Hello Everyone, first time user ... a little scared and nervous. Early this week I had a chest X-ray and the results of the x-rays was that the interpretation was “lung changes compatible with early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” with mildly hyperinflated lungs with increased retrosternal lucency.
Upon hearing this news in my doctors office, I asked my GP how serious and what could i do and unfortunately his response was that it was very mild and was non reversible - and no need to engage a pulmonologist at this time. Like many others, I left his office with very few details on what to do next
I have two questions for the group and hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.
- Suggestions on how to go about being referred to a pulmonologist - and resources for finding a qualified one.
- While X-rays can be very helpful in assessing COPD, they are not definitive. What other test should I do to determine what stage I am at ... so that I can begin treatment accordingly. Is it the spirometry test that I should be doing next. Note, the reason I had the X-rays what that i have had asthma and allergies for the past 20 years and have been going through a very difficult breathing episode over this past month / nothing like I have every experienced. I am 55 and smoked for 30 years and quit 5 years ago - one of the most rewarding accomplishments of my life.
Thanks everyone for reading this and thx in advance for your response and support....dealing with this news on my own right now and it’s very difficult.