This is a long story. I am a 55 year old male, a little overweight in poor physical condition. I get out of breath going up stairs, sometimes in a hot shower, sometimes when talking on the phone (only for business, never to friends or family) I also have anxiety and panic attacks. My SOB is not new. I can remember getting breathless as far back as in my 20s. Sure it's worse now, but Im 55.
My first Spirometry was back in 1996 (23 years ago). I didn't see the results but was told it was at the low range of normal and urged to quit smoking.
About 14 years I had another spirometry test at my new doctors office. I am friendly with the staff so I read the print outs as they were printing even before the doctor. On the first 3 it read "Severe Pulmonary Obstruction" - I freaked out a little and insisted to repeat. I thought to myself "oh ok the harder I blow the better this works". Next three said "moderate pulmonary obstruction" - Well I wasn't having that no no no. I insisted on another round. I got "mild pulmonary RESTRICTION" At that point she wouldn't let me do any more lol. The doc comes in and tells me to repeat in a week. I was panicking asking if I had severe COPD. He reassured me that if that test was accurate I would be on oxygen.
At the time I was smoking. I stopped that day. Waited about 2 weeks to allow any inflammation to go down from the cigs. I made sure to do the test on an empty stomach so I could fully expand my diaphragm ( I have a hiatal hernia). This time he was only allowing 3 tries. I blew my brains out. 2 came back as mild and one came back as normal.
Fast forward about 4 years to 2009 I see a new doctor and tell my story. This time Im not allowed to read the print outs but I knew the key was to blow my brains out. I took the test standing so I give it more "push" if that's even possible. Doc said it was normal.
Here we are today, Im still out of breath. No smoking now for years. I work in outside sales and move around all day and am fine. If I park in a garage on the 3rd level and take the stairs to walk up I am panting at the top.
My other labs are all perfect. C02 is normal, pulse oximeter is usually around 96 to 99% I am 20 pounds overweight and never worked out and never did.
Thoughts?