COPD Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Hi Merry , thank you so much for the post and asking about me . I have been coming to understand Copd and the ways to make my way in the everchanging way this disease is . I have been using my inhalers, doing 4 nebulizer treatments daily and on Oxygen . I had my very first public disaster where I went into full on panic but made it home thank God and that was a little upsetting . I am learning some great things here in these much appreciated post .

Good morning Gregor- Please tell me what you think (or know) caused your disaster. This has happened to me too but I want to hear about your first before I tell you mine. Ok?

Hi Everyone I am a recovering Lung damaged person who after 30 years of Smoking was told 10 years ago Oct 3rd 2011 if you don't quit you will die. Well that same day 4 packs of cigarettes went into the trash and in Oct of 2021 I celebrated 10 years smoke free. I was told that some effects of damaged lungs will return after about 10 years post and I'll add that I still have COPD and emphysema and use a CPAP at night I have recovered to not needing any inhalers(I was on 2 when I was still smoking Spriva and Advair with a albuteral inhaler for emergencies) and the classic caught you have as a smoker is also gone so I hope my testimony may help others to realize the need to quit.
But also as a Heart Transplant recipient I know what the feeling is like to not be getting enough oxygen rich blood and that's a scary thing. I was just sharing that with @gregoryz I just saw on another Thread who gave me an inspirational word of comfort about the feeling of not being able to breathe. So if I can be of any help with COPD related issues especially having to do with smoking please share your thoughts with me. I really love to help others. I truly believe a condition is much easier to endure when you realize your not alone.
Blessings

Now on my smoking I was a 2 pack a day for 30 years as I started at 16 . I did not ever want to quit because I enjoyed my smoking . I was born asthmatic and in an attack I would use an over the counter inhaler . I was healthy until around 2016 when I was playing volleyball and hid where no one saw me as I thought what I had was maybe a collapsed lung . It would be my very first attack . I recovered but had an very odd sluggish tiredness . I buried my father in 2018 and that stress was bad but I "smoked" on and by 2021 I entered the ER with my first suffocating feeling where I was diagnosed COPD.I stayed 4 days and was out had quit smoking for a month but was back to it mid year & In August I was back in the hospital with my second attack where I stayed for 9 days . Of course you do not smoke in a hospital so I made the decision to prepare for nicotine withdraws & faith in God to quit . Someone put a patch on me and it helped as I lay in bed but I had to prepare to not smoke once out . Now what has worked for me is a silly wrapped peppermint candy . I am now addicted to a bag of peppermint candys to suck on and that has been my coping method lol...I do but the 1.00 bags at the local dollar store and can finish a bag every 3 days so I am still ahead financially..lol ..I have had cravings sure but they pass . I am also not a mean reformed smoker because this world is real and others do smoke so I cannot preach to a habit I know so well . I do not beat myself up over smoking no because as I said I enjoyed it but after this last hospital scare and knowing so many were rooting for me it give me strength to stop . Day to day and baby steps . God Bless everyone

Gregory I have to add almost the same story 10 years ago so you can make it. Mine wasn't candy what worked for me was pistachios in the shell very important it gave me something to do with my Hands and mouth I was probally doing one of those 1 lb bags every week but even at 7 dollars a bag still cheaper than at my time of 4.00 a pack it came out to 200.00 a month to buy cigarettes so well worth it.

Ha Ha sure . I had made a drive the morning I realized I was really in trouble . Drove about 45 min to my Dr. then went into Walmart to pick up my prescriptions got to my car and drove back here to my small town where I needed to pick up drinking water - I was in the center of the store when i became so tired panicked needing to use the restroom so bad but they do not have a public restroom . The panic was so bad I freaked out and yes was urinating on myself - I did get to the front of this store where I walked out to my car and set for an hour calming myself to drive home . NO I did not take my oxygen this day and lesson learned . I am still not fully over that day and the panic . I am on medication but at that moment as it hit was a defining moment how much trouble I was in . I did use the restroom in the Walmart before making the drive home but when you become out of breath something causes this to happen . I am really now limiting myself and planning better lol

My name is Bob. I am 62. I got covid right out of the gate in 2020. It landed in my chest hard. I was sick for three months. Went to the doctor and they gave me antibiotics, which did nothing. In December of 2020 I came down with pneumonia. I was hospitalized for a week, almost died. Had bilateral thorasentesis performed. I have severe scarring in my lungs and pleural adhesions in my chest as a result of my illnesses.

Last October I had a PFT. The results indicated I now have Stage 2 COPD.

I have an active life. I exercise aggressively every week. It’s not easy. Everyone says I look great. I’m not great. I have pain in my chest from the adhesions, I don’t have anything near the lung capacity that I had before, I cough a lot and I seem very prone to viral and bacterial infections now in my head and chest. My lungs are a mess. I have periodic episodes of not being able to taste or smell, raspy throat and slight brain fog. Only lasts a a matter of hours at a time. Weird.

My doctors really don’t have much to offer. They think I’m doing fine. I use an albuterol inhaler and take montelukast daily.

Are there any other treatments available that would help rehabilitate or just stabilize my lungs?

Welcome @pickleballbob and @ray420

Bob, it must be frustrating to hear from others that you look great, but know that you're not doing well. You asked about treatments to rehabilitate or stabilize your lungs. Have you ever considered Lung Rehab?

Here's some info about Mayo Clinic's Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pulmonary-rehabilitation-program/overview/ovc-20398578
Many facilities offer rehab progams.

Ray, I agree with your assessment about the institute being a scam. Several members have also come to that conclusion. It can be really difficult to tell which stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine practices are effective and which institutions are offering evidence-based proven therapies.

To help people learn more about the proven therapies and the promise of developing therapies, Mayo Clinic offers a free telephone consult service. When you call the consult service, they will tell you about the availability of approved stem cell therapy at Mayo Clinic and elsewhere, and for what conditions. They can also tell you about research studies that are actively recruiting participants. Furthermore, you can add your name to a database to be notified when additional studies and information become available. You can learn more about the Consult Service here http://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/patient-care/clinical-services/regenerative-medicine-consult-service.
Or call 1-844-276-2003 to speak with one of Mayo's experts.

Lung regeneration is an area of focus at Mayo Clinic's Regenerative Medicine Program (https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/focus-areas/lung-regeneration) but it is still early days.