Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Hi, Just a very quick question. I am a 23yo Male who smoked about 3 cigs a day for about 3 years. I have been off work due to having chest pain for 8 months  along with a heavy/tight chest, and horseness, (no cough). I have had CT's and X-rays of my chest and they say everything is fine but my lungs feel terrible. I have had a pulminary function test and the doctors say my lung compacity is only showing as 60%. CTs also show that my lungs are small. When I breath in my lungs feel stiff and find it difficult expand them.

With the symtoms (symptoms) i am getting and how bad I feel. Could this be pulmonary fibrosis? The doctors just say its asthma does this sound right considering my lung compacity? Also does a CT completley rule out fibrosis? or can you only rule it out by a broncoscopy?

I would realy apreciate your help.

Many thanks in advance.

[National Jewish]

Chest heaviness/tightness and a lung capacity of 60% could be caused by pulmonary fibrosis.  Often this can be determined by high resolution CT (HRCT).  However a lung biopsy may be needed.  You need to see a lung specialist to sort out what is going on.  Keep in mind that pain can cause pulmonary function tests (PFTs) results to appear low.