Copd. My husband has copd he is in hospital at the moment can anyone tell me what thay mean by the different stages as this is the first t

[T1939]

My

[Scud]

COPD is a progressive illness which there is no cure it gradually gets worse and seems very daunting to live with at first, but there is a lot of help out there to help you cope you have come to the right place by asking on here you will get a lot of positive feed back. I am in the latter stages and I am on oxygen 24/7 but I still get out and about and am enjoying life you learn to adjust to it also there are things like pulmonary rehab groups which I found very helpful you meet with people with the same condition who help you adjust . I hope this has helped you a little and your husband is soon home with you, it important to stay positive and don't be afraid to ask for help

Good luck

Love Sue

[Hidden]

T1939

The stages of COPD are determined by the results of a spirometry test which he will probably have in the hospital. Your husband's doctor should inform you of which stage he is in. I am graded as severe but I use oxygen only on an as needed basis. I rarely need it these days. I was first diagnosed as severe nine years ago.

[Sloangirl in reply to Hidden]

I was diagnosed as severe, and am on 3 ltrs of oxygen 24/7, and have been for 2 years. How did you 'lose' the oxygen? How did you get better? They made me believe I'd never get better, I'd only get worse. I would love to be able to be normal again and get off the oxygen. I feel like a dog on a leash! Your post is very encouraging. Please share your secret!

[Hidden in reply to Sloangirl]

Callingsusan, read the posts about cannabis oil. There are two of us on this forum who use it and both of us have benefitted from it though in my case, being severe I wouldn't say I feel 'normal' but I'm a lot better than I was 7 months ago.

[Sloangirl in reply to Hidden]

I've been researching it after reading Swerve's posts. I'm in the states, and although medical marijuana is legal here, getting it is next to impossible because COPD isn't on their approved lists. Also, you have to apply for a user's permit...whether you get it or not, and are pretty much blacklisted for driving violations, etc. doctors are very reluctant to prescribe it, because they're being monitored. It just recently became legal, and the state is making it incredibly difficult to obtain. (I wonder why they bothered). I do have family in Colorado where it's legal to buy. I'm thinking of going there for a visit. How long did it take for you to feel improvement? I'm also looking at other alternatives, since travel will be so difficult--I just don't want to end up in jail.

[Hidden in reply to Sloangirl]

Callingsusan I am in Australia so have limited knowledge about the difficulty of accessing cannabis oil legally in America.

[Hidden in reply to Sloangirl]

Hi Callingsusan: I am in Michigan and just applied for a med card so I can purchase the cannabis oil from a local dispensary. I also will be allowed to grow and have in possession at home, 12 plants, kept in a locked room. Was told by Dr that I went to in order to apply, that I should also transport it in trunk of my car. Had to go to a "Special" doctor to get certified, (as my Primary care doctor acted like he wanted no part in it), and then apply which was $120, then you send the info to the state and that is another $60. Should be getting the card soon. takes up to 4 weeks I was told.

COPD is not currently on Michigan's list of approved medical conditions to obtain cannabis, but luckily (?) I have another condition which is stable and gives me no problems, that I used to apply for the med card.

[Sloangirl in reply to Hidden]

How lucky you are to live in a legal state. Illinois legalized medical marijuana, but COPD is not on the list, and doctors here won't prescribe it anyway. According to one of my docs....it's because of all the paperwork and reporting they have to do. Not only that, since it's relatively new, they've put so many restrictions on it, it's next to impossible to get it. So. Consider yourself very lucky that you can grow plants!! Just do the research, and looks like your husband will benefit. There are 4 stages of COPD. Stage I is less severe. It's a strange disease, and I frankly don't think they should put numbers on it. I'm severe with 33% of my lung power.

How nice of you to write. Good luck to you and your husband. Go Michigan!

[Hidden in reply to Sloangirl]

I'm not the one with the husband in the hospital, dear, but that is OK. Hard to keep track of these postings for me, too......

But I will post after I get my Medical card and the cannabis oil so others will know what it does for me.

BTW...I can't find SWERVES post? He was going to report back after he had test the following Friday at doctors and i can't find any more posts from him?

Do you know where they are or how to find it? I'm not good at figuring out some of these sites.

Thank you.

[Sloangirl in reply to Hidden]

Oh. A couple of more things. Attitude has a lot to do with the progression of the disease. And....exercise! Make sure he stays in shape! Exercise is key!!

[punkyb in reply to Hidden]

oh, I see..ha I just needed to read ahead a bit

[punkyb in reply to Hidden]

I too would like to know how you are improving. I have 2 ltrs oxygen upon exertion and y level of tolerance changes with the weather. Lately I have just been tired and not wanting to do anything.

[guytane]

I was diagnose mild 4 years ago actulay this year diagnosed 5 per cent better results think positive don't gv up hope just gv up smoking

[Hidden]

I think is is what you might be looking for is ( mild severe and very severe ) or as my nure in doctors say stage 1 -2 -3 -4 The worst part of the day which I find is when I get up in the morning and speaking to a few others they are the same just make sure he takes all his meds every day and if he smokes try and get him to stop But more important thing is just take each day as it comes good luck

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Right. The worst is when i first wake up in the morning, too. Then it takes a few hours for the meds to kick in. I do not do much or make many plans or appointments during before noon.

[lem50]

I'm 55 I was diagnosed 10 year's ago was warned 22 years ago about the sound of my lungs I still smoke .I still work up to 12 hours a day most days it's like weight on my chest walking I'm shortness of breath. Forget running lifting for two minutes I'm short of breath. I try not to dwell on it..I take everyday as a plus self inflicted illness tje cold and humidity are the worse days I cough alot...yes if quit smoking I would slow this down.i don't get attacks wake up and gasp for air scary..but when I get my breath back I have a coffee and a cigarette and start my day..

[Hidden in reply to lem50]

PLEASE PLEASE QUIT SMOKING....I AM 68 AND JUST QUIT RECENTLY USING CHANTIX, BUT I WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I COULD NOT BREATHE. IT IS THE SCARIEST THING IN THE WORLD. AFTER I COME BACK FROM HOSPITAL, I AM ON OXYGEN BUT USUALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF OF IT LATER. i HOPE I CAN THIS TIME, TOO. THERE IS GOING TO BE THAT TIME WHEN I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AND WILL HAVE TO BE ON OXYGEN 24/7 THE REST OF MY LIFE.

IF I KNEW YEARS BACK, HOW TRULY BAD I WAS GOING TO FEEL NOW, I WOULD HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE I QUIT THE

CIGARETTES. THERE IS A LOT YOU DONT THINK ABOUT THAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU WITH SEVERE COPD. TO NAME A FEW:

1. You will not be able to travel where and when you want.

2. You will not have as many friends anymore.

3. You will be unable to do the smallest of tasks like taking the trash out.

4. You will have to exercise way more to compensate for your body not moving around like you use to...or you will literally die.

5. Your house will become cluttered and messy.

6. You will lose many hours each day just in the time it takes to take and do meds and treatments.

7. You will have to start getting ready for any place you go, at least an extra hour earlier.

8. You will not be able to multi-task anything!

9. Your appearance will change for the worst.

10. You will no longer care if you look great when you leave the house as long as you can breathe comfortably.

11. You will have to learn to do EVERY single thing way slower.

12. You will have anxiety and panic attacks.

13. The past luxury of showering will become a frightening chore, instead.

14. Washing your hair in the sink will not be a pleasurable experience.

15. You will not know how you are going to feel from day to day until you wake.

16.You will have to constantly be on the watch for dangers such as campfires, smoke-filled rooms, nearby wildfires, neighbors who heat with wood and smoke up your neighborhood.

17. You'll need to plan for backup energy or oxygen for power outages.

18. Your travel inside your home will be limited to a 50-ft tubing to your concentrator.

19. You may have to leave your house when cleaning your oven.

20. You will have to get use to people staring at you in public.

21. You will want to sit and rest in public but find no place to sit.

22. Standing in lines to checkout can be a bit torturous at times.

23. You may need to move to a milder area because you will not be able to clear snow off your car or shovel or broom a path to it.

24. Your electric bill will be $100 (70.67 British pound) more per month (which insurance doesn't cover) because of the medical appliances you have to use.

I AM SURE I COULD LIST MANY MANY MORE. IF I LEFT OUT ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THE PATIENTS WITH MILD COPD MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT THE ANGUISH OF LIVING (?) WITH SEVERE COPD AND PERHAPS GIVE UP THE SMOKING EARLIER IN LIFE.

And, if you live by yourself with any disabling disease, it will make it seem all that much worse in getting through each and every day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FIRST THING TO DO IS GET OFF CAFFEINE BECAUSE CIGS AND CAFFEINE GO HAND IN HAND YOU KNOW....IN FACT, THEY BOTH SERVE THE SAME PLEASURE CENTER IN THE BRAIN.

I OCCASIONALLY WILL HAVE A NICE CUP OF GOOD COFFEE BUT AM AFRAID OF CRAVING A CIGARETTE DRINKING IT FREQUENTLY.

THERE IS A WAY TO GO COLD TURKEY WITH HARDLY ANY WITHDRAWALS: YOU MUST GO OFF CAFFEINE, RED MEAT, SUGAR AND ALCOHOL FOR 5 DAYS BEFORE YOU GO COLD TURKEY ON THE NICOTINE. (These things work on the brain the same as nicotine does). IT WORKS. BUT BE CAREFUL IN INTRODUCING THOSE THINGS BACK INTO YOUR LIFE TOO QUICKLY.

[lem50]

Hello from USA rhode island

[skinnylizzy59]

Hi T1939, I have COPD Bronchiecstasis, diagnosed as severe. I don't use oxygen just take all my medications. I manage to go to aqua aerobics and a Wellbeing, exercise class. I have a lady clean for two hours once a fortnight and help in the garden (my husband mows the lawns) but I do all the other household tasks and cooking and most of the shopping, I also play with my 4 year old twin granddaughters. I belong to (and am on the committee of) 4 organisations, I sew, knit and read, so life is not so bad. Be positive and try to enjoy life as much as possible. Hope your husband progresses well. Take care, love Lizzy x

[Abbo1621]

Diagnosed severe three and half years ago the trick is keep as active aspos take meds don't panic I have just returned from two weeks in Hong Kong at one attraction there were over 1000 steps I walked them all at my speed the rest off the group just waited for me

[frank65]

you learn to live with COPD but i do not let rule me . i live my life just the same now as i did before i had COPD . i mean i am 71 now so i am not going to climb everest or go rock climbing or run a marathon but other than that i live my life i am not on oxygen or anything like that i have had it for about twenty years but i get on with life .

[Catnip]

Greetings. The stages are:

Stage 1 -- Mild

Stage 2 - Moderate

Stage 3 - Severe

Stage 4 - Very severe

Stage 5 - "end stage" -- but that doesn't' mean "dead".

I'm now classified as "Very Severe"; but my first diagnosis of emphysema was waaaay back in 1988. It is a progressive disease so just tell your man to get his act together, exercise regularly (etc., etc) because, as most people say, we may have Emphysema (or COPD) -- but we live with it; we don't let it kill us.

Catnip

[punkyb in reply to Catnip]

Thank you for sharing

[Titchy52]

Ah catnip sounds like I'm moderate ,but having trouble in work Im a nursery nurse and since Xmas I've caught one cold after anotha also carrying the baby's upstairs to change is leaving me very breathless I'm thinking of finishing and applying for help is there much help out there does anyone know please.

[Hidden]

The GOLD standard which is now in world wide use has just four stages of COPD. Mild, Moderate, Severe and Very Severe. Very Severe is 'end stage' but this doesn't mean we are on deaths door and doctors now rarely use the term 'end stage'. People with Very Severe can live for many years while managing their disease.