Hi Chris...

I was diagnosed with emphysema myself this past May.  I'm 58 and
smoked for a long time, but not really a heavy smoker.  They have me
on inhalers: Spiriva and Foradil.  I have real problems with my
breathing though, especially when I try to do anything.  I live in
Florida and the hot weather really bothers me when I am outside. 
What meds are you on?

Donna

--- In emphysema@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Walters" <cjw2004d@y...>
wrote:
> 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