PFT

[diaelibeth]

I RECENTLY HAD A SPIROMETRY TEST BEFORE I HAD THIS TEST I WAS ON 3 INHLERS REGULAR MY RESULT [PFT] WAS 95% THATS ALLMY DOCTOR TOLD ME ABOUT THE RESULT FIRST HE SAID IT WAS MILD EMPHYSEMA THEN HE LOOKED AT IT AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS CHRONIC BRONCHITIS HE SAID MY CONDITION WAS IRRIVERSABLE HE TOOK ME OFF MY INHAERS WHIH WERE VENTOLIN ,ITROPIUM AND FLUOXITIDE BECAUSE HE SAID THEY WASN,T DOING ANYTHING TO HELP MY LUNG CONDITION ,I DO SMOKE  MY DOCTOR SAID IF I DON,T STOP SMOKING I WILL BE A LOT WORSE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE OXYGEN COULD YOU TELL ME WHY HE SAID IT WAS EMPHYSEMA FIRST THENCHANGED HIS MIND TO CHRONIC BRONCHITIS ,AM I GOING TO DIE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS OR EVEN SOONER I AM WORRIED DIANE COOPER THANKS

[National Jewish]

The term COPD is an abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  COPD is a general term used to describe the chronic lung disease linked with cigarette smoking and worsened by contact with industrial dusts and other toxins.  This is a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.  It is a disease that worsens over time, especially when smoking continues.  With emphysema there is a relatively irreversible decrease in airflow and permanent destruction of the airsacs in the lung.

Chronic bronchitis is a cough with mucus that lasts for at least 3 months in a row 2 years in a row.  This develops from long-term irritation of the airways and is most often associated with smoking.  Your chest x-ray and spirometry may be normal with chronic bronchitis.

Although there may not be a change in your spirometry after using your inhalers, you may experience improvement in your symptoms, especially after using the Ventolin® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate).  Although this is not making a change in your lung condition, it can help you to feel better.  Spiriva® HandiHaler® (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) decreases shortness of breath, keeps COPD from flaring up, and lessens hospitalizations due to COPD.  This is the newest medicine being used to treat COPD.  It would replace the ipratropium bromide that you had been using.

This is a golden opportunity for you to save your lungs while there is still time.  Any damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed, but by quitting smoking the progression of the COPD will slow down.  Over time less of your lung will be effected by COPD than if you had continued to smoke.  Please take this warning seriously and stop smoking now.  At this time quitting smoking is the most important thing that you can do for yourself!  You may want to look at our Quit Smoking Topic Center at http://www.nationaljewish.org/topic/smoking_cessation.html for ways to help you become smoke free.  Also check with your doctor for other quit smoking resources in your area.

[starion]

Your doctor is right that smoking is bad for your lungs & health.  95% is really a great number and to preserve that, please quit smoking.  Folks don't generally die from chronic bronchitis or emphysema, they generally just have more & more trouble carrying out daily activities and breathing.  Eventually, they can have secondary problems, like heart failure and others related to their lung condition, and require supplemental oxygen.

There is no magic way to make smoking "safe" or OK for your lungs & body, only taking responsibility for quitting & asking for help as needed (there are some aids docs can prescribe to help if YOU really want to quit).

Good luck!
Starion