COPD & Emphysema Support Group

You say they sent out oxygen? Did they put you on other meds? Seems a little strange that they aren't helping you, more than that.

lostcity; My primary (first doctor) said that my x-ray
shows that I have emphysema and she prescribed
albuterol.

Still waiting to see a pulmonary (sp?) specialist. So
don't really know where my lung capacity is at. While
I am curious to know, I also have that feeling of not
wanting to know.

Most sites use the terms 1) mild 2) moderate 3) severe
and 4) very severe for stages of COPD

The good news: The oxygen will make you feel better. And I'm sure as you've already read....quitting
smoking is critical and along with moderate excercise
is the best thing you can do for yourself.

There are many well informed people here. Welcome
to the group.

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) with an FEV1 result of:

STAGE I

mild

Often minimal shortness of breath with or without cough and/or sputum. Usually goes unrecognized that lung function is abnormal

> 80% of predicted

STAGE II

moderate

Often moderate or severe shortness of breath on exertion, with or without cough, sputum or dyspnea. Often the first stage at which medical attention is sought due to chronic respiratory symptoms or an exacerbation

50-80% of predicted

STAGE III

severe

more severe shortness of breath, with or without cough, sputum or dyspnea - often with repeated exacerbations which usually impact quality of life, reduced exercise capacity, fatigue

30 – 50% of predicted

STAGE IV

very severe

appreciably impaired quality of life due to shortness of breath - possible exacerbations which may even be life threatening at times

Less than 30% of predicted --
or less than 50% with chronic
respiratory failure

The above chart is based in part on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

http://www.copd-international.com/...

lostcity; Just wanted to add that I rarely get a lot of
info when I'm seeing a doctor unless I ask a lot of questions.

Sometimes I asked a lot of questions and still don't
get a lot of answers. I don't blame the doctor. There
are a lot of variables.

I'm most curious about how fast my condition will
go down hill. I doubt if any doctor can tell me.

Write down all your questions, which Rxs need refills, etc before you go to the doctor. Actually my doctor has told me that he really appreciates the fact that I do this. I makes sure we've covered everything, and sometimes there are little clues in my questions that might have been overlooked had I not written them down.

You may or may not want to do this, but I actually type mine out on the computer and save them. Then each time I'm preparing to see the doctor, I open the previous list, and check to see if there are still concerns from last time. Then I can do a "save as" and start a new list without having to rewrite everything. It might seem a little involved, but it really helps me and my doctor, and I get to really see my progress.

This tactic is also helping me build my own medical file, which can be very helpful in the future.


Good luck to you.