Hello,

I just got diagnosed with emphysema. I had pneumonia last year (May
2003), and this year, around Sep 10, I went to the ER with chest
pains, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and nausea - I thought it
was a heart attack. The ER doctor diagnosed me as having pneumonia
(again) and gave me antibiotics and albuterol. Yesterday I was finally
able to get a follow-up on this (I still felt that I had pneumonia).
They gave me a pulmonary function test, and got the x-rays from the
hospital - then the doctor told me that I have emphysema. This
floored me, as I am only 33, and all of my research into this
condition led me to believe that this is very young to be diagnosed
with emphysema (my mother has it). I have been a smoker since about
age 15, but I've not been a heavy smoker for most of my life... Most
of the people I know who have been diagnosed with it were in their
50's when diagnosed and had smoked more for many more years than I. I
feel that I must look into the possibility that there is something
else going on here.

Chris