I was diagnoised with Emphysema before Christmas. I did a Pulmonary lung Function test and one of my results was 76%. The pulmologist asked me if I had shortness of breath. I told him I didn't and he just told me to get the flu shot and come back in six months. He didn't give me inhalers but said I might need them in ten years.
I also have anxiety. I am reasonably active. I walk a lot. My breathing is not great. I experience SOB from time to time but just didn't recognize it for what it was. At rest I tend to breath very shallow and every so often I need to take a beep breath to catch up. I also notice that after eating certain foods I feel SOB. I have been reading this site and came across the phrase CO2 retention. This is something I THINK I have but I am unsure what exacly it is. Also when I wake in the mornings I feel slight SOB but I am not sure if this is anxiety or a mixture of both.
My questions are
Should I be on inhalers?
What is CO2 retention?
Why do I feel SOB after eating? Are certain foods causing this?
Why do I feel SOB in mornings? Some mornings I have mucus in my throat and rather alarmingly it has blood in it. I will be talking to my doctor about this the next time I see him.
Thanks