Probability of COPD or fibrosis

[KSM1113]

I am 28 years old and have smoked for about 10 years.  Recently I have been having shortness of breath that has lasted about two weeks.  I went to see my dr who did a pft test and said that it showed I have restrictive lung disease.  Chest xray was clear and normal.  What is the probability that I would have COPD or even fibrosis?

One more thing, I started getting like this after I used a bathroom cleaner.  and when I burp it seems to release that SOB for a little while.  

I wold appreciate your help, or any comments.

Thank you

[zodiacqueen]

WOW!!  I think you should talk to worried hypochoncriac, you are suprisingly the same exact age, BOTH with "restrictive" lung disease, and Both of you inhaled bathroom cleanser.  I think you two "individuals" could help each other out a lot.

[National Jewish Health]

Very unlikely that you would have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), unless you were to have the inherited form of emphysema called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.  However, in only the rarest of instances would the pulmonary function tests (PFTs) show evidence of restrictive disease.  COPD, like asthma, is an obstructive disease, with obstruction to airflow.

The main concern, given the onset and persistence of shortness of breath after exposure to a bathroom cleaner, would be that you could have a condition called acute bronchiolitis and that could be the diagnosis, even with a "clear and normal" chest x-ray.  With this disease, the chest x-ray not infrequently shows hyper-expansion of the lungs but the PFTs abnormality is usually not restrictive.

If your lung problem truly is a consequence of exposure to a bathroom cleaner, if treated early, it will almost always resolve.  If not treated, it could over time, lead to fibrosis.  You should request referral to a lung specialist, a pulmonologist, without delay.