I'm 21 years old, and was diagnosed with COPD today

[niki86]

I'm 21 years old, have never smoked a day in my life and don't spend any time around smokers. In spite of that, I was diagnosed with moderate COPD today after doing a pulmonary function test and having xrays. I read online that the prognosis is 4 to 10 years. Is this correct or could my young age make it longer?

[jennyP]

The Alpha-1 test should have been the first test they did on you before making a diagnosis.  Has anyone talked to you about LAM?  It is a disease called Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a disease that only effects women of reproductive age, and it mimics symptoms of COPD, and emphysema.  It is diagnosed by CT scan.  I am 30 years old and I have just been diagnosed with LAM.  For the past 6 months, I have been from doctor to doctor trying to get to the bottom of this because I was also initially diagnosed with copd.  I would get a second opinion, and ask about LAM.  LAM is rare, and your doctor may not even know about it, and probably has never seen a case of LAM.  But keep searching for a doctor that will work with you, because at 30 I would not accept a diagnosis of copd, and at 21 you definitely shouldn't.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Jenny

[Sunny602]

I agree with Gary, please don't listen to the numbers. I have known folks who were in end stage COPD to live beyond 10 years...Prognosis varies person to person. I also agree that you should be tested for Alpha 1, you are very young to have COPD. I hope you are going to a good lung specialist, if you aren't...please see one who can give you optimal care and do further testing. Sunny

[SkinnyGary]

Don't believe everything you read.
At your age you need to be tested for Alpha-1. It's a genetic type of emphasema. Many people have lived way longer than 10 years after DX.