My name is Destry i recently have been diagnosed with emphesimia I AM SCARED I am American and i do not know how i came to be on this sight

[DELANE]

[Hidden]

You and me both i often wonder that.

No need to be scared there its lots of help surport on here.

There is lots you can do to keep your condition stable

Like stay clear of dust .. quit smoking and light excersise to name a few

Anyway sure others will be along to offer there surport

Cheers all the best

[initial]

Hello and welcome to the community Destry. Of course it's scary to hear that diagnosis, but it's not the end of the world, it's a slow disease, and you can do so much to maintain your lung function for quite a significant time. As Daz has mentioned, giving up cigarettes is a must, as too is exercise, and taking care of your dietary needs, but keeping a positive attitude is greatly beneficial. We all have lung problems here, and understand how it affects your day to day living. Ask your questions, and someone will have the answer. Take care x

[Kad21]

Hi Destry, welcome to the site. I am relatively newly diagnosed and know how you feel. It doesn't matter where you come from, we all have the same problems, and the guys on here are so supportive and generous with their time, please ask anything you want and someone will be around to help xx

[mustcarryon]

mustcarryon

Hi destry and welcome to what is probably one of the most supportive sites you will find. It is scary to be diagnosed with this terrible disease, but, it's not the end of the world. Taking care of yourself is a must. No smoking, gentle exercise, keeping warm and do some investigating about things that might aggravate your condition such as dust, sprays, cleaning products, candles etc: Please stay on this site and pop in at any time, there will always be someone here for you. Good luck. xxx

[drd4]

I live in CT and there are a few other Americans. The posters are helpful and informative. Welcome.

[Towse1950]

Welcome share and care.....Audrey

[moneal]

Hi and welcome

You have found a great site for help and information, someone usually has the answer or can point you in the right direction, We will all be interested in how you are and the treatment you receive, I have learnt a lot from this site and am always finding new and helpful facts, a view of what other countries are doing and the treatments used will interest a lot of members.

Good luck, it's not as bad as it sounds, with good care it can be controlled and let you live a near normal life

[Lurcherman]

As usual, good advice from everyone, I'm always impressed how people on this site take the time to welcome and reassure newcomers x x x

So welcome from me and my advice is always get out of breath at least once a day and follow ALL the advice above and stay positive!!!

[kimmy59]

Hello and welcome to the party.

Please try not to be scared, try and contact BLF helpline glean as much advice from the wonderful people on this site, drop in for a chat if your feeling up or down and most of all don't google this illness is different for everyone.

Kim xxxx

[rick1]

Nice to meet you, you can live a long while with emphysema if you quit smoking and exercise and look after yourself.

[silversurfer]

Welcome Destry I too was frightened when diagnosed with copd I knew nothing about it but the guys on this site are really helpful. Whatever you want to know ask someone will come up with an answer.

[Hidden]

Welcome Delane,

The main things that will help slow down the progress of emphysema will be (stop smoking and avoid any kind of smoke inhalation) and (attending a pulmonary rehabilitation programme), the latter will give you the tools to help you manage your illness, help prevent further lung damage and help keep your condition stable. Try to access a PR course through your medical advisers.

View more details on this through lung.us

lung.org/lung-disease/copd/...

If you can access a Better Breathers group near you in the US that will help give you the support locally.

lung.org/lung-disease/copd/...

Things are scary when first diagnosed but with pulmonary education and regular exercise, avoiding smoke you can still enjoy living even with lung damage.

A few links for you below.

Lots of pdf downloads from this page:

action.lung.org/site/Search...

Smoking:

lung.org/stop-smoking/

For more information from the British Lung foundation pages click red balloon top right to access BLF's pages.

Take good care and best wishes

BC

[libby7827]

Welcome Destry. x

[nixy]

Hi Delane you have found a good site here.I have found out a lot of information from the great people here, much more than from my doctors. Don't panic, most people get upset at first but you can ask any questions here and someone will usually be able to put your mind at rest. There is another american person on here. Good luck x

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Hi and welcome Destry. Some members on here have had emphysema for 20 years so, with the right medication and help, it's not so bad as it first appears.

[Suzy6]

Hello Destry, I was diagnosed C.O.P.D in January Now told today Emphysema I fully intend to live a good many years yet. Hey I get out of breath but just shrug recover and carry on. Welcome to this site. Wonderful people here always ready and willing to help.

[Hidden]

Hi Delane, welcome to the site of friends and first class support and advice, first things first are you smoking ??

[peege]

Hello Destry, a warm welcome to this great and supportive site.

Knowledge is power so learn as much as you can

Come here to share and ask questions. Wishing you very well

[Katsden]

I am from Australia and I only found out yesterday that I have this dreaded disease and I cannot find a forum in Australia to talk to. This is the only forum I can locate.

[initial in reply to Katsden]

Hello Denskat, and welcome to the community. I do believe there are other members from Australia on here too, so you shouldn't feel as if you're surrounded by us poms LOL x

[Katsden]

Thanks for your response.And it's okay, I don't mind Poms, my sister lives in England. I am just so shocked and upset and I don't know what to believe and what my prognosis is. It is all so devastating.

[initial in reply to Katsden]

I think we all were, Denskat, but it's not the end of the world, you can do so much to maintain your level of lung function, not smoking, watching your diet, exercise and living life in spite of your illness! x

[breather in reply to Katsden]

Hey denskat, you might think different about us poms after the next 5 days cricket lol.

[Katsden in reply to breather]

thanks for that, I just smiled....

[GIBBO]

Hi Destry,

Welcome to the site good advice from everyone above they all know what they are talking about. The one thing you have to do is pace yourself, as you already know you can't do everything 100mph like before but take your time and you will be able to do what you can.We all know on this site that it is Frightning when you can't Breathe and empty your lungs.

[snow54flake]

hello and welcome destry i only found out in june i had c o p d you will find the people on this site very helpfull i was scared also when i found out good luck xmarian

[Shell59]

I have just been told I have emphysema to it is scary but stay on this site it realy helps

[breather]

Hello destry and welcome, i'v had emphysema for three years now, and I have learned a lot on here. Just try to keep fit. Good luck.

[artichic]

Hi Destry - I'm from the US and new to this site, too. There's a lot of good info here. I was diagnosed over 4 years ago, and I was scared (terrified), too. Statistics say that 77% of those with COPD suffer clinical depression and/or anxiety. This is a higher percentage than with any other serious illness including cancer and heart disease. Talk with your doc about your depression/fears. There are medications that can help you enormously if you need them.

Most of all, and I know this is hard, try and stay calm with it. There *are* things you can control, especially with diet, physical activity, and pulmonary medicines and procedures to help retard the progress of this disease. And, there is a ton of new research being done now that wasn't happening 2009.

Take care sweetie, and good luck - Laura

[yorkie70]

Hi Destry (Delane) Welcome aboard. Just to try and help settle your mind on emphysema. I was diagnosed with emphysema stage IV more than 10 years ago. Yes I know I have had COPD for much longer. I retired from work last December but I try and stay active. I take my meds, I do breathing exercises daily and I exercise as much as possible. Generally potter about the house and garden most days. Yes it is a horrible decease but you will find that on this site you will make many friends who will offer their full support. By the way I am 70 years young, just work hard at keeping well. Have a great weekend. If you live in the US the following site may help you emphysema.net/default.asp

[DELANE]

I am humbled by all the responses I have not checked my email since posting this and I was completely not expecting all the replies I want to thank you all and I'm covert glad I came to this site I watched my father die with this disease but he also had heart disease he had like 80 percent blockage in one valve and I believe 50 inThe other it was a terrible thing an then I lost my mother to lung cancer 7 years ago she lived 7 months after finding out do you can imagine I was completely terrified I have had problems for several years the last 3 have been very hard starting with staff pneumonia then I went through chemo which seems to have been successful I now take spriva advair , prednisone an oxygen at night I would like to know some of your symptoms an medicines you see I have never had a cough or septum never felt tightness in my chest or the elephant on my chest I work out do yoga what happens to me is my heart will start racing I feel I can't breath sometimes I pea on myself it usually last only a minute or so and it's over there are other things heat certain smells set it off but according to a spiromitor test I had I have only 43 or 47 percent of ability to expel air now I was very sick when they did this test and I wonder if it affected the results? I am searching everywhere for answerer

[eightyplus]

Hi DELANE!

Welcome to the forum, I too am new but have suffered with emphysema for several years and am now in my eighties.

A daily visit here has changed my life, here people understand your problem and advise accordingly, who better to understand than someone who share the same anxiety than you do?

Here you are never alone.