How long have you lived with COPD?

Oh puddy, I know exactly how you feel. When I was diagnosed in 2010, I was told I MIGHT live 10 more years. And here I am. It's a frightening disease. One thing to keep in mind is our lungs are an integral part of the immune system. With COPD, your immune system is compromised. That means we have to be careful with what we are doing. If you smoke, quit. Pay attention to the weather and air quality, business that allow smoking., that sort of stuff. But what I think is most important is to watch what you think. Feed your thoughts with positive energy, not the negative. We can't afford to think that way. Be proactive, take slow leisurely walks, embrace the beauty the world has to offer, hug your family. My Dr. told me the other day "you must live your life as best as possible". It is essential. " I have had some complications and some of them very frightening causing me to have depression. My Dr. prescribed Lexpro and it helped tremendously. I took it for about a month and a half and feel fine. Make your life happy and enjoy it, with or without COPD, we only have this one life that we must embrace. I have said a prayer for you and I hope you feel the love from my heart to yours.
One last thing, this is the best group of people who will rally with and for you. Welcome home.

I was diagnosed with COPD in 2004. I, too, was thrown for a loop when I got my results. I'd been more short of breath and on a hot summer day, I had my neighbor lady take me to the ER. They did the routine bloodwork, chest X-ray, EKG, and a breathing treatment. After the results came back, they informed me of my COPD and emphysema. I was four months short of my 50th birthday. I thought, "why do I have COPD" when I'm not even 50. I smoked for over 33 years. Besides that, I have Alpha 1 deficiency, also known as antitrypsin deficiency. That and the smoking was most likely the cause of my lung issues. I did well with my breathing and shortness of breath for about 10 years. Then I planned my daughter's wedding, and I was under a lot of stress. So I began having more exacerbations into the fall and winter. I had turned 60 in October, and I was eligible to retire from my current job and so that is what I did. I was sick so much of the time throughout that fall and winter, I felt that it was best. I worked in a mental health facility, and I was always around the patients and the care workers, so it would be difficult to avoid any strains of illness. I managed my COPD once I retired, and did quite well, having to use oxygen at night, getting a portable oxygen unit to use during activities or traveling, and the non invasive in home ventilator that I wore at night with my oxygen. So in 2024, another ten years later, I was quite ill throughout the last part of fall and into the winter. As our winter was horribly cold, and there was much sickness, I ended up in the hospital for 3 days with pneumonia. It really hit me. After returning home, I was very weak, fatigued, had lost over 10 pounds. I qualified for in home health care with nursing, OT and PT. Thank God, my nursing staff was a Godsend, and the therapists, as well, helped keep me going. However, my lungs wouldn't heal. I still had the congestion and wasn't able to expel it. I was on steroids, and I was on antibiotics, different cough syrups. I also was diagnosed with sepsis in the hospital, and I was having bouts of diarrhea. I thought I was going to die. So I was in hospital from 12/2 to 12/4 and then discharged. I would get better and then I'd get a setback. I couldn't get rid of the congestion. I went to my pulmonologist and said that I needed to not be on the antibiotics anymore, as I'd become immune to them. She had me on a prednisone regimen for 10 days. Long story short, with the help of the incentive spirometer, and my acapella (breathing device) I finally was able to get rid of the nasty phlegm and get my energy back. I was released from home health care in March. What a long winter it was. Now, half way through April, I feel almost back to normal. I mean normal to the way I've coped with the COPD over the past 20 years. I'm so grateful to be able to do what I can do. I can't do a lot of housework, pushing a vacuum, using my arms to scrub and clean my shower/bath. But I can cook with breaks, run the dishwasher. And I consider myself lucky to have a husband who helps, and four wonderful sisters who help with my housework. After coming home from hospital, I was so weak to take a shower, and once I did, I had to wear my 02 and use my shower chair. I felt so helpless. My sisters washed my hair for me a couple of times. Just this past week, I was able to take a shower without my chair, with no oxygen in the shower, and wash and condition my hair. What a great feeling it was. Do all you can do, and if you can't do it, keep trying. If you need help, ask for it. Think positive thoughts, and do what you love doing and be around supportive family and friends who you love. The best to you. I just turned 70 on October 10, and I was so depressed before that birthday, I didn't even get together my family, except my daughter, husband and son-in-law. Now that I'm feeling healthier, I am so happy to spend time with all my friends and family and grateful to be alive. Keep the faith & God bless you!! We're all in this together. Say prayers and they will be answered. Happy Easter!!

Hello Brave One, I am inspired by your outlook and attitude. You are a good inspiration to many of us who are weary with COPD. I was also diagnosed in the ER. I just dealt with the shortness of breath and surely was in denial. I smoked for 35 years. I quit smoking 23 years ago . Diagnosed at stage 4. 2023. Instantly put on 24/7 oxygen at 3 and 4 ltrs . It will be three years in June 2024. I have been lucky to not have any exasperations. ( I don’t like that word ) 🙂. I will cooperate with medical care up to a point . I am 80 soon . I have DNR orders everywhere I can
think of . I worked hard labor jobs most of my adult life . My shoulder and hip joints are shot . I commend you for your bravery. Sending love and prayers , Crystalina

I have DNR orders as well, but for now I'm trying to live my life the best I can. I've had to give up some things I loved, being around campfires, watching my family shoot pool in smoky barrooms and shooting pool myself. We ride ATV's in the woods, and if the weather is cooperative, I ride with my husband in our side x side. Love and prayers to you as well Crystalina.

I know someone who smoked for about 35 years. then quit about 10 years ago. They developed COPD while they were still smoking and stopped as soon as they found out they had it. Today they can't even walk very far, like maybe 50 feet, without stopping to rest. Now they are ready for retirement soon but they have limitations as a result of smoking. They sound fine though. They eat well, can laugh, can drive a car but any type of sustained activity involving their lungs, aerobic activity, is severely limiting. They can travel but it is far more difficult now. They will not be able to hike in the Rocky Mountains! But they can ride in all terrain vehicle. Their quality of life would have been so much better if they never smoked, or stopped long ago.

The other negative thing is they have other health issues, like high blood pressure, which they believe is a result of smoking. Hopefully they will live as long as if they never smoked but the trade off of smoking was definitely not worth it! You hear about all the physical things smoking does but you don't hear about the severely diminished quality of life that comes from it, even when you are very young. If you don't smoke don't start! If you smoke quit now!

exasperations = exacerbations
Alot of how one responds to the challenges that present with COPD is your support system. My husband passed 5 years ago and I'm basically feel like the Lone Ranger. That effects your whole outlook. I have to take xanax before getting in the shower....scares me to death, but of course you always feel better after your hairs been washed and clean nite wear. I have always been so independent and HATE to ask for help......may just spend the inheritance $$ on self care needs!

Yikes . It’s the grammar cops . 👮 Stop that ! 🤣

I apologize @crystalena ! you just mentioned in your post that you "didn't like" that word so i thought you were seeking the correct term.

You do not need to apologize. The grammar thing is an old internet joke.. I am smiling . And you smile too . Blessed Be , Crystalena❤️❤️

“Flare ups” is an easy way to refer to having breathing issues out of control and easily understood by most folks. This way there is no “spell mis-correct,” which I am frequently subject to!