Confusing?

[ELA1968]

I was told in feb of 2010 that I had bronchitis, a virus and my xrays showed Hyperflated (spelling) lungs, which told them I had a start of Emphysema. I got sick with a cold in Aug of 2010 and it continued thru Oct of 2010 when I finally couldnt take it anymore so I went to the hospital to get medical attention. They took xrays, gave me a breathing treatment, told me I was having an exaerbation from my emphysema. Doc gave me Advair Diskus and an albuterol inhaler and told me I didnt have time to wait til January to get a pcp when I went on my husbands insurance. The temp doc I saw, never did test, but put me on more meds and put on her paper, "Chronic Obstructive Unspecified Asthma." Now my new doc said I dont have emphysema for my xrays in october and xrays he just had me do in january were negative, but my blood work showed low, testing for antytripsen (spelling) levels checking for alpha-1. I now have to go to a pulmonologist and getting a nebulizer on monday! Dont know what to think for my breathing is still not as it should be and my activities are still limited. Im really confused! Anybody know anything of this or heard of this?

[sstitanic2]

It is very confusing. Maybe this will help.
Asthma is when the airways become swollen and narrowed. The muscles surrounding the airways go into spasm and tighten. This makes it hard for the air to pass through the airways.
Emphysema is when damaged airways lose their stretchiness and get baggy. They may collapse when you exhale, trapping air in the sacs. This trapped air makes breathing harder. Over time the air sacs loose their clustered shape. This means less oxygen can enter the blood vessels.
Stay with your lung Doctors and get the tests that will give the diagnosis you need. It sounds a lot like what happened to me. Don't get scared just get your answers. Even if you have any form of lung issues it is not a death sentence. Just get a flu shot every year and stay away from colds etc. Wash hands often. Get exercising what ever you can do when you can.
Good luck and Gods speed.

[allmymarbles]

By the way you have to see a lung doctor and get proper testing. The FEV1 value will tell you what stage of the disease you  have.

[allmymarbles]

You can take some natural anti-inflammatories. Vitamins B5 and C are good. Take 500 mg. of each daily. B5 is specific for bronchitis, whether infectious or non-infections. It helps you clear your lungs of phlegm.

Beware of Advair. They always minimize its side effects. It gave me severe bronchitis. I thought my condition was worsening, but in fact the "treatment" was responsible. I finally stopped taking it when it almost caused me to choke to death. Inhaled steroids also weaken your immune system and your bones. Another side effect is adrenal fatigue which results in anxiety and panic attacks. The FDA sent out a warning last year that said Advair should only be used when nothing else works, and, even then, only for short periods.

There are other natural anti-inflammatories, if you are interested. They are important because albuterol (which is necessary) is drying and natural supplements can counteract this. I have fairly serious COPD that I manage with supplements, and am much healthier for it than I was with pharmaceutical poisons.