opportunity knocked....

[ctom]

I have had copd for several years now. Until recently it has behaved itself with only a minor flare-up every once in a great while and those were easily put to rest with a rescue inhaler. A year and a half ago a second inhaler, a maintenance medicine, came into play since this disease is a progressive one things started to get tough on a more frequent basis. I've been able to hunt and fish but I have to pace myself a great deal more than I like but pacing beats the alternatives. Nonetheless, this copd stuff has had me wondering just how much damage my lungs have suffered and if by chance something more aggressive is hiding in them. The costs to find stuff like this out are staggering.

Since I share my hometown with the original Mayo Clinic, I wasn't too surprised when I saw an article in the local paper from Mayo requesting volunteers for a lung study. The only stipulation was that the people interested had to be smokers with a certain threshhold in cigarretes daily smaoke and/or were former smokers who shared that usesage or had copd. The study was nothing more than agreeing to a CT scan. I just got home from mine and inside of a couple of weeks I should be getting the news, like it or not.

The scan only took two minutes and according to the tech that did the scan I got less radiation than I would in a day walking thru a shopping mall....go figure. I had an e-ray at my last annual physical and it came back clean so I am hopeful that the results of  this scan comes back like-wise. This whole study thing cost me zero dollars so my time investment is well spent and regardless of the outcome just knowing will lighten this load I've been lugging around. Just a short wait now and then I'll know. 

[TheDreamer]

Sorry to hear about your COPD. Lung disorders and diseases can be very straining not only on the person with them, but also the families. My wife suffers from Acquired Bronchiectasis (bron-key-ek-ta-sis). For years we have been fighting doctors over her condition, first they said Asthma with no testing, then it was Pneumonia, then with actual testing (ct/blood) they tried to say it was COPD. After all of this my wife was still untreated with only a rescue inhaler. I became completely fed up with the lackluster attempts and plain ignorance of the physicians the Military had to offer so I began my research. After compiling multiple cases with similar symptoms I came across Acquired Bronchiectasis, I immediately contacted her physician with my findings and he thought I was some "crazy know-it-all" (his exact words). When my wife was finally correctly diagnosed with Acquired Bronchiectasis I made an out of the way trip to the NAVY hospital to rub it in his closed minded face. I really hate when physicians just don't care enough to find the problem but instead attempt to put band-aids on bullet wounds.

I understand where you are coming from Tom, we have been in your shoes. Best advice I could give is to get monthly to bi-monthly blood work done to check on your blood cell counts and iron levels. Eat vitamin C daily and try to keep your calcium up, I am guessing your second inhaler is Advair. If you haven't been talked to about and or taken Prednisone, ask your doctor about it. Prednisone is a steroid that will help with increased air flow in the respiratory system. Also look into allergy medication to help with flare up's from dust/pollen such as "Cetrizine(ZYRTEC)" and "Montelukast(SINGULAIR)".

Hope this helps, if you ever need someone to talk to I am available 24/7-365.

Hoping for the best,
Drew

[t-billy]

 I hope you recieve positive news. I have a cousin with copd. It's a terrible thing. Sending prayers your way.                               God bless, Tim.

[ctom]

This CT scan was a freebie for being involved in the study and I just couldn't not do it. I've done a bunch of Mayo Clininic over the years and they've always been positive experiences. I have adapted well to what the copd throws at me, the worst being diminished lung function. For a while though I have wanted to know more than just " your x-rays came back clean". This scan will show anything that is not right and I think I need to know that at this point.

I trust my regular doctor but sometimes its good to look at fresh ideas. I have to believe that this scan will show nothing out of the ordinary based on the last x-ray, but then too things change quick at my age. When the opportunity came about I grabbed it up. They needed 100 persons to fill the study and I guess my number is 28. I don't mind doing these studies to help advance science and medicine. Heck, Ma and I did a joint one a few years ago and we each made enough to pay for tickets to Hawaii.

[Mic]

Good luck and we are hoping for some good news for you. 

[ctom]

THE LETTER came this morning. First thought was "man that was quick". Opening the envelope called for coffee so I filled my mug and sat down.

The bad news is that they found one very small, granuloma node in one lung along with the already-known copd. The good news is that there is no indication that the node is anything more than a non-malignant node and that I should get an x-ray every other year to keep an eye on it. Apparently these nodes are very slow growing if they grow at all. Heart looks good according to the scan along with the aorta. The lungs are basically clear except for the haze from the copd. The copd has messed with the lung function but the lungs themselves are fairly healthy, all things considered.

Getting this $2,500.00 peek inside done for only a few minutes of time investment has been worth it. I don't like the "what if's" that hang on health and I just thought this study might work positively in two directions. I either find out that I have some concerns that need looking at or I find out that I am as healthy as I can expect to be given the copd.  It all worked out good.

Thanks for the thoughts guys, the power of prayer goes a long way.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Praise God, Mr. Tom!  This is Good News to my "ears"...and like a Breath of Fresh Air...

[kipbass]

Congrats of the good news, and may God continue to bless you and your family.

[CrabbyBass]

That is great news Tom!  Now you can big breathe a big sigh of relief.  Good thing you saw the study and went for it.  Good for you!