Very worried

[Angelina1]

Hello. I don't know if I'm getting into a state of panic at the moment but I am hoping someone can ease my mind until I see my doctor.  I have had an upper respiratory tract cold for the last 5 days - sometimes my throat is very itchy and my cough is dry but most times it is a productive cough. Earlier today I felt very short of breath so I went to see a local doctor and she listened to my lungs and they sounded clear. I was then asked to blow into a peak flow monitor and I had a good reading, but when I was tested on a second machine (can't remember what it's called) the reading was not very good - she didn't give me details but she told me not to be too concerned as it would be very hard to do these tests when you have a cold (i suspect it was a monitor that can test you for COPD)  . She has put me on Ventolin (to use as required) and Symbicort (one puff in the morning and one in the evening) to assist me with my breathing until I recover from this cold. I am seeing my usual GP next week but I am very concerned that this could be a sign of COPD as I used to be a smoker for 22 years and quit 4 months ago . Can someone please give me some advice? Would it be true to say that the results of these tests would be different (possibly better) if I didn't have a cold and that I should be retested when I recover ?  Thank you.

[Angelina1]

Thank you Kathryn.

I wonder if anyone else can offer some advice?

[kathryn79]

I would think it was due to your cold. I am too freaked out that I have copd cuz my breathing is very scary. I would wait till your not sick and see how you feel before getting too scared.

[Angelina1]

bumping this post up.  Can anyone advise please?