get on with it, it seems in the U.S. its dealt with in more thorough way,

[Resilient_Mimi]

chest xray probably showed your lungs are larger than a person that doesnt smoke.  This is what emphysema(COPD) looks like on a xray.  If you arent having trouble breathing.  Coughing isnt a problem. Then you really dont have to have any other test done.  You could have a PFT(pulmonary Function Test) done.  This can tell you lung capacity. But, if your not having any trouble then there really is no need for extra test.  If your interested, ask you MD to have this test run.

[cynders131]

i'm from Canada,  i think its time to get a new dr. i went to a clinic and they are sending me for a breathing test to see how much damage i may have. he was very good and explained a lot to me. Good Luck to you, i have also been down a couple of those same roads.

[cynders131]

thank you for your answer, yes i have been coughing on and off for over a year(more on to be honest) i also noticed shortness of breath.i think i knew it was from smoking but i didn't want to quit. i was in denial saying oh, it's just asthma or something. Now it's worse, i only quit smoking a few days ago but i notice a little difference in the coughing. i am very worried but i am going for a pulmonary function test may 13.

[teko]

A pft is pretty much gonna tell the tale. Your doc will also tell you to stay active! Its one of those if you dont use it, you lose it scenarios. Quitting smoking is the number one thing you can do to help yourself and depending on the amount of damage done, will depend on treatment going forward. I was diagnosed with moderate copd 3 years ago. I quit smoking and have NO cough now and try to stay active. I was given inhalers but do not use them as I am as scared of them as I am the disease itself and do not want to become dependent on them. And advair is mighty expensive at that! Quitting smoking will slow the pace to normal degeneration. Good luck with the pft.