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Give and get support around quitting

Posamari
Member

Bronchoscopy

Good morning non smokers and soon to be non smokers  

Had my bronchoscopy and everything came out well. Pulmonary specialist said everything looked clear ' all the way down'.  He even said my lungs were pink , not blackish. I can't imagine they're THAT pink but at least he didn't seem too concerned. What a compliment for someone who smoked for almost 40 years!   Maybe that was his way of flirting---  just teasing .  He injected a saline solution and gave my lungs a 'wash',  that's how he described it.  He did prescribe an inhaler he wants me to use once a day. Spiriva. It's rather pricey even with insurance. He said he prefers that inhaler for previous smokers.  I had a rescue inhaler my primary prescribed but I seldom used it. He told me to throw it away . The results from my breathing tests showed mild COPD and a tiny nodule , which I knew about because of Cat scans. He was not too concerned about it as it hasn't grown in over a year. 

My next procedure is Endoscopy to hopefully figure out why my esophagus is enlarged and thickened.  The request has been put in from my Dr. But no definite date yet. I'm hoping it's because of GERD. He recommended taking a Pepcid before bed each night. 

I swim laps 2-3 days a week and afterwards I would have blood in phlegm when I would cough or clear my throat that day of swimming. At first it was flecks but then became more substantial. This has been happening for months. Main reason for the bronchoscopy. He feels it's coming from my sinuses being so dry -- (I live in dry dusty high desert plus with all the wildfires here in California, the air quality hasn't been the best)---and swimming with all the water and breathing is dislodging irritation from dryness. Hopefully that's all it is and not coming from esophagus. 

Thanks to all that inquired and I'll keep you posted about endoscopy. 

-Posamari

18 Replies
elvan
Member

So glad that the bronchoscopy showed pink lungs...WOW!  Good for you.  I used Spiriva for a while but my doc switched me to something else, not sure why but she tends to go for the newest, shiniest options and I have not noticed any difference with any of them but my COPD is pretty bad.

Spitting up blood would concern me...my sister lives In Palm Springs and while the fires are not near her, the wind shifts at times and she has COPD too...like you, she swims.  She gets up in the morning before it is light outside and swims her laps then because she says it is not so hot and the air quality seems better.

I think having the endoscopy should give you some answers and hopefully the bleeding AND the FIRES will stop.

Ellen

Posamari
Member

Palm Springs is at a lower altitude than me, about 2 hours away. Beautiful area! Prettier than where I live. I'm in the desert above Los Angeles in Los Angeles county. A mountain range separates me from Pasadena. I swim in an indoor pool that the roof actually opens--- so its sort of outdoors too.  I like my pool but wish the hours for lap and senior swim were earlier. I REALLY wish I had my own! Haha! 

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elvan
Member

Oh, she doesn't have her own...it's part of the condo place she lives in.  It has a golf course and is specifically for seniors.  Lots and lots of rules.  

That idea of an indoor pool with the roof that opens sounds really cool.  I can't stand the chlorine in indoor pools and can't use them because I can't breathe.  I will only be able to use my friend's pool for a short time unless we have another hot spell.  Once it closes, it's over until the next summer.  

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Barbscloud
Member

Happy to hear you got good news!

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Posamari
Member

Thank you ❤️

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Mandolinrain
Member

Sending prayers that EDG comes out well for you. Hugs xoxo

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Posamari
Member

Thank you , still haven't got a date yet for endo.

❤️

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Mandolinrain
Member

I have to have manometry test in the morning which I am terribly fearful of and then another EDG soon to determine which surgery they will do, Nissan or Linx. I am praying for the Linx. I will be so glad when all this stuff over its. Ugh. I will be prying for us BOTH

elvan
Member

Mandolinrain‌ At least this screening will be over tomorrow...prayers will be coming and if you are praying for the Linx, so am I. Sending much love.

Ellen