All,
In Jan this year, I had acute onset of dyspnea, chest heavyness, audible wheezing, like a whistling when I exhaled. I was smoking at the time, been smoking off and on since I was a teen, I am 43 now. BUT, I have had some long periods when I didn't smoke. This last time was for about 4 months, pack every 3 days. When this began that was it for the cigs. I used my Albuterol ( I have a hx of allergic asthma) but it didn't take the sensation away completely. If much at all. My wife, now ex as of today 
and I got a dog around this time, I am allergic, so thought it was the dog. Went to ses the GP, he listened to my lungs, sounded fine, except on forced expiration, when I coughed and wheezed. Prescribed a steroid inhaler. I used it, and it did take away a fry cough, otherwise no difference really. Maybe slight Had a CXR too, was normal. Saw a Pulmo in April, thought it wast he dog. Sent me to a alergist for testing, even tho I knew I was allergic. She did spirometry, well above normal I was told, still I had the constant dyspnea. Prescribed Dulera, not much difference.
I have been away since June fron New Mexico, and the dog. I am in Alaska now. Been on a ship, on shore, in different places. But the dyspnea remains. ALL the time. The whistling noise, the heaviness of breath. I go to stand up, it gets worse, I walk, it is worse. You can hear it, well I can. Take a shower, come out with temp change, worse. Always there. Sometimes I exercise, not as heavy as I used to, and I don't notice it as mush, but I still do, if that makes sense. When I stop, sometimes the whistling, the heavyness intensifies. And I have this sore throat too, especailly after activity. Mornings seem to be the worst. No cough, no phlegm, no fever. I have not been sick this year, thankfully.
I had a spirometry done 2 days ago: FVC:6.06, FEV1 4.39, FEV1/FVC 72.9
Post Albuterol: 6.49, 4.79 73.8. Yes, good numbers, well above normal. Excpet for the ratio which is close to the cutoff of 0.70. Still, with how I feel, not sure how this is possible. I have constant dyspnea. I wonder if I have emphysema, and have for awhile, but thought it was exercise asthma. I never used my inhlaer much prior to this, and when I did, any wheezing went away COMPLETELY. Now I use it more often, and not much change.
I am supposed to see the Pulmo doc on 11/9, for full PFT's. I sent him the spirometry and he said it looked fine. I know you can have emphysema, and normal PFT's, but how I feel, I should be late stage, yet the spirometry says otherwise. Many people have early COPD, and no sxs. What gives? I know it affects everyone different, but this is crazy. People can have norma spiro, but a low DLCO, I guess I will know soon. I may ask for a chest CT too. The pulmo said if PFTs normal, then we can discuss other causes. Guess I wil know soon. I asked him about the FEV1/FVC ratio. He said I was overreading it. That handheld spiro makes results look worse than they are. Mine were "normal". But I feel like crap, since Jan! Overall, it is not as instense as it was, but in some ways feels worse.
Anyway, thought I would pick some brains on here. See if anyone had similar circumstances? Opinions please. I know the numbers look good, but I feel terrible. As I wirte this, I still have the feeling.
Be well,
Patrick