Asthma, COPD, CVID and MAC

Joelars. Wonderful news. I have a nodule on my right lung. Been there for at least ten years. They watch it every year and it never changes. I forget about it. It’s normal for a GP to refer but I have had a problem finding a good one. Stay strong. Keep running and eat right. You have many years to enjoy. God bless.

@joelars - Yeah! A pulmonologist is the doctor who you should see because of your COPD. It is a progressive disease.

@merprep I saw him for 1 consult last year. He told me it doesn't necessarily progress, more than normal aging, with some people,and it wasn't progressing much with me, and if it does there is nothing he can do except palliative care. .Beyond pain meds or tranquilizers I wouldn't be a good candidate for what they offer. I'm only seeing him in anticipation of future infections. He may be better than a GP in that context. Unfortunately I have a very bad attitude with pulmonology and COPD. From my flawed perspective, I only see them making us better cripples. I hope I don't offend anyone and I'd love to hear someone who disagrees give me good reasons to alter my opinion.

@jo54 @merprep Thanks, I hope I wasn't too judgemental., I know I can't change the course of "the disease" but it's important that I choose my response to its effects. I want to appear healthy and active and not let the disease dictate my activity levels. Even if it's more appearance than reality, when I'm in the gym or on the track (especially the former) people see me as normal, healthy and I feel closer to that image. More importantly, I feel like I'm not passively taking the beating from the disease. Each day I run. and lift, and practice yoga, and I know I have the disease yet, it doesn't define me-I didn't empower it. And who knows, if I maintain this level of fitness maybe something medically will come around and I'll be in the best position to utilize it.

Mac is a bacterial infection that prays on people with existing lung conditions. It is very difficult to treat and came back for me. Cvid is a defective immune system which I treat weekly with subq infusions. Pneumonia is an infection that frequently efeefectsvpeoplw with low immune systems as well as the general population. Hope that help!

Doctor says I have asthma does that bring on shortness of breath

Some day my chest feels like my lungs are splitting

Thaking breaths

@trellg132- Yes, it most certainly can and it can be serious if you do not take care of it with proper meds. You are already taking care of yourself. You can appear healthy and have asthma too. Do you know anything about it?
Here is a wonderful break down from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653

@merpreb had my allergy tests. I didn't react to any allergens. Ironic, I'm so healthy, except I ruined my lungs. They gave me one spirometer test- blowing out as hard as you can. They use a visual, a tree with leaves with the goal to blow off the leaves. I was able to do it easily, so it must of been easy.
One productive thing came from the exam: the doc said he wasn't surprised I got pneumonia 2x because the vaccine I got only protects against 1 strain. He sent me for a blood test where they test my immune systems reaction to various pneumonia strains. He claims that will tell them the type of vaccine to use when I hit 65 (3 more months), and that vaccine will be more likely to succeed. Have you, or anyone in th group, heard of that type of blood test.?