I smoked heavily since age of 5. When I tried to give up (twice) I attended smoking clinics. First visit the nurse said,after her Christmas cracker type tests that I had come in the nick of time as I had the onset of COPD.The first major pre op assessment test sent me to the Lung and Respiratory Function dept in the hospital where my Aortic by pass and bi-femoral graft procedure would be done. I was told my respiratory system was A.OK and I had the lungs of someone half my age of 50 years. I have had,since that first respiratory test ,which was heavy duty, three more pre op tests prior to cancer op and quadruple heart by pass plus aortic stents. Every time my respiratory function test passes easily
and I'm told my lungs are in remarkable shape for my age.
They cannot tell me,however, why I am coughing up submarines and trolley buses on rising for a few hours and am incapable of climbing up and down stairs.Haven't slept with my wife since my by-pass and will be selling son's house and using money to purchase,hopefully, a luxury bungalow somewhere . I had chest X-Rays recently in St Georges when I was an emergency admission four weeks ago and nobody came to any conclusion why I am so breathless most of the time.
//Just hope they done wear me out on a treadmill.//
Just hope they can provide you with a better diagnosis and favourable outcome than I have received. :-)