i.e What is my life expectancy
I am diagnosed with Moderate Restrict... - Lung Conditions C...
I am diagnosed with Moderate Restrictive COPD. How long would I live if i giveup smoking.
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spark
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Not sure of life expectancy in COPD however giving up smoking should improve your life expectancy i would think.
There is no easy answer to that one unfortunately. I asked the same question of the thoracic consultant and was told that statistics say you lose 3% lung function a year if you continue to smoke and that you can survive with a 6% lung function. However, all that can go out of the window if you have persistent exacerbations (flare up of your condition), are underweight and inactive. Every person is an individual and reacts differently. If you can give up, you give yourself better odds.
Hi everyone...I'm Dave and a new member. Reading this page...I have not read one comment on or about use/need for oxygen. When and how does the need for oxygen play in to the stages and development of the disease? I am 63 years old and have suffered with chronic asthma/bronchitis/sinusitis infections since childhood. I also smoked for 20 years. The asthma meds instantly relieved airway tightness (Albuterol) so being young and stupid.....I didn't think much past the obvious. I am in good health, but when I get upper resp infections I am dizzy, lightheaded but not short of breath. Sometimes my fingertip Ox meter registers me at 92....but with deep breathing I can push it to 99. I have not seen a specialist for diagnosis. I can walk 5 miles at a good pace with no problems. Have had two major surgeries w/in the last 5 years with general anesthesia. Each time it took me "longer than normal" to wake up and get my ox level to normal ( 3hrs in recovery )....but Dr's and nurses never made a big deal out of it. They just said everyone is different when it comes to waking up. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks....Nice to meet you all 
Wow! you have done really well considering your ailments....I was diagnosed 9 years ago with COPD/emphysema and have only had oxygen once and that was when I didn't go to the doctor right away and developed one hell of an infection and was near collapse. I assume the day will come when I might need it but I am not going to worry about it....hope you continue to do all the things you are doing for a long long time
If you gave up smoking you'll live a lot longer than if you don't. Some on here have had COPD for 20 years and still going. Most, I would hope, will live to the age they would have done if they hadn't got COPD. Well I intend to anyway and I have very severe COPD.
Every case on here is different. Even two people with exactly the same numbers will differ.
You will stand a chance of living longer if you stop. If you choose not to, your COPD symptoms will make your life more unpleasant as time goes on.
I sort of know where you are coming from because if smoking is an integral and enjoyable part of your life it's very hard to contemplate giving up completely. It's hard for me to understand wanting to prolong my life when I read about the way people have to live. Do I want to prolong a life where I am dependant on oxygen and cannot do anything. Where my every move becomes a chore and this is when people have given up smoking years ago. Sometimes when I read some of the posts here I figure there must be a time when enoughs enough. Now I wait for the barrage of Critiscisms that says life is worth living at any cost. Is it ?
No criticism from me Eve. I'm 'pro-choice'on that score.
If & when I have zero quality of life it's time to call it a day. My personal opinion only btw. xxxx
Nor me I have often wondered how far I could go without wanting to call it a day.
What's the final thing that would make life unliveable ? I cannot quite decide. Sometimes I think I have come to terms with it all and decided but then I get panicky about dying and I think why if I have come to a decision ? Why am I so scared when I can't breathe in the night and I have taken everything I can. Why do I sometimes just sit and wait (sometimes for hours) until my next dose of something is due ? What will be the trigger that just says of to hell with it all.?
I feel the same ,it is not only tobacco that causes copd,many people do not or never smoked,many will never get copd. Depression sets in if you think about the future, I have had 2 severe attacks was taken to hospital,which was great for me as I got some attention with correct inhalers that actually worked. There are so many things that need attention with this copd,that I was worried that I may lack oxygen ,bought a oxymeter to take my oxygen levels,I am fine don't need it,put my mind at rest.
There is no way I would criticise you - I agree with you and I have mentioned how I feel to a couple of friends and they were not happy with me at all....we are all different, but I certainly do not want to prolong my life just for the sake of it...I am grateful to not be in that situation yet!
My old doctor used to say "You can't put a time-limit on anyone's life - it's full of surprises" - and he was right! A young doctor told me to apply for some kind of benefit because he didn't think my husband would last 6 months - ie terminal. I asked his consultant to make an educated guess "A year - maybe 2 if the drugs work" That was 1994. With me and my GP standing guard he lived to see the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. So there's no answer to that one except to say that it's pretty certain you'll see immediate benefit from stopping smoking. I know I did.
If it's not too intrusive, what was the quality of his life. This is what I cannot get my head around. He was fortunate that he had you to look after him. I live alone and will I suppose at some juncture have to have assistance, from strangers, to help me with every part of my life. If I cannot go out and do 'things' what's left, sitting here looking out at the world waiting for the next carer visit. I must add that I am far from depressed at the moment just thoughtful about the future.
Thanks guys i quit smoking now ... i want to live long to fulfill my commitments ..say another 25 years.... hope will reach it.... keep in touch ... ofcourse feel depressed at this moment... hmmm fingers crossed
I smoked for 51 years (stupid I know but there you go) I finally stopped when I became so ill I couldn't put a cigarette in my mouth. I had always smoked whenever I was ill, but 10 years ago I had such a bad chest infection I just couldn' t face a cigarette. I had not been diagnosed then, but was shortly afterwards. ...for your own sake do try and give up....I thought I would have dreadful withdrawal symptoms, but I didn't..my problem was I had to stop making phone calls for a while, stop having cups of coffee for a while, stop
sitting at the typewriters for a while....whenever I had done those things I always had a cigarette on the go...it took a time for me to stop the habit, but honestly it was far easier than I had ever imagined. Good luck....you have many years ahead of you so make the best of them....I haven't got that many so I envy you
To be honest "IF" shouldnt be an option. You have this dreaded thing because you smomed in the first pleace.
You will live a lot longer but how long is probably up to you
I quit smoking 18 years ago but still have Stage 2 .
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