early stages of emphasima

[Davy1968]

What is early stages of emphasima?
I had a chest xray in March 2011 where they found emphasima. I stopped smoking in 2010 and thought it was my body clearing it's self out which was causing my slight brethlessness.
Had the breathing test at hospital friday 20th July 2012 where the lab person said it looked like early stages of emphasima, don't see my own doctor for another 2 weeks.
I know the damage has been done but will it spread? I don't cough up any bad stuff and can exercise, I do get a bit wheezee but otherwise feel ok. Where do I go from here. I'm 43 and think I'm in good health, dron't drink don't do fry ups, 6ft 1inch, 13.8 stone.

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

There are four stages of emphysema in the American Thoracic Society classification of COPD/emphysema, from Mild to Very Severe, based primarily on pulmonary function test results.  Persons with low-normal pulmonary function results may be deemed to be at risk.

The classification is not based on Chest X-ray findings but occasionally early limited signs of emphysema may be noted.  If minimal, they are of little or no consequence functionally but should be taken as a warning sign that if one smokes, he should quit soon.

Do not rely on the word of the “lab person who said it looked like early states of emphysema” but, even if his/her interpretation was valid, the key word is “early.”

You mention “wheeze”.  You may have either bronchitis or asthma and either could cause wheezing and be a cause of “COPD/emphysema on pulmonary function tests.

As for “the damage being done” you may have sustained some irreversible damage from smoking but if it is early or mild, you have taken the most important step that will save you from progressive lung disease, and that is smoking cessation.

That you still exercise and experience only “slight breathlessness” suggests that you still have good lung power and have nothing to worry about.  Just don’t ever go back to smoking cigarettes.

Good luck

[Davy1968]

I had an xray in 2010 which showed EMPHYSEMA then Jan 2011 I had a CT scan which confirmed it, the doctor said my right lung was worse than my left.

I had the blow out computer test last week and get results on the 1st August this year.

I have two active boys 9 and 12, 3 dogs which I walk most days for abut 1 hour a time, exercise each day, get a bit wheezzeee but not really out of breath that only happens if I run about mad, guess that would happen to most people.

Doctor before said he's not that worried about it and I should try not worry about it? hard not to. Said he would look at it im 15-20yrs.

Is this the correct advice or am I get hyper over nothing, still not had a cig and will never go back on them.

Any advice yould help.

David O'Neill

[Davy1968]

David thak you so much for your comments.

I had an xray in 2010 which showed EMPHYSEMA then Jan 2011 I had a CT scan which confirmed it, the doctor said my right lung was worse than my left.

I had the blow out computer test last week and get results on the 1st August this year.

I have two active boys 9 and 12, 3 dogs which I walk most days for abut 1 hour a time, exercise each day, get a bit wheezzeee but not really out of breath that only happens if I run about mad, guess that would happen to most people.

Doctor before said he's not that worried about it and I should try not worry about it? hard not to. Said he would look at it im 15-20yrs.

Is this the correct advice or am I get hyper over nothing, still not had a cig and will never go back on them.

Any advice yould help.

David O'Neill