Alesandra Bevilacqua
January 11, 2021
Smoking, your career, the alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency... what do you think contributed to your diagnosis?
sleibhin
March 20, 2021
Alesandra Bevilacqua I will never forget the words from my Pulmonologist. " This did not have to happen." He had treated me for several lung infections that I got after exploring old mine workings that had bat populations. I never got histoplasmosis which amazed him. After retiring due to accident I let bronchitis develop into COPD before I went to him about an annoying cough. At that visit my SpO2 was 70%. He also said that he wouldn't waste time getting me to emergency as he had a room set up for people like me. We acquired oxygen and bronchodilators plus other drugs that night to take home. For two weeks the distrubudor brought new tank nof oxygen every other day. At start my lungs had somewhere between 40 and 60% left. It took two weeks of oxygen to get SpO2 back above 90%. Been down to 70% a couple of times but recovered. Too stubborn to give up the fight. All the while I never thought that the 70% level was critical until my neighbor with emphysema related COPD was taken to hospital with 70% SpO2. He never recovered and I have had other COPDers with 70% not make it. Theybwere all emphysema related which might make a big difference in how the disease destroys one's body.Approaching 80 revolutions of the Sun I have set an initial target of 2040 when my birthdate will equal my Angel number. One mustv have a positive attitude dealing with COPD and related issues. Sleibhin
johnmarshall
March 21, 2021
glacesoundracer
March 19, 2021
This is an interesting thread. Amazing forum.
melaniem
March 21, 2021
cera
March 19, 2021
Another never-smoker here. My pulmonologist and another M.D. both think I had undiagnosed Covid in Dec. 2019 - Jan. 2020. I also lost my sense of smell at that time but that was an unknown symptom back then. In Jan. 2020. my O2 was dropping so low I was put on O2 at 4 lpm 24 hours a day. (Except for exacerbations, I am now on a lower dose at night only.) Through 2020 I was dx with Congestive Heart Failure and several other heart problems, Pulmonary Hypertension, asthma, allergies, POTS and COPD (all of which I did not have previously). Both doctors think I now have long Covid, which is long-term health issues due to Covid. I wonder if anyone else with long Covid has also been diagnosed with COPD.
Leon Lebowitz, BA, RRT
March 19, 2021
Hi @cera, and thanks for your post. We appreciate you sharing your medical history, including COVID-19, it's sequelae and subsequent new diagnoses with the community. I'm seeing more and more patients with similar issues following their bouts with the virus.
As we progress through this pandemic, I would expect more medical issues (related to COVID-19), to present themselves in patients over time.
We value your candor, input and feedback here in the community, @cera.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
sixeyes
March 15, 2021
sixeyes
March 18, 2021
melaniem
March 18, 2021
© 2010–21 Health Union, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not designed to replace a physician’s independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. COPD.net does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.