Hi everyone, nice to “meet” you all! I am a 44 year old female. I am clinically considered a nonsmoker although I did bum a few cigarettes now and again in college and in my 20s. I’m also an asthmatic, which developed in my 20s and seemed allergy/ cold temp related. I had some PFTs done in my 30s which showed very mild airway obstruction, although my doctor at the time did not consider it to be copd. Medications didn’t seem to make it worse or better, so I tried a few and stopped. My symptoms of shortness of breath and any asthma attacks etc also stopped thereafter, so life went on. I’ve since been very athletic, working out 5-6 days a week and rigorously training.
A month ago, I was having chest pain and it was discovered I had a trace pleural effusion along with a nodule on my left lung. Because we could confirm the nodule had not been there in prior testing, I opted to get a VATS wedge resection to remove it as per recommendation. The nodule was fat necrosis (weird, but benign.)
Recovery has been fine— a little shortness of breath but I’m exercising well and moving around great. But I got a shock yesterday... my spirometry! I had PFTs done yesterday and the results were shocking to me... moderate obstruction and an FEV1 of 65 percent. It was a progression from my previous tests 8 years ago, and certainly of my expected age group (80%).
I’m flummoxed. My pulmo did not call it copd, but... isn’t it? And if so, how did it happen? Was it the asthma in my 20s? I’m also wondering if my surgical recovery could have anything to do with blowing such crappy numbers. Btw, my dclo was normal and my fvc was 82%.
I have so many questions and my current doctor isn’t the most helpful. So while I await a second opinion and repeat tests after more surgical healing, I thought I would introduce myself and get some advice from this community. It has been very helpful and encouraging to read your commentary. Any thoughts appreciated