Coping with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Jenny, about 1 year

Hi, I also have COPD and have had it for some years and is gradually worsening. I am having a lot of problems around my diaphram, a real hardness that stops me doing things even when I feel like doing something. I find when I am breathing normal and laid back relaxed my diaphram moves up and down but as soon as I stand this stops and won't move and this causes more breathlessness when atempting to do anything.Has anyone else had this prob and knows of anything I can to to prevent this. It just feels like a tight belt aroung my waistline sometimes.

1st sgt, about 1 year

On my 60th birthday this year the va doctors said all they can do now is give me the meds I need to keep breathing was told I have phase 3 copd terminal with a lose of 70 percent of my lungs but last night I went to tinys bar resturant and sang karoke as i still have a good strong singing voice but i think the oxygen helps that iam not afraid of dying just leaving my wife who i love dearly i have only one word of adivce for anyone thinking smoking makes you cool the late yul brenners words please dont smoke my days are long as iam retired army and wife works anyone wants to talk or listen use my email adress iam in s,tucson thanks and god bless

ann, about 1 year

I have just been told that ive had this deseas now for past 12 months,I am in a bit of shock about having been told this,and find it scary.I admit ive been smoking and now giving it up for good.

Karen, about 1 year

I have had broncial asthma since age 15.At 6yrs old i got whooping cough as i did not get vaccinated at the same time i also developed pleurisy.My first admission was for five days at the age of 20yrs i was told had i not rang the night doctor who got me admitted i would not have seen the next day! i was put on two drips given an adrenolin injection as soon as my bum hit my bed to which i got a reation to, then i had to use a nebulisor four x a day to administer three different medications i had previously started a course of prednisalone 6x5mg tablets daily.My peak flow was 94 on my 2nd day i also received pottasium k as my levels were low and i also had a constant oxyegen supply as my sats was low.Since that episode apart from respiratory infections 3 or 4 times a year the only really bad epesode i had was in 2005 when after i had chest surgery done in which the left nerve that controlles the action of the diaphram was damaged 2months later i was addmited again with pleurisy and pheunomia and received intravenous high dose antibiotics, this was in my left lung middle lobe next to my heart. I have been informed 8 weeks or so ago my lungs have now re-modelled themselves due to constant infections also scarring/narrowing of air ways combined with irreversable damage to the alveoli sacs,ect.... At the grand age of 40 i now have copd! i am told there is no cure and i can expect to get progressivly worse and eventually die, how long this will take i dont know any info would be greatly received , thanks.UNYM

yvonne, about 1 year

i to have just been diagnosed with copd. and i gave up smokeing 3 years ago. thank goodness i did. and as luck would have it i do try to keep fi.t i go camping alot and am always out walking the dog. it has been a shock though i must admit. still trying to come to terms with it, and waiting for appt with the astma nurse. but i dont look at the negative side of it. more the positive. just think if they can get on top of it, i will start feeling alot better then i have for quite a while now they know what it is.

wendy, about 1 year

I have copd. I was a very fit person loved outdoor activity, Now I have a wheelchair, oxygen and have lost all my independance which is as hard to deal with as the disease.,I have had this for 6 yrs and it is getting worse as i know how i feel, my sister also has this my father died of it.You get very down and low and often feel no one understands as you smile to cover up how you feel.its a very cruel disease.

marian, about 1 year

Hallo Julie, Well i am not sure I can cheer you up but I wil try! I was diagnosed this year with COPD and a heart problem leading to a pacemaker being fitted! excellent it help me so much. I too have had a bout of attacks recently and have had to give up work, although they are happy for me to work freelance, this is good as it makes me feel needed but of course I only earn when i gain results(I am a recruitment consultant). On the positive side I have read everything I can and discussed COPD with my excellent GP, but you are right it good to speak to people who have the same problem, I am lucky that I am 61 but I have been ill for years really but only gave up smoking 7 years ago so I feel I have been stupid really to continue smoking knowing how dangerous it is, although when I started it was not considered so. i would be more than pleased to email other people with COPD and would love to hear from other people, I thing I do know losing weight and walking as much as i can has made a difference although I know never go anywhere on my own, this is beacuse of the sheer fear of having an attack and not being in control, thank god for partners and friends! Look forward to hearing from you, Regards, marian.

julie, about 1 year

Hi ive just been diagnosed with copd i am only 48 years old and i am finding it hard to deal with.... I have stopped smoking and i am aware that i need ti increase the amount of exercise that i do. I have had 2 severe attacks in the last 6 weeks and i am feeling really low at the moment. I t would be great to hear from anyone that is going through a similar thing.... just to be able to communicate with someone who understands the uncertanty anf fear that comes with this condition