Cats causing my COPD?

[pam2738]

I was just diagnosed with early COPD. I am 73 & the owner of a cat rescue organization & I am very afraid that the cats are the cause of my COPD. I do not smoke & no one in my family has had COPD. I have been healthy except for a bout with Cdiff in 2006, diagnosed with Lyme & glaucoma in 2007.  But I have had a dry cough for ages, primarily just in the winter months.  I do have hay fever in the spring but no other allergies & I have never been around chemical or industrial pollutants  other than living in S. CA for 40 years before moving to Wisconsin.

So how likely is it that the cats are the cause & if they are, how effective would givng them all way be for me.  Other than the heartbreak.

Pam

[allmymarbles]

I think you are right about how cat/dog allergies manifest themselves. But you can have COPD and be asthmatic too. COPD is considered to be a combination of emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma.

[opus88]

allmy, yes I do realize my 02 is well within 'normal' range.....and NO I don't believe I have an allergy to cats or dogs,in fact I'm sure I don't!!    I was just replying to the posted question by Pam2738.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but cat/dog allergies usually manifest themselves as respiratory...coughing, sneezing and running eyes and noses....and will respond to an antihistamine where copd will not.

[allmymarbles]

Your oxygen level is normal. I have lots of allergies but none to cats and dogs. If you had an allergy to cats you would have known about it long ago.

[opus88]

I've had cats all my life, the most at one time were 4 and thats was 5 years ago....since I lost those 2 I've only had my 2 boys left and I would die before giving them up..............but I have NEVER been told or read there was any link between cats and copd...Have you been told this?

[pam2738]

Maybe I missed it, but does anyone here have cats & how many?  Have you been told by doctors or others that you shouldn't have them anymore?  

Pam

[opus88]

sorry my mistake here!! my FIV1 was 70%, my O2 has remained around the 97-98%....yikes I would definitely be on oxygen therapy with an O2 of 70%, infact beyond therapy, no?
thanks for the correction with this...

Pam by saying my sob has declined again I'm talking in circles sorry, I meant decline as in getting worse.....should really be said its increased shouldn't I...sorry ppl...for all the confusion here..♥

[pam2738]

Opus, I'm glad your sob has improved!  I had my PFTs on Monday but don't get results until I see the doctor on Friday.  I called doctor's nurse yesterday & she had the results there & while she wouldn't tell me anything, she didn't seem too concerned.  Which I guess is good.  I don't get to see a pulmonologist until end of February which is NOT good!

The more I think about my life style over the past many many years, the more I think that the big problem has been the cats. Yes, I lived in S. California with the smog for 40 years but in the last part of that time, it has gotten a lot better. But I've always had a lot of cats & since moving to Wisconsin in 2002, we spend 6 months of the year (winter) all cooped up together in a small house.  And I am NOT the world's greatest housekeeper by any means!  But the thought of giving my cats away breaks my heart. I can accept finding good homes for some of them but there are 3 that are really unadoptable & 2 that I absolutely adore.

Pam

[allmymarbles]

Note typo above. I should have written FEV1, not FIV1.

[allmymarbles]

You say that your O2 three years ago was 70 per cent and has gotten worse. Such a low percentage would require oxygen therapy. Something seems amiss there.

I think the 70 per cent was the amount of air you were moving (FIV1) and that you were 70 per cent of predicted. That would put you in the moderate COPD category.

FIV1 is not the same as blood oxygen.

[opus88]

sorry forgot to add the site...

http://www.breathingbetterlivingwell.com/community/index.php?showtopic=5565

[opus88]

hi Pam...just reading now. as far as I know the Fev1 % would be the same as the blood O2 level...meaning yours would than be 48%. now this is just what I've always thought and of course maybe very wrong....
lots to learn and research just for our own knowledge.
I just found this website, and will try to do some reading later one it. maybe it can answer your question?
smoking is why my sob has declined, wasn't smart enough to quit until very recently.....

[pam2738]

I just got a message but nothing here. Did you see my last?

Pam

[pam2738]

I haven't had the PFT yet. Just the chest xray which showed "changes consistent with COPD" & the spirometry test which showed my FEV1 at 48%.  I have no idea what my 02 level is - I guess that's on the PFT test, but I  have no shortness of breath.  Just the cough. I went to the gym today & worked on some of the equipment & then did a bit over half a mile on the treadmill.  Not fast at all - 1/2 mile in about 10 minutes.

Where do you find you O2 reading?  All I have is the spirometry readings.

And what do you think has caused you SOB to decline?

Pam

[opus88]

my O2 level is at 70%, that was 3 yrs ago, I haven't had it checked since. but the shortness of breath (s.o.b.) has declined since than.
I don't have a cough, none. just this s.o.b.
what does your results say?

♥Opus

[pam2738]

How bad is your copd?  I am going to pick up a copy  of my spirometry test today as my doctor didn't tell me the results!!!!   I don't have any trouble breathing, just this damn cough.

Pam

[opus88]

Yes I know what you mean Pam, I am only 60 and was dx'd abt 3 yrs ago.....its so frighting to not be able to catch your breath after doing simple tasks...I have 2 kitties myself and doubt I could ever give them up either.

♥Opus

[pam2738]

Thank you, opus. I can't possible contemplate giving them all away but I suppose I could maybe find good homes for a few who might benefit from living with less other cats.

I am still learning about all of this & when I wake up in the morning, I just can't believe it is happening.

Pam

[emtnurse]

I have emphysema & 2 cats.  No one has suggested I give up the cats unless I am allergic to them (I am not).  Take an allergy test to find out

[opus88]

hi Pam,,, I'm no expert, just another copd sufferer and a cat mommy. IMO there shouldn't be a reason that your cats are causing copd itself......cat allergies will cause asthma flares but asthma and copd aren't the same...copd is a disease in itself and not a symptom. I will send you a website incase it will help answer some questions.............oh I sure hope you won't have to give up the rescue org. ppl with such loving hearts as yourself aren't easy to find and these kitties need you so much.

http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/copd-treatments-improving-your-quality-of-life