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Post by John on Mar 12, 2015 20:37:04 GMT -5
welcome8 AJ goodnews thepr131yo9 cheerleader0-vi bighug1
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Post by David on Mar 12, 2015 22:37:22 GMT -5
 AJ, Welcome to the Group
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Post by jim on Mar 12, 2015 23:13:59 GMT -5
Hi AJ, welcome8 thepr131yo9
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Post by stoker55 on Mar 13, 2015 8:53:41 GMT -5
Welcome AJ
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Post by aj on Mar 13, 2015 14:16:16 GMT -5
Hi all....
I guess I should introduce myself ? 50 yr old woman, just had an x-ray where they said : overinflated lungs due to background of COPD.... not exactly sure what that means as I don't have a background of COPD.... waiting for the specialist appointment. Dr. seems to think it's "non urgent".... taking flovent in the morning.... seeing a deep tissue therapist to unlock all the muscles that have tightened up.... was a smoker for 34 years, tried to quite cold turkey.... did for 5 days, then back at them.... I have now been vaping since Sunday at 11 a.m. and don't feel the need or want to go back to real cigs.... does anybody know if overinflated lungs means emphysema ?
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Post by David on Mar 13, 2015 14:45:29 GMT -5
Will be interesting to see what the Doctor says. Emphysema would show up on the x-ray. Mine did when it was just a spot over 30 years ago.
From what I have read having COPD doesn't necessarily mean you have emphysema. I have never been told I have over-inflated lungs so I do not know what that means.
The test will tell.
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Post by gerald on Mar 13, 2015 23:48:31 GMT -5
Over inflated Pulminary cavety is a result of COPD. Under stress the lungs have difficulty in expelling the used air so each breath inflated the lungs more. It can occur in any form of COPD not just emphysema.
Mine is caused by the scarring caused by the Chronic Viral Bronchitus.
If your Doctor thinks it is non Urgent he/she is wrong. It is important to get the COPD under control as soon as possible. One problem many of us have found is that many doctors know very litte about the disease/condition so we have all had to learn for ourselves.
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Post by skate4life on Mar 14, 2015 9:32:56 GMT -5
Welcome AJ! Glad you found us. Your question is not unusual. Seeing 'overinflated' lungs/COPD on a chest x-ray is for many the first time the person has heard of COPD. COPD means Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and long standing asthma that has been difficult to control. The effects of hyperinflation (the more common term) creep up on you and you find subtle changes in your exercise/exertion levels such as climbing stairs, walking quickly and/or up a hill.
Hyperinflation is a difficult concept for many people to understand until they have a basic understanding of parts of the lung. There is a part of lung tissue that helps to bring the lung alveoli (envision a bunch of grapes) back down to normal after having inflated when you take a breath in. It is called 'elastic recoil.' Think of blowing up a balloon (inflating) and letting air back out. Hyperinflation develops when the 'elastic recoil' has weakened, cannot work properly, and allows air to stay in the tiny alveoli that should have been exhaled.
COPD has a number of reasons for development besides smoking. But as a smoker now, even the e-cigs, the irritation effects continue. So I hope you will use the e-cigs to stop all forms of smoking.
Why are you taking Flovent (a steroid)? Do you have asthma? How long have you been taking it?
If at all possible, now would be the time to see a pulmonologist for evaluation and some special breathing tests. If these show you are in the mild/moderate stage, there are specific medications that can be a tremendous help.
Do keep in touch with us here and we will try to answer your questions as best as possible. Remember that we are ordinary people, and you need to always check with your doctor!!
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AJ, Welcome to the Group
