Recently Diagnosed - PFT Results
Hi, first time posting. Recently diagnosed with emphysema. I started having SOB when walking up steep hills and a flight of stairs progressing to SOB when walking on flat ground for less than half a block. Ex-smoker. Quit two years ago. SOB started around one year ago.
PFTs May 2022: FEV1 1.61 L ( 78%). FVC 2.11 L ( 78%). Ratio 80. TLC 97%. DLCO 40%
My pulmonologist said my DLCO is lower than she expected with the other results but it explains the degree of my SOBOE. She's booking me for further tests however, it's not considered urgent so it may take a little while due to a backlog from Covid. I'm wondering if these results are typical for emphysema.
I should add I have a 7 mm nodule that is suggestive of bronchogenic carcinoid and will have micro coil guided surgery to remove it in the near future. PET scan was clear for anything else. Both the Thoracic surgeon and pulmonologist do not think my SOBOE is related to the nodule.
Sorry for the formatting. Is there an edit button? 
, unfortunately there isn't an edit button but if you would like you can make a new comment and we can delete the old one! All the best, Sam S. (COPD.net, team member).
Hi Terry - welcome! - and thanks for your post(s). Please, do not be concerned about the formatting - what you've written is clear and understandable. Currently, to my knowledge, there is no 'edit' function here.
You certainly have a lot on your medical plate. You may be aware we cannot provide medical advice or diagnostics over the internet (for your own safety), but your concerns certainly warrant a reply.
For an accurate and more thorough interpretation of the pulmonary function test (PFT) results, you probably will want to wait and work further with the physician(s) - both the pulmonologist and the thoracic surgeon. The apparent complexity of your case will need to be studied (by the doctors) in depth. Then, they should be able to develop a more accurate diagnosis followed by a comprehensive treatment plan. If, as they said, the 7 mm nodule is not the cause of the shortness of breath on exertion (SOBOE), they should be able to investigate and determine the exact cause.
Please do check back and let us know how this all turns out for you.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)Yes Leon, a large portion of my text was cut off but I don't think I'd shared anything too important. Looks like it happened again with my reply to Intruder286 just now. No time to gather my thoughts and rewrite it all again at the moment, maybe later if I feel the need to clarify how I came to the decision to have this particular surgery any further. That's what the rest of my comments related to. Hi again, Terry - I appreciate your reply and explanation. This has happened to other members, so I understand what you're driving at. If this continues to occur, I will suggest that you may want to write your thoughts down on your computer's word processing program. There, you can save you work. Once you are finished and happy with the written thought, you can always copy and paste it here into the forum you are responding in. However, if it then continues to happen, it may be a 'glitch' in our NEXUS platform. Should that be the cause of 'your disappearing thoughts', we could then advise our site leads and they will be able to look for the 'glitchy' issue.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
,
I am just curious as to why the doctors say your nodule is basically cancerous. I am recovering from mycobacterial pneumonia and have COPD. I had a nodule in the upper right of my right lung when I was in ICU for my pneumonia. My pulmonologist got a biopsy, and it was benign. That was last October. This past March I had another CT scan and that particular nodule had dissipated. I had another nodule show up, however. It was 19mm in size and was in the middle of my right lung. I just had another CT scan June 6th and the nodule had shrunk to 9mm. My pulmonologist is satisfied that the nodule is from the infection and will clear itself up with more treatment.
So, my questions are, was there a previous CT scan to compare your nodule to? Was there a previous PET scan to compare your nodule to? Why hasn't there been a biopsy of your nodule? Nodules come and go. Now if they grow and continue to get bigger, that is a different story. I wonder sometimes if some doctors are just knife happy and want to be doing a surgery every chance they get. Have you gotten a second opinion? I don't mean to sound like a doubting Thomas, but I have learned over the years to question everything and seek second opinions. I was just curious. Good luck and God Bless!Hi Dminor, thanks for your quick response and sharing your experience! Yes, the nodule was seen in a CT scan (for unrelated issue) in October 2020, repeat CT scan in October 2021 it had grown in size by a few mm and then CT scan April 2022 it had grown a few mm larger. It's still only 7 mm so caught early and luckily PET scan didn't show any other areas of concern. ,
Well that explains it. I, myself, would still be leery of going under the knife so to speak. But that is just me. Leon gives very good advice! Let us know how everything turns out. Take care and God Bless!
Hi,
! I am just seeing this conversation and wanted to take a minute to welcome you. I have only joined the staff recently myself but this is such a supportive group. I hope you find comfort in knowing we are here and understand what you're going through. So glad to hear the nodule is small and was found early, regardless of its cause. Try to take things one day at a time. Looking forward to getting to know you better! -Melissa, copd.net team Thanks Melissa!
