I went to the ER a couple months back over an issue that the doctors believe is muscle related. They ran a high resolution chest CT scan on me while I was there which came back with “mild centrilobular emphysema”.

Because of that, my primary care doctor sent me for a full PFT. The tests came back “normal”.

FVC 103 Pre % predicted, FEV1 97, FEV/RVC 94, DLCO 103.

I quit smoking about 2 years ago after smoking for about 12 pack years. I haven’t had any symptoms of COPD since I quit. I was coughing a bit and spitting up phlegm toward the end of my time as a smoker.

I’ve been reading a lot of materials on the disease. I’ve also read through a lot of studies but I can’t really find an answer to my question.

will my asymptomatic emphysema ever turn into symptomatic emphysema?

I feel like it’s a gift and curse knowing that CT has found emphysema. Gifted because I now know that I really need to be careful around cleaners, sick people etc. cursed because I feel like my breathing can decline seemingly at any time.

I do know that I have great PFT numbers and many of you wish you you had as much function so I know to be grateful, which I really am. I’m just really curious/in need of answer.

Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer me. I love you all :)