In 2015 my doctor told me that a chest CT scan showed “few bulla/blebs in the lung apices.” I forgot what she told me the statement meant but I do remember that she was really serious about it. She gave me a referral to see a pulmonologist, but I didn’t see anyone until 2 years later when I started having SOB in the summer heat. He ordered another chest CT scan and it came back clear. He told me that I was fine and that everyone had bulla blebs.
Earlier this year I had a medical situation and they ran a bunch of tests. In printing out my scan reports, mild upper lobe predominant paraseptal emphysema. I smoked for almost 20 years and quit 30 years ago so that I would stay healthy. A few months later, during a routine checkup I raised the other scan to my doctor. She reviewed the scans, put me on Breo and gave me a referral to a different pulmonologist. I made the appointment, but it took months to get on the schedule. I wasn’t worried because I felt fine 99.9% of the time.
In the meantime, things have deteriorated. My pulse ox says I’m fine but I often feel like I can’t get enough air, I breathe through my mouth and my nose and that seems to help. I have a cough, it’s not bad but it’s pretty consistent. Doing little things like folding the laundry leaves me short of breath so that I have to stop and rest. My husband and kids notice me panting even though I may not notice anything. I don’t understand how things went left so fast.
Now I’m scared. What comes next? I have a lot of pain in my shoulders/top part of my arms – is this normal? Are there natural remedies that I can try as opposed to medications? Has anyone heard of the type of emphysema that I apparently have? Can it get better? Will it shorten my life? Will I have to use oxygen?