Hi, What a mess I have found myself in. It was my 60th birthday last week and on Monday I am going to the respiratory department at Leeds General Infirmary.
I am breathless and confused and scared. I have waited 16 weeks for this appointment and I am dreading what I expect to hear. My pharmacist, and the nurse who did my breath test have both said it will be COPD. In retrospect I have had breathing issues for quite a few years. It is , of course, my own fault. I am an ex smoker, I quit cold turkey 20 months ago and I am overweight. I also have mental health issues from a massive breakdown 5 years ago so am on various anti depressant and anxiety tablets. I am just so worried about my appointment on Monday. I have had many chest xrays in the past and they are always OK, I have chicken pox scars on my lungs but they have been there for years. But more recently I have been having pain and weird sensations in my lungs. I get out of breath when going up stairs or walking up hills. My head is in such a whirl, I can't think straight, I think I need a slap! any advice would be very gratefully accepted. The massive diet change starts on Monday, it is being planned as we speak. Many Thanks, Diane
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Tansycat1
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Tansycat,there are many of us here who have Copd,it's no big deal really,dependent on our diagnosis we took all the appropriate advice with regard to quitting smoking,healthy diet and exercise of which the first two you have obviously already started and we plod along for the most part quite nicely and i am sure you will do the same.welcome to the site by the way.............best wishes Ski's and Scruffy cat xx
p.s slight slap on the way and don't worry all will be fine
Welcome Diane try not to get ahead of yourself of course that's very easy for me to say but most of us on here have respiratory problems and other things (there are some things I prefere to keep to myself) but if it helps I've PTSD from job I used to do..wait to you see the intelligent informed supportive replys you will get from the lovely and some quite ill people on here.Ger
Welcome to this brilliant forum. I am seen by two consultants in the Leeds Teaching Hospital group. And I can not recommend them and the hospitals too highly. They have been excellent after years in the wilderness. So please consider yourself lucky to be going. There are many here who manage their COPD very well. And maintain stability in lung function. I am great believer in knowing what we have, a diagnosis is a great help.
People will respond to you here with advice, knowledge,support and care.
P.S. skischool is always slapping me, it won’t hurt much. He’s a pussy cat really. But his pussycat is the one to look out for... Vicious? Doesn’t come near it.
Oh thank you all for replying. I think I expected to feel like a hyperactive 3 year old when I stopped smoking, the wheezing stopped after just a few days. I go to the gym a couple of times a week, and we were on holiday in May and we were doing 6 and 8 mile walks, all down hill, I couldn't have walked up the hill. We are going to Thailand for a month at the end of the year, we are just old hippies, and we will walk a lot there I hope in the Thai countryside, the place we are going this year is quite flat. I love that skischool said it was no big deal, this is what I hoped someone would say, Ger, I do get ahead of myself, I think it is part of my stress thing, and Kate, I am going to be under the care of Dr J Watson's team.
I think that with you good people behind me I will be able to face this new challenge head on, thank you for making me feel so welcome.
When I stopped smoking I joined an American smoking forum and I am certain that my quit was successful because of the sense of belonging.
Welcome to you Tansycat1, belated birthday greetings. You are amongst friends here and hopefully will enjoy being part of the HU forum.
Many have COPD and other lung conditions but all are willing to offer support and advice if required. Monday will be fine and please let us know how things go.
Hi Diane and welcome to our friendly site. You have already had some helpful advice from our lovely members. Will you be able to take someone with you on Monday? It can be helpful to make sure that you get all the information that you need and know that you don’t have to remember everything yourself. Be prepared for not getting a definitive answer on Monday; the consultant may need to arrange for more tests to be done. Great photo - if you are eating all those veggies you are doing better than me. Please let us know how you get on.
I think I am in love with you all already, this forum has a wonderful feel to it.
Pentreath, I will have my lovely Colin with me, I will give him a note book to take notes, my weird mental thing will probably kick in meaning my voice, while asking questions, will gradually increase in decibels until all I can do is squeak. My brother in law is a doctor scientist type of person and has dedicated his life to smoking related issues, he has written a book on smoking for the medics, is always on the radio and writes articles for the papers, so I am lucky that after the appointment I will be able to get his take on things too, although I suspect I will get far more info from all you lovely people here.
Hi and welcome Tansycat, sounds like you've already had a wealth of helpful replies and met some lovely people on here already...so I just wanted to say hi and good luck for Monday. Keep us posted how you get on 😊. xx
I cannot add to all the wonderful advice already given, but I wanted to say welcome and give you a big *hug*. It will be okay. Please do keep us updated.
Welcome to the site Diane, it is quite daunting the first trip to hospital specialist and I think most people worry a little. But I am sure you will cope, a diagnosis is very important so you get the correct treatment. You are aware of the need for changing your lifestyle as you have started on changes already. It takes time to loose weight, and clear your lungs from quitting ciggys, well done so far and it will help no matter what your diagnosis is. I have COPD but lead a reasonably active life, cant run or over exercise and have made many changes in how I do things, so there is always hope, good luck with the appointment and hope to speak to you again soon.
Good luck on Monday, tansycat, and a warm welcome to the site. You'll find comfort, friendship and good information here. We're all in it together! 💜🌺💜
Hi Tansycat, not a slap but a big hug from one who has a different condition to copd but knows what being confused, frightened and alone is all about. You have had some great advice and I can assure you that those wonderful people will continue to support you as you adjust to whatever ails you. Remember that seeing the consultant is not a judgement and receiving a sentence. It is the beginning of harnessing their expertise so that YOU can take control and manage your condition. Good luck xxx
Welcome to the forum. The main thing is that you have stopped smoking. Secondly you are seeing specialists who will help you. Thirdly there are loads of people on this site willing to support you and give you advice. The site itself has access to loads of useful and helpful info. Good luck.
Hi Tansycat1 I can't add anything better than the rest of the gang but wanted to say welcome too. The support we give to each other is priceless. Take care, Sheila xx
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xx 
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