Im 47 female ,just told early stages ... - Lung Conditions C...
Im 47 female ,just told early stages emphysema,stopped smoking 11 days now, just want to do all can to stop getting worse ,thank you
Congratulations on stopping the cigs gypsy, you've taken the hardest but most important step in minimising your emphysema. Don't be scared, there is lots you can do to help manage it.
Ask your GP about pulmonary rehabilitation. This is a programme of exercise and education, usually around two hours twice a week for about 6 - 8 weeks. It's a combination of aerobic and weight bearing exercise. If you are not very active at present, and unfit, don't worry because everyone starts from where they are and builds from there. There is a huge evidence base to show how effective PR is in slowing progression of the condition. Since you are in the early stages there should be no reason why you can't live a good life as long as you keep active and keep off the cigs.
Also remember getting breathless helps build your fitness.
Im sure others will be along with more advice and info. Good luck 
Hi gypsy28 Well done for quitting smoking the best thing you could do! and the other thing is keep as active as you possibly can! Best Wishes Mogworth
Welcome Gypsy. You have been given good advise here. Keep active stay positive eat well be happy.xx
Well done Gypsy, keep off the cigs, eat well, treat infections quickly and exercise within your capability that way you should improve your fitness which helps to control the illness, good luck and hope to talk to you again on the site.
Hi Gypsy,
Congratulations!!!! You have just done the hardest part - quitting smoking!! Believe it or not it is all uphill for now - I totally agree with the person who said get a good doctor and get involved in a rehabilitation program which will really help you. I know the way it is right now is that it is downhill or staying at the same level but it can and it will be changed by us - that is right us - we are going to stay active and do the exercises they suggest and get healthy. You will be ok - don't listen to the word emphasema - it is an awful word and it does not need to be the end - only the beginning.
I hope you have a good doctor because that can make all the difference. I am very luck and I do!!! All the best to you.
Giving up the cigs is the key. I resisted until it was a simple choice between smoking and breathing.....I couldn't do both. Within 6 months of quitting my lung capacity had increased 5%.
Well done for stopping smoking Gypsy. You say you have been diagnosed in the early stages which is good - it means you can now take control of it and help stop it progressing so much. It is irreversible unfortunately but with a good diet, exercise and taking your meds you can do a lot to keep it under control. x
When I quit smoking, I found breathing to be getting harder.
But it gets better over time.
I'm now up to 4 months of no smokes and things are improving.
Keep strong and know you are actually going to start getting healthy without the death sticks!
Well done in quitting smoking . I am a good few years older and lower end of moderate copd. However since quitting 8 months ago I am more or less symptom free.
As mentioned by others , exercise is the other important thing ........my Gp said that although lung damage can never be repaired...... the fact that I am fairly fit is now helping to compensate for poor lung function.
I'm no olympic athlete but can walk for 4/5 miles on the flat, do gardening and moderate level exercise classes (eg pilates for strength and flexibility.)
Cheers Coastal
you have already taken the biggest step toward slowing the disease! quitting smoking. I was diagnosed in 2005, and was in the hospital 3 or 4 times a year. I was put on life support for a couple days in 2006, then again in 2008 for 13 days (I'm told after that long its questionable if you will ever get back to near normal) I was totally helpless when I was finally taken off. couldn't even pull my socks up, in a wheelchair, and sent to a nursing home. I demanded my kids take me home. it took a while for me to get my strength back but I did. I NEVER SMOKED AGAIN, and I will be 67 yrs. on this tue. and have only been in the hospital 2 times for a couple days each in the last 6 yrs. I would be in even better shape if I had exercised like I should, and could get rid of the depression caused from other events in my life! so take heart my dear and DO NOT SMOKE AGAIN. you are young and if you take care of yourself you have lots of time!!!!!
Hi Gypsy, its never to late to stop smoking, and you have made the most important step, if you had not stopped your condition would only get worse. You cannot undo the damage already done to your lungs, but by stopping smoking they should not get any worse, the deterioration now is normal aging. Be aware of chest infections, you will tend to get them more easy than a person who does not suffer with emphysema. keep as active as possible although it is tiring at times, and you will get out of breath but you still have youth on your side, and you are in the early stages, so excersize should be easy for you still. Eat well and take the medication you have been given by your doctor, these may be in the form of inhalers. If you feel that your inhaler is not helping, go back to the doctor tell him / her that you dont think they are helping you. sometimes diffrent inhalers need to be tried,what works for one person may not work for the next " keep away from the fags Gypsy "
Welcome Gypsy and congratulations on stopping smoking so quickly, you should feel really proud of yourself, it took me 2 years. Great advice, as always from the members. It's nice to meet you. x
Definitely stay stopped, I didn't and am so much worse that I was when I was at ur stage gypsy. My life sucks nowadays. Poor breathing, planning what to do, when and how and getting more panic attacks 
welcome very good advice from all of the above congrats from an ex smoker marianxx
Hi gypsy28
I am so sorry to read of your emphysema diagnosis, and I genuinely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to the issue and halt any deterioration. I think that you are an amazing person for stopping smoking in the way that you have and you should be genuinely proud of yourself.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken
Hi join the club. I was only diagnosed 5 weeks ago and such a shock. But found this site and I read all past and present posts. Very informative and really friendly people. Still trying to work out what a lot of it means yet but am sure with the help from all on here we will get through it.
