COPD Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Welcome to the COPD group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis or caring for someone with COPD. Let’s learn from each other and share stories about living with COPD, coping with the challenges, and exchange tips.
Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Pull up a chair. Let’s start with introductions.

What's your COPD story? What helps you?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Support Group.

@mpeters

Thank you for your kind and helpful words. My husband just tested negative. I will follow your advice, thank you.

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@mpeters- Good morning. I'm checking in to see how you are doing and how your husband is faring with COVID?

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@merpreb

@mpeters- Good morning. I'm checking in to see how you are doing and how your husband is faring with COVID?

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Thank you, I’m doing well. Slowly since I was diagnosed with Covid on February 21, I have been working up to my usual two mile walk. Today I walked the entire two miles, just more slowly. The local health department texts me each morning to ask about my symptoms, which are the same as allergy symptoms. I have a little bit of fatigue so usually up for a nap in the later afternoon. I feel really lucky except for knowing I might have a new diagnosis of COPD. Even mild Covid can do organ damage, which is why I tried really hard not to get it. I’m still taking every precaution and looking forward to getting my second booster when I can. Thanks so much for asking.

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@mpeters

Thank you, I’m doing well. Slowly since I was diagnosed with Covid on February 21, I have been working up to my usual two mile walk. Today I walked the entire two miles, just more slowly. The local health department texts me each morning to ask about my symptoms, which are the same as allergy symptoms. I have a little bit of fatigue so usually up for a nap in the later afternoon. I feel really lucky except for knowing I might have a new diagnosis of COPD. Even mild Covid can do organ damage, which is why I tried really hard not to get it. I’m still taking every precaution and looking forward to getting my second booster when I can. Thanks so much for asking.

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I'm so glad that I asked! Great news. Fatigue will eventually disappear. You seem to be doing everything right!

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@john2871

I've recently been diagnosed with asthma. It seems to be centered in my throat and I have a dry cough. I'm confused because this cough was initially caused by Lyme disease 4 years ago and lasted for weeks. Since then every cold and even covid have been followed by this cough. The cough itself is brought on by cold air, talking, turning my head and looking down. It feels like a weakness in the vocal cord area just before the cough itself. Any ideas?

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Hi, John. I questioned an asthma diagnosis years ago (no testing done) and decided that I had really been having anxiety attacks, as it only happened when showering in my too cold bathroom. My most recent visit to a pulmonologist resulted in a new round of pulmonary function tests and a diagnosis of severe COPD and mild asthma. Asthma! So I went looking on the internet for how asthmas is diagnosed. The following is an old article, but it is so clear and so detailed in how the testing is done (consistent with my recent tests) that it answered all my questions. From this article, I would guess that asthma is caused by many different things, since it is inflammation of airways -- more a symptom than an independent disease. At least that's my nonmedical understanding of it.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2774375/

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Thank you for the article. I'll be reading and rereading in the coming days.
John

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Hi All I found this study currently looking for volunteers and thought I would add the link if its something anyone might be interested in.
https://www.airflowtrial.com/
But also do your research and the following link has additional information on this study.
– Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of TLD in Patients With COPD (AIRFLOW-3) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03639051
Have a Blessed Day

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I was just diagnosed with paradeptal emphysema. Based on the CT scan, they looked very clean yet it came up. My oxygen levels are 97 and up, I can do cycling and intend to start swimming soon. I just had total hip replacement surgery and after the surgery, I started having difficulty breathing. My chest x-ray came clean as well as my oxygen levels.
I will see my pulmonologist this week and he will review the CT scan. Does anyone know of any clinical trials going on and specifically stem cells. I will continue to fight this and incorporate physical exercise, breathing, and what ever is available.
Thank you all

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@anthony1956

I was just diagnosed with paradeptal emphysema. Based on the CT scan, they looked very clean yet it came up. My oxygen levels are 97 and up, I can do cycling and intend to start swimming soon. I just had total hip replacement surgery and after the surgery, I started having difficulty breathing. My chest x-ray came clean as well as my oxygen levels.
I will see my pulmonologist this week and he will review the CT scan. Does anyone know of any clinical trials going on and specifically stem cells. I will continue to fight this and incorporate physical exercise, breathing, and what ever is available.
Thank you all

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Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect Anthony. Paradeptal emphysema. (PSE), the outermost parts of the lungs fill with enlarged air spaces. This can cause breathing difficulties and other respiratory symptoms. I'm wondering about your history that led you to a Pulmonologist. Can you tell me more about your lung history, please?

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@merpreb

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect Anthony. Paradeptal emphysema. (PSE), the outermost parts of the lungs fill with enlarged air spaces. This can cause breathing difficulties and other respiratory symptoms. I'm wondering about your history that led you to a Pulmonologist. Can you tell me more about your lung history, please?

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I would go to the ER last year, September, and complain of shortness of breath. They would tell me acute bronchitis, would take a chest x-ray and everything ok. My oxygen levels 98. I recently went through total hip replacement surgery and the anesthesia didn't do anything for me. In rehab, they had me in Albuterol and pulmocord. They would take chest x-ray, listen to my lungs, and determine I would be fine. The tech that performed my CT scan looked at some of the pictures and told me that there was nothing wrong he could see. My pulmonologist would listen to my lungs and determine there was no phlegm and sounded clear. I am having the breathing test done tomorrow. Wiill see

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@anthony1956

I would go to the ER last year, September, and complain of shortness of breath. They would tell me acute bronchitis, would take a chest x-ray and everything ok. My oxygen levels 98. I recently went through total hip replacement surgery and the anesthesia didn't do anything for me. In rehab, they had me in Albuterol and pulmocord. They would take chest x-ray, listen to my lungs, and determine I would be fine. The tech that performed my CT scan looked at some of the pictures and told me that there was nothing wrong he could see. My pulmonologist would listen to my lungs and determine there was no phlegm and sounded clear. I am having the breathing test done tomorrow. Wiill see

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You were awake during surgery? Is that what you meant when you said, " anesthesia didn't do anything for me. " ?

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