Copd and smoking

[Jeanjt]

We'll have up smoking nearly 6 weeks ago and still finding myself very breathless not impressed

[Nottobad]

Hi well done in stopping smoking. As stopping smoking dose slow down the progression of COPD you have done the right thing. Maybe mention to your GP about your breathlessness . You will still be breathless but not as bad as if you were still smoking see if you need your inhalers changed. Take care x

[Linda1853]

I am sorry that you are still breathless, unfortunately the damage is done and breathlessness is the worst part. 6 weeks is still a very short time though. Go back to your GP and see what he suggests, please don't go back to smoking......Well done for giving up too. Hope you feel better soon x

[y_not]

Ah, I stopped four and a half years ago and I'm still breathless ... given that I smoked for forty years I guess I'll have to wait another forty to see if it gets better.

Sadly, COPD is not something that "gets better" its just something we can slow down "getting worse" - if you were to continue you would, very likely, be on oxygen quite soon, bedridden a while later, unable to speak, move or think soon after that.

Stopping was/is brilliant but sadly to have avoided the breathlessness we (me included) should have stopped years back or, better still, have never have started.

Well done, keep at it and best wishes (talk to your GP about Pulmonary Rehab - it won't stop you being breathless but will give you a lot of tips on how to cope with it and make it manageable.)

[diesel12]

Well done and keep it up. It takes a while and often gets worse before it gets better, You'll notice the morning cough disappears but like everyone says, the damage is done but stopping will help slow down the copd so just hang in there

[Jeanjt]

Thankyou everyone but I know you're right should of stopped long ago but was easier said than done x I have no intention of starting again may still see doc and because I am sure one of my inhalers not helping

[y_not in reply to Jeanjt]

A good few here say that their GP is not that good - sometimes we have to be a little "insistent" in order to get the best treatment - hope you don't have that problem but thought I'd mention it.

[Polly-PV in reply to Jeanjt]

Hi Jean, I was diagnosed with moderate COPD back in Jan this year after a 40 year smoking habit. I haven't smoked for just over a year now & feel a whole load better for it. When I was diagnosed, in addition to my Seratide & Ventolin, I was prescribed a Spiriva inhaler for the COPD which apparently works differently to the other 2 so it really is worth getting checked out by your GP. Much love, Poll X

[katieoxo60]

Keep up the no smoking , well done and it will slow the progression of your COPD. It is possible to improve your breathing with rehab but the waiting list is long. Try walking each day then up the distance after a week and so on, it helps in a mild way to improve the lung function and make breathing a little easier after the exercise. That is of cause if you are able to walk. Warm drinks also help the breathing, and they tell me rum & black helps too

[LadyoRockee in reply to katieoxo60]

@katieoxo60, what is rum and black?

Thank you,

~Bonita~

[katieoxo60 in reply to LadyoRockee]

An alcoholic drink, a shot of dark rum with blackcurrant juice more juice than rum. No good if your a none drinker. Not sure if Blackcurrant juice on its own might work as I have never tried it myself, but its good for colds so might work . Worth a try lots of vitamin C in it anyway. Honey is another good one so best wishes Bonita at finding something that works for you xx

[Raajparth]

I think rum is good in anxiety and breathlessness