So I recently had a CT which the VA does regularly because I was a smoker for over 25 years. The CT results mention calcified 4mm nodules, old granulomatous disease, minimal emphysema, scattered areas of pleural-parenchymal scarring in the lung bases. Have no idea what that means and the Dr from our VA clinic either got sacked or quit, something that seems to happen often with the VA. Hope we don’t get a crap Dr as a replacement. Anyway, the minimal emphysema got my attention. Thought there may be a professional with experience on the forum that could shed some light. Thanks.

quote:

minimal emphysema

https://radiopaedia.org/articl...y-emphysema?lang=us/
You might be able to use this as a reference. There is also info here on some of the other findings.

I'm not a doctor and don't pretend to be one. However my father was a smoker for most of my life, he quit about 10 years ago. He quit when he was diagnosed with mild emphysema as well. From what his doctor told him, that emphysema is not like cancer, and as long as you quit smoking it will not get any worse.

As some one with COPD and emphysema from 37 years of smoking your CT results are showing that you smoked enough to have damage to your lungs. It's not the end of the world because you can still function at higher activity levels.

IMO a followup Pet Scan might be in order, with this they inject a radioactive die that is glucose based so that it's absorbed in volume by Cancer Cells. This causes any Cancer cells to light up like a Christmas tree. If you can talk the VA into doing this test you'll have some re-assurance if it comes back clear, which it did in my case.

I would also suggest that you put in a request for a Nuclear Stress Test so that your heart is checked out for function and potential problems. Because smoking can also damage the heart and it's best to know that quickly while it's still at a point where it can be treated.

Now for Treatment of you condition. The doctors wont tell you this because it doesn't sell any drugs but the finest Therapy for COPD and emphysema is long distance walking. Take your time and work yourself up to walking 4-6 miles a day and your lungs will improve a lot in terms of symptoms. Yeah, you will have coughing events and produce liquids but it will only be a couple of times a day. The rest of the time your lungs will be very clear. BTW, I've been walking since 2015 and have never needed any treatment for my COPD and emphysema and I have 56 pack years of smoking on my lungs.

Note, I know first hand that walking that far takes up a fair chunk of time. The good news is you'll walk off most of your excess fat and you'll be doing good to both your heart and lungs by maintaining a good daily routine. I'll also note that you will speed up, before I was put on Beta Blockers for AFIB I had my pace at 13 minute 45 seconds per mile and could walk a full mile at a 13 minute 10 second pace. BTW any runners pooh poohing these results are perfectly welcome to try walking a full mile at this pace. You will find out that isn't as easy as you thought.

It means there's some loss of lung tissue.

Take the rest of the advice you get here with a grain of salt.

Daniel, MD

Thank you all. Much more info in plain English here than on that report. Much appreciated.

I agree with the walking. I'm doing 3 to 5 miles a day and it really helps. I'm still fat, though. I guess it really is possible to eat enough to stay fat walking that much.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
Now for Treatment of you condition. The doctors wont tell you this because it doesn't sell any drugs but the finest Therapy for COPD and emphysema is long distance walking.

Agree, though I prefer high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) over walking.

I smoked more-or-less a pack a day for forty years. Much of that time unfiltered, roll-your-own smokes. I quit in 2010. My last doctor told me I had mild COPD.

Within 3-6 months of quitting the smokes my breathing was no longer the limiting factor in my HIIT cardio. I no longer coughed. I no longer snored very much or very often.

In 2016, six years after quitting, a VO² max test showed my VO² max and anaerobic threshold were more consistent with a non-smoker much younger than I.

Today, thirteen years after quitting and usually maintaining an exercise regimen that includes either MICT or HIIT cardio, my blood oxy averages 97-98% - sometimes even measures 99%. Doctors, listening with their stethoscopes, detect nothing that would suggest COPD.

I passed a recent nuclear stress test with flying colors.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I'm still fat, though. I guess it really is possible to eat enough to stay fat walking that much.

You can't out-exercise a bad diet. Period.

My favorite example: A small McDonald's meal, consisting of Big Mac + Small fries + Small Coke, is 930 Calories.

The average individual burns merely 100 Calories per mile walking.

NAC will help your condition. I take 600 MG/day for maintenance.

quote:

NAC

WebMD comments on NAC

Link

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
Written by R. Morgan Griffin
Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on March 31, 2022

Why do people take NAC?[b/]
Can you get NAC naturally from foods?

[b]What are the risks?[b/]

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is used by the body to build antioxidants. Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that protect and repair cells from damage.

You can get NAC as a supplement or a prescription drug.

[b]Why do people take NAC?

As a prescription drug, doctors use NAC to treat acetaminophen overdose. It may also help break up mucus in people with some lung diseases, like chronic bronchitis.

As a supplement, some people use NAC to try to protect the liver. There's evidence it can help prevent kidney or neurologic damage caused by some drugs.

NAC might help prevent colon cancer in people with some types of colon polyps, but more research is needed to be sure. NAC does not seem to reduce the risk of lung cancer or head and neck cancer.

There's mixed evidence about whether NAC helps with other conditions, like infertility, the flu, cystic fibrosis, liver disease, angina, HIV, high cholesterol, and some eye conditions. More research is needed.

Optimal doses of NAC as a supplement have not been set for any condition. Quality and active ingredients in supplements may vary widely from maker to maker. This makes it very hard to set a standard dose.

There are standard doses for prescription uses of NAC. These depend on the condition that is being treated. Ask your doctor for advice.

Can you get NAC naturally from foods?
NAC cannot be found in foods.

What are the risks?
Tell your doctor about any supplements you're taking, even if they're natural. That way, your doctor can check on any potential side effects or interactions with medications.

Side effects. Some of the side effects that may be caused by NAC include:

Upset stomach
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Skin rash

Risks.
If you have asthma or bleeding problems, your doctor may tell you to avoid NAC. You will likely be told to stop NAC 2 weeks before any elective surgery.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you must check with a doctor before using NAC supplements.

Interactions. If you take any medicines regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using NAC supplements. They could interact with nitroglycerin, blood thinners, and certain blood pressure medicines.

Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that drugs are. The FDA does not review these supplements for safety or efficacy before they hit the market.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

NAC

WebMD comments on NAC

I always check WebMD, but, it's often woefully behind in current research and study results.

I wouldn't waste my time looking at WebMD. The Life Extention Foundation is the premier organization that does research and studies in health issues. Here are several articles:

https://www.lifeextension.com/.../5/n-acetyl-cysteine

https://www.lifeextension.com/...r-respiratory-system