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Hello! I have been diagnosed and I am at stage 3. I am 60 years of age and I am not over weight. I have not smoked over 40 years now.

Karelanne profile image
19 Replies

What causes my COPD to progress so fast to each stage in time. I am seeing a seeing a special heart doctor and I am going to the hospital for a echoing of the heart. I am sad because my friends tell me that every thing will be alright. I do not want to die to soon. I am 60 years of age and I have a life.. I have researched online about changing my diet. I have seen online that if one has change a diet that food can heal in time.

Please can you out there who has COPD and has been diagnosed and are dealing each stage of COPD could You please tell me if I am on the right track. At times I do get very scared and I will not feel sorry for myself at all. I try to be a humble person and I am always doing the researching on my laptop. I do hope that some one out there can serious relate with me going through this nightmare .

Karelanne

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Karelanne profile image
Karelanne
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19 Replies
Swerv profile image
Swerv

Hi Karelanne

First thing is you have not said how your copd is progressing i.e. what stage are you now and when where you first diagnosed and at what stage?

Secondly, if you have already stopped smoking then yes, diet and exercise is the key.

A minimum of 30 minutes exercise per day, walking, cycling, swimming etc.

Regarding diet i am a big fan of juicing vegetables and blending fruit smoothies. They give me all the vitamins, nutrients etc that i need per day.

No sugar, salt, fried food.

Thirdly: stop googling, unless you are looking for recipes. When i was first diagnosed i googled and scared myself stupid, i then found this forum and found it to be so informative.

No doubt there will be others along shortly who will be able to give you more info as i am still a newbie.

But the members will need to know more about your condition before they can give you advice.

Merv

Tuttifruity profile image
Tuttifruity

Hi Karelanne,

I am 61, recently diagnosed with copd and other things.

1- Do not panic, it will only make it worse.

2- A diagnosis of copd is NOT a death sentence.

3- A change of diet will not cure copd, but it could make you healthier.

4- An echo of the heart is only a test, like any other.

5- The only website you need, is the British heart foundation, leaflets are fantastic.

6- Your friends are right, you will be ok. and have many more years to live.

I totally agree with swerve (above) just learn to live with it, enjoy every day, live life, not worry about it.

Linda

Scud profile image
Scud

Hi karelanne, like you I have been stopped smoking for 16yrs but the damage was already done COPD is a progressive illness with no cure but it's not the end of the world(although I thought it was at one point) I am now on oxygen 24/7 but it doesn't stop me going out and about admitted it does restrict certain things but you can overcome them by staying positive. I still go on holiday to visit my friend in Spain and enjoy days out. I live in th UK where we are offered a rehab course and I found that to be very beneficial, you exercise and speak to other people who are going through the same as you. Hope this has helped you a little good luck and stay positive.

Hi Karelanne...when I was diagnosed with asthma and copd I was supposedly on stage 3...fev1 at 54%....I am 65 year old man with young children who only have me.

You name it and I whent through it.

Googled my way to arranging care for my children in another country by the members of family I knew to trust.

Death was not that far away...and I prepared myself for the mother of all fights...actually I've had quite a few of them...starting as far back as in the infants school playground.

Diagnosis of COPD I think was about 7 months ago now...

How life has moved on since diagnosis and looking back how could we get in that perfectic state.

The help and advise that we should get when diagnosed with such frightening conditions was not there...my joker consultant...was to make a bad joke and try to sell me a book he wrote about lung conditions.

Ooops I am going on a bit ..sorry.

I started getting my life back when I joined this site and the people on here put me straight with the real facts about

Our frightening conditions.

I no longer worry about my condition and enjoy my life far more than before COPD because I appreciate it so much more.

And I will be around to a good old age😤

Welcome to the forum..

Take care.

Andy.

velvet55 profile image
velvet55 in reply to

Hi Andy

Well said...you summed it up perfectly.

Velvet xx

music profile image
music in reply to

Hi Andy

Great reply its made me feel good and it was not ment for me lol

Good luck

Music

Sheilab123 profile image
Sheilab123

Hi Karelanne, just wanted to say welcome, you have already been given some sound advice and reassurance from our lovely members. The only thing I would add is it is not a death sentence, you just learn to live in a different way. I am stage 4 and have a great quality of life, albeit much slower! Take care xx

sassy59 profile image
sassy59

Welcome to this great site Karelanne, you are in the right place for help and support. Keeping as fit and well as you can will stand you in good stead for now and the future. Take heart from the good folk on here and be as well as you possibly can.

Thinking of you, xxxxx

tracyball1 profile image
tracyball1

Exercise helps loads does improve your lung function, I find that when I first start walking it's hard and sometimes I really don't want to do it but I do, I look at my little dog and make myself go, and the more you walk it gets easier, and my lungs have improved loads with walking I feel loads better, so try and go for a couple of walks every day just take your time it does help.

ericwood992 profile image
ericwood992

Hello Karelanne,

If you follow the very good advice on here, mainly regarding exercise, you will feel a positive difference in no time, I promise. Exercise strengthens, expands and increases the capacity of the lungs. I found this to be the very best advice. Of course, if you have a heart problem, and I have had a triple bypass operation, discuss what type of exercise is most appropriate for you, but I swear by walking. I have bought a treadmill for this as this is indoors and not affected by the weather. I was amazed at how quickly your lungs improve when using this for 15 to 30 minutes each day.

Kind regards,

Eric.

Karelanne profile image
Karelanne in reply toericwood992

Hi! Eric

Thanks for well coming me to this site.

When I first received my email messages that I felt so not alone. I am so sorry that You went through a triple bypass. I do hope You have not suffered to much on top of suffering from COPD. I do enjoy each individual responses.

I do exercise almost every day.

I use go for a walk but I have been sick for a year now.

I am not the type of person who feels sorry for myself .

I do have a strong personality but at the same time I do not trust people when I am going for walks. Be for I got really sick I was doing about 150 sit ups every day. But now I am struggling and I still am doing sit ups.

You see Eric I have been stricken down with sickness but when ever I have been better. I get do get up and slowly move on.

Yes ! I do read and listen to each person who has responded to me.

Eric after having a triple bypass that You have a strong will to maintain your health .

Thanks for sharing with me what a difference that exercise can do for a lung.

I do understand.

Be for I have registered on this site that I have been sick like really sick that the nurses wanted me to stay at the hospital.

If my own sister wanted me to stay with her.

I do respect my dear sister and the nurses but I do not want to add to them.

Hey! Eric I was just wondering do You think there is a device out there that can read about what level are we going through?

I do hope that You are healing well and not suffering from COPD.

I like your picture your picture helps me not to feel so alone . I live alone.

I am trying not to shut down and I am stronger then that but some time being a victim of COPD can be serious and slow me down. I will recover and stand up and not the other way around.

Thanks for taking for responding.

I do not feel so alone.

Take Care

Karelanne

kimmy59 profile image
kimmy59

Welcome to the forum.

You've been given great advice, just live your life.

Kim xxxx

Karelanne profile image
Karelanne in reply tokimmy59

Yes! This site has been like I do not feel alone.

I just wish that cigarettes have not been invented at all.

I do understand that each person has to decide themselves.

Life is to short struggling with illness does not help.

I am grate full for this site helps me to understand better about COPD stages.

I do not feel so alone each person has sent me emails has lifted up spirits

Be for I have registered for this site that I was feeling sick like really sick physically sick from COPD .From reading each person message I can learn and understand that COPD can not take over our lives.

Thanks for each person that has person has well come me to this special site.

Take care Kim

Karelanne

jimmyw123 profile image
jimmyw123

Hi Karelanne,

welcome to the site, i'm like you progressed through the stages quickly, although a little older [i'm an oap , on 4th stage ] but intend to keep on that stage for many years to come. :) try not to worry, it wont help [easier said than done ]

same advice as usual, eat little but often, eat healthy foods, take all prescribed meds, exercise best you can.

Some time ago i ate raw garlic [no friends :D ] but seriously i stopped taking this for some unknown reason, but after recent hospitalisation, started it again, ,,,, chop up a raw garlic into the size of a tablet, swallow it just like a tablet, you wont even taste it, i do this now 3-4-6 times a day,

garlic tablets from the chemist don't have as much alicen in them as pure raw garlic, Allicin is the ingredient in the garlic that has so many properties its hard to believe,a natural antibiotic, its so old a remedy for many things , even the egyptians used it [my mummy told me that :D ]

but when boiled its ruined.

take care my friend

love jimmy xxx :)

Karelanne profile image
Karelanne in reply tojimmyw123

Hello ! Jimmy

Thanks for responding to my email. I do hope You are well. Not suffering from COPD. I do understand why You are eating garlic raw. I can not eat garlic like that way. I do eat very healthy. My friends say that I have been eating better then they do. That I eat better than they do. I do not eat to much of sugar or salt. I use healthy salt and sugar. You know Jimmy I wish that no one would suffer from this never ending diseases nasty! I wish each person would live each of there lives healthy. I try to live my life normal and strong and try not let COPD take over.

Just recently I have been very ill and my sister said that I have been so sick for one year now . I try not to say any thing but my sweet sister says to me are .You have been suffering from being so sick. My sister is a special nurse and I know she has had experience with COPD. I do hope You are well and not suffering from COPD. Hey! Jimmy have You been sick? My friends see my face gone white and then I have to sit down. I am on this new powder and this does help. I do try to stay strong . I try not to worry like You have said and I worry because I am wondering how long will I be sick? Is there a device out there that can keep track of the levels of COPD? I hope You are well Jimmy.!

Kind Regards

Karelanne

Batbara profile image
Batbara

Hi karelanne,

Sounds like you're getting great advice here. I see that your asking about a device that will keep track of the level of your copd. The only thing I'm aware of is a pulmonary function test that you get from your pulmonary doctor. As for how long you will be sick, I think you are referring to the copd. Copd does not reverse. The goal is to try to slow the progression. Ask your doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation. It really helps and is extremely informative. Keep exercising, try to avoid any sick people, especially ones with colds or flu. Keep eating healthy, and try to stay positive.

It is a worrisome disease, but we have to do all we can not to let it control us. We have to keep focused on enjoying every day we have.

Someone once said " we can't change the past, and if we worry about the future, we will ruin the present ".

I try to keep that in my mind when I'm feeling low, and I find it helps readjust my thinking.

Sending healing wishes your way

Barbara

Karelanne profile image
Karelanne

Hello Barbara ! Yes I have been given sound advise. You know Barbara I am the type of a person that counts my blessings every day. Even when I have bad days I count my blessings. I need to Thank You for reading my email message and I do take each word to my heart. I have been grateful for this site the members are so intellectually stimulating. I can tell that I am not alone with suffering from COPD.

Barbara I will ask my doctor and see if she has pulmonary function test and I will look this on the internet Thanks. My friends that I have known for years that I eat better than they do. I do eat pretty healthy. I will be a positive, heart, soul, By the way! if I may say so You look so young. I do appreciate each word. Where ever I go I try to be a humble person and I try to be real. Hey! Barbara what kind of a juicer machine do You use? I eat kale and spinach like they were chips. I like what You have shared about we can not change the past and if we worry about our future, we will ruin the present.

I do understand this is some thing like I would say to my friends when they are down. Thanks Barbara,

I think I know what this message means . I think it means enjoy the present and do not waste time. I think you could ruin your future destiny. Wow! that message is so wisdom. Thanks Barbara so much.

I do appreciate each member and Your self for the experiences and the knowledge. Thanks for sending Your wishes to me. I do not feel so alone.

Kind Regards

Karelanne

Batbara profile image
Batbara

Your welcome karelanne, you are never alone. Please let us know how you are getting along.

Feel better, barbara

madametobacco49 profile image
madametobacco49

Katherine are you doing ok now--a year later???

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