New member

[jaxtra07]

Hi I am new to this. Not long been diagnosed with COPD and at the moment I am attending Pulmonary Rehab classes. The posts I have seen are very informative and it is quite comforting knowing I am not alone.

[sassy59]

Welcome jaxtra, nice to meet you and you are definitely not alone. You are amongst friends here. Xxxx

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi and welcome, that's the great thing about this site and the people on I,you never feel alone. There is always someone here to listen . We have some good laughs along the way,so please enjoy the site we are all in this together.xx😊

[PastMeBest]

Hi jaxtra07 and welcome to our friendly community. It is just like having another family on here so you definitely shouldn't feel like your are alone.

We have loads of knowledgeable people on here so if you have any questions feel free to ask.

I hope you enjoy your stay with us, learn much and make many new friends.

John

[2greys]

You have come to the right place, a wealth of information from the collective experience and knowledge can be gained here and understanding. Diagnosed with COPD just 6 months ago and on second week of Rehab myself.

I have found that the only people that know what you are going through are fellow sufferers, ordinary folk do not or do not want to understand how your feeling. Even my partner doesn't understand and I cannot really discuss things with her either. It seems almost like COPD is a taboo subject with most people which can make you feel alone, but in here it is totally different. Join in, ask questions or even vent your frustrations if necessary. Above all, don't let yourself get overwhelmed by it all, there is a lot you CAN do to help yourself and all is not lost especially with the support you will find here.

[susieanna in reply to 2greys]

Personally, im trying to slowly gather information, as i have known what its like not to be able to hardly breathe through Asthma in the past, and i want to help my partner as much as i can with this awful disease.

[sufferer2]

Hi Jaxtra,

Loads & loads & loads of super info on this site - written by people with the same health problems as yourself.

COPD is manageable and I'm sure your Pulm Rehab classes will be a big help to you.

Good luck & good health, LLAP from Eric. 👌🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋

[Watfordgirl]

Hello jaxtra and welcome to the happy band of heavy breathers!

No, you're certainly not alone here. I hope you're enjoying rehab, and you won't feel alone there either. The exercise will help you a lot, you'll learn lots about your condition and I bet the friendship will be great.

Let us know how it goes,

Sue x

[Jaynair]

Welcome to the site Jaxtra07 I hope you find that Pulmonary Rehab is as helpful for you as it has been for lots of others here. This is indeed a comforting place to be, amongst others who know what life is like with COPD and other breathing conditions, and support is so readily and generously given when needed. I look forward to reading more from you, take care x

[susieanna]

Are the pulmonary rehab classes helpful? I want to know as my partner has COPD and im hoping that attending such classes will help. xx

[2greys]

Hi Susieanna,

Are the pulmonary rehab classes helpful?

Yes they most certainly are, in fact I would go as far as saying essential.

You will learn so much about managing COPD. You will be able to "sit in" the sessions, but not take part in the exercises. The exercises are designed to maximize the efficiency of breathing, and making the most out of what is left working in the lungs. You will be taught how to breathe. I know it sounds silly, learning to do something you've always done since the first smack on your arse, but there are different, specific, ways to breathe where COPD is involved. You will learn:

How to recover from breathlessness episodes.

You will be taught how to relax.

The importance of a healthy diet.

Active breathing, how to expel the mucus from the lungs.

What all the meds do and what they are for.

Learn how to use the different types of inhalers properly to get the max doses deep down into the lungs.

How to recognise a flare-up and what to do.

I have only done three of the sessions so far, so the above is very incomplete, much more to learn yet.

If for any reason you cannot get a place on Rehab then visit Dr. Noah Greenspan's site and click on "WEBINARS" where you will find loads of videos both instructional and Q&A's. It is an American site but quite a lot of it is taught in Rehab classes in the UK. Many hours worth of education in Lung Disease most of it does deal with COPD though.

pulmonarywellness.com/

[Pam1952]

Hello and welcome. I'm sure that you'll gain a lot of benefit from the community........I certainly do. Lots of lovely people on here who can give you great advice and support.

Good luck to you, and hope to hear more from you soon.

Take care. Pam XXX

[Drirvine1]

Me too, I've been diagnozed with severe emphasema (early September and await a Consultant appointment) I was shocked with the diagnosis as I haven't suffered from any recurrent chest infections and I stopped smoking 20 years ago at age 48. I was being investigated for weight loss. After being successfully surgically cured of cancer I remained over 20 years 2 - 2.5 stone down on normal weight. I dropped to 6.7 in the summer and have crawled up to 6.13! Due to parts altered or removed I have suffered malabsorption, reflux and shortness of breath over the 20 years. I am an active person and have had spurts of gym etc which did improve my breathing. (too bored to keep it up!) My GP has put me on a lifestyle gym membership (which I aim to start after my hols next week) she has also give me salahol/sabutomol inhalers, I don't feel any benefit from them but will continue as apparently it helps to slow the disease. Whilst I appreciate all ways round that I'm extremely blessed with 2 cures from cancer (I refuse to give it a big c) and even more blessed I haven't suffered as many of you have, I'm determined to continue as I am and live my life as usual. I will not google worst case scenarios, I don't want to know what can't be done, only what can be done! So hopefully my monologue hasn't bored you all, any positive advice on helping me to stay as I am and stop progress of this disease (and put weight on) would be gratefully appreciated. I'm following breathing exercises I found on the lung foundation site. All & any positive advice will be truly appreciated whilst I await a Consultant appointment & hopefully also the help of a specialist nurse. Kind regards to all. Cathy

[Dedalus]

Hello and welcome jaxtra