Hi guys I wanted to ask a few questions. I'm 29 and have smoked the past ten years. Probably around 12 per day. I recently went through a stressful month and was smoking a lot. The past week i noticed my chest feels really heavy and I'm not breathing the same. When I'm laying down, it feels like I can't breathe normally. When I suck in, my chest feels heavy like I can't pull in. I went on the internet to research and got really scared that it could be copd. I was wondering how likely this is? Exactly 9 months ago I had a chest ct scan with contrast for something unrelated (swollen lymph nodes under arm) and the report said my lungs were unremarkable. Could copd form in such a short time since the ct scan? I threw away all of my cigarettes and will never smoke again. Thanks
Big possibility, I would have a CT SCAN DONE ON MY LUNGS ,THERES NOTHING TO B SCARED OF REALLY. .I HAVE COPD FOR FOR 15 YEARS THEN I WAS TD LAST YEAR THROUGH A FEV THING ,I WAS IN STAGE 1 WHICH COULD B ANOTHER 10 YEARS OR MORE!I SMOKED 1/2 OF A PK A DAY .I QUIT 9 yrs ago in February! Still have problems at times but it will all b ok!
Hiya well don for binning the cigs. If i was you i think i would go and see my doctor. Sorry i cant really help you. love and best wishes julie xx
I'm sorry I can't understand what you wrote about the ct scan.
I'm saying go ASK TO have a CT SCAN DONE ON UR LUNGS,N A FEV 1 TEST DONE!NO MORE GUESSING,I DID N IM GLAD! I HAVE A COPD FOR 10 YEARS,N NOW I'M ON STAGE 2 COPD ! PPL CAN HAVE COPD FOR A VERY LONGGGGG TIME! I QUIT SMOKING OVER 8 YEARS AGO N IM GLAD! SO GOOD LUCK N GOD BLESS U!
My question is though.. since I had a ct scan of my chest done 9 months ago... wouldn't it show some signs since from what I've read copd progresses after many years.
Did u understand me better? My letters keep on going on caps every little bit, sorry! I hope u find out its nothing major! COPD is major but not deathly....U still have alot of years if it is!!???IF IT IS....No more smoking,Stay on breathing treatments,n stay from smokers around u,My whole family smokes so it can b hard! But remember how it hurts,how stinking it is,costly, n MORE IMPORTANTLY...UR lungs health! Goodnight n sweetest dreams to u! 💓
Well done for stopping smoking
That's the best thing you can do. I'm sorry I cannot explain your symptoms other than to say that it could be caused by the stress you've been experiencing. However, if I were you, I'd see my GP to get checked over. Not sure whether you can just 'have' a CT scan. This would be up to your GP and if he/she thinks it's necessary. If not, and you're still worried, you can ask for a private referral for CT. I'm pretty sure you'll be offered one if it's necessary though. Good luck and I hope things settle soon.
It should, but it doesn't. A CT Scan of the lungs will show,I had a Xray done to my chest also n it didn't show anything, then MY. PULMONARY DR SAID I WANT TO DO A CT SCAN OF UR LUNGS N THERE IT WAS!
My GP THE Houghton it was my heart also n had several tests done n then my GP said ,LETS have a pulmonary Dr check u out,n he did a chest Xray n didn't show anything, at this point,I thought it anxiety n panic but it wasn't I turned out to b COPD,through a CT SCAN of the lungs! A FEV1 was done also,n it showed COPD stage 2. I QUIT SMOKING LIKE I SAID ,ALMOST 9 YEARS AGO, N USE MY BREATHING TREATMENTS,N IM FINE ,no more choking,no more coughing, n hard breaths taken hardly any of it exists any more!
I'm sorry my letters r not coming good at all! The thing is ur GP can send u to a Pulmonary DR to make sure it's not or is COPD...ITs best to safe than sorry! My GP thought in the beginning it was my heart,n I went to a Cardiovascular Dr,n Pulmonary Dr! Stress can do a number on u too! If its a minor thing, Please jus don't go back smoking! It's been THE BEST DESCISION,I EVER MADE! I DONT SMELL OF CIGS NO MORE,NO MORE COUGHING LIKE CRAZY,NO MORE CHOKING HARDLY! I JUS FEEL BETTER! ITS HARD! LIKE I SAID...ALMOST......MY WHOLE FAMILY SMOKES,BUT I GET AROUND IT!
Thanks for responding. I'm not sure if what I'm asking is being understood. I already had a CT of my lungs done 9 months ago which came back perfect. If I have copd now, would it have showed up 9 months ago when I had the ct scan?
Sorry misunderstood, I thought u said,CT SCAN WAS DONE ON THE CHEST? If ur test came back good,Then it's probably anxiety n or panic attacks! Ur right no COPD then! I wouldn't think so either! Ur good for that! So what r u worried for then hon?
It's jus stressed! I ask ur GP to give u something for ur nerves if ur still stressful! Stress can cause at of health issues or u can start drinking warm drinks like ..Hot teas,cocoa, or hot lemme n water, or even take long walks! Natural stuff!Did that answer ur question?
These r jus my opinions!
Hi Wendy, when i had swollen lymph nodes under my arm pits , it was my breasts they were looking at . So i had a mammagram which showed an abnormal node. This was biopsyed the same day. The results came back as nothing to worry about. It didnt explain the nodes though. Just a thought.
​Kepp plugging the doctors for answers. Good luck
Wendy, ask about having lung function tests done. These are also called PFTs, for pulmonary function tests. The FEV Charlene refers to measures 1 function of the lungs, but if course there's more than one function. Where I live, the GP would now send you for these tests.
If you go for these, obey all instructions. If they tell you to blow hard, blow as hard as you can. If they say to inhale then hold as long as possible, do it. It is important to work as hard as you can at these tests in order to get as accurate a reading as possible of how your lungs function right now.
You may want to elevate your chest & head more when you sleep. Elevation helps with both upper and lower respiratory issues, temporary & permanent. It is not unusual to feel worse for a while after quitting, especially if stress has driven us into a nicotine bender immediately before we quit. The really important & great thing is that you quit. I quit 10 years ago and still regularly say a thanksgiving for that - helps me remember that I want to stay in that "Quitter!" column.
I hope all goes really well and that you can blow us off cause you don't have COPD or any other big issue.
Hi it is very unlikely to be copd at your age, but not unheard of. It is usually diagnosed in those who have spent decades smoking.
It's good you have given up smoking though.
Thank you. That is what my friend who is a respiratory therapist said. He said it will probably go away within a month now that I've stopped smoking.