new diagonisis

[chrisleee]

Hi I am 50 year old 20 a day smoker. Went to my doctors last night and she examined me and advised I have early onset of COPD.

Iam dealing with a whole raft of emotions, fear, guilt and the unknown.

Looking for advice what to expect next

thanks

[Katinka46]

Hello Chris

You will find very many fellow sufferers on here, with similar history. Coming to terms with the diagnosis is very hard, but you will. This is a very supportive, well-informed group. Welcome.

K

[chrisleee in reply to Katinka46]

thanks Im just so worried about my future

[Katinka46 in reply to chrisleee]

People on here say that if you stop,smoking, exercise gently, eat well, avoid infections, then you will have a very good chance of living a long time. Sorry if that all sounds a bit kind of distanced. I do not have COPD, so I am going on what others here say. The majority do have COPD and are very positive and hopeful.

K

[hypercat54]

Hi nice to meet you and welcome to the site. Did the doctor do a spirometry test? This is usually the way copd is diagnosed. If not then one needs to be done.

If you do have copd then like the doctor said it is only in the early stages and whilst we all know how devastating a diagnosis like this is you will learn to cope with it. In mild copd there are very few symptoms but it is essential you pack in the ciggies (I know how difficult this can be). There is a very good quit smoking site on here who helped me to stop. You also need to have plenty of exercise and eat healthily. By doing this you are giving yourself the best chance for your copd to remain stable or not progress much for many years. There are no guarantees of course but generally I would be very surprised if you ever reached the more severe stages.

I was diagnosed mild 10 years ago and am still mild despite only packing in the ciggies - 30 a day like you last year. I have been lucky though and others could have accelerated the disease. My doctor told me something else ie old age would get me before the copd did, Most people these days die with copd rather than from it.

Meanwhile have a look round the site as there is a lot of useful information and read through other posts. We are the ones who live with lung disease and we all help and support each other. x

[chrisleee in reply to hypercat54]

Thanks

Yes makes me feel slightly better thnink im just coming to terms with it all

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Welcome Chris,we have all had those feelings you will come to terms as others have said. We are one big happy and very supportive family here so you are in great company.

😊 Bernadette xx

[Hidden]

Apart from help and info from the wonderful members of this group, This link could also put your mind at rest. blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

[skischool]

Chrislee,all the advice you have received is top notch stuff and like you i had a mild diagnosis at about the same age.Unfortunately although my diet and exercise regime where fine and i lived a fit and healthy life i didn't stop smoking and i now have very severe Emphysema,so please quit the smoking as your no 1 priority as it is the major cause of progression of what is a very manageable disease.

wishing you best wishes and a long life Ski's and Scruffy.

[peege]

Do yourself and your loved ones a massive favour and quit the cigs. That and as others say, healthy diet, healthy weight plenty of exercise (walking is free although with the cash you save on cigs you could join exercise classes)!

I don't have copd either though from being in this forum have learnt a lot, so many lung diseases - you are mild, brilliant, an early warning.

The idea in getting fit, well & healthy is to combat getting colds leading to chest infections & worse which cause irreversabke lung damage.

Please do quit won't you as the alternative future isn't nice. Good luck. P

[Badbessie]

I think all of us have a period of panic/anxiety post diagnosis. My first advice is to keep away from Dr Google in my opinion it only makes the situation worse! I joined a number of " support" groups when I was first diagnosed but this one is the only one I have stayed with basically because of the sound reassuring advice given. There is a limited amount that medications can but there is so much you can do to help yourself. As you are mild the best thing you can do to help the situation is give up smoking. Not easy I was a very heavy smoker myself. Use all the help you can get to do this. Next if you are over or under weight do something about it as this can also affect your lungs. Lastly exercise exercise exercise! Start slowly and gradually build up. Remember there is not such thing as a daft question so ask away.

[gingermusic]

Hi Chris, best piece of advice I can give you is that you stop smoking first and foremost. Then make sure you get as much exercise as possible even if its only a good daily walk. keep away from smokers and unwell people and eat a balanced diet and you can remain quite stable.

[Alfiebax2]

Well my friend there is hope .First stop smoking , adopt a healthy lifestyle , eat well and try to keep active will all help you have a long life .I've had COPD for 15 years+ imnow almost 71 years old ,still going strong and I'm having a lung operation next Monday.So as long as you try to do these things and adopt a positive mental attitude you will be fine . Wish you all the best .

Regards Babs xx

[Croydonia in reply to Alfiebax2]

Hi Babs, I’m so glad that the date for your op has at last arrived, hope all goes well for you and you have good results from it. Let us know how you get on.

[Alfiebax2 in reply to Croydonia]

Thank you I'm hoping all Willbe well and will keep everyone updated .Thanks for your thoughts and good wishes.Take care

Love Babs 💖💖💖xxxx

[NSM245]

In addition to all the good advice you've had from others, I'd add to them the suggestion that you ask your doctor if there's a Pulmonary Rehab programme available in your area - and if there is, ask that you be allocated a place on it. You will learn, on such a course, lots of useful exercises and strategies for coping. Also, as one other poster asked, can you tell us if you had a spirometry test? Basically, it measures your lung function, and is a commonly used diagnostic test for COPD.

Eat healthy, take exercise, avoid folks with colds and flu, get a decent amount of sleep and above all - kick the cigarettes. As for the fear, guilt and the unknown - that's all normal when you hear such a diagnosis; the 'unknown' can be tackled by finding out as much as you can about the illness - the 'fear' will settle down, it may take a few weeks but it will pass as you get more used to it all, and as you start implementing healthy habits, you will find that you will gradually feel more positive and empowered to cope. Finally - "guilt" - you are guilty of nothing here - put thoughts like "this is my fault, all those cigarettes" right out of your head, they are not helpful - stop smoking, and replace the guilt with the feeling of "I can deal with this". You can, y'know.

[Hidden in reply to NSM245]

And if you don't already have one, make sure you have an annual flu jab, and possibly a pneumonia jab (once only)

[K-Kilcoyne]

Thought everything your thinking when I was diagnosed with COPD, found this site, smashing, most questions answered without asking cos we've all gone through it...Small changes in lifestyle and apart from medication life will continue. Try not panic just read the stories on here and you will ok.

More or less it's all here.

Do not Google.

Hope you find your way

Lots of love and care coming your way

[Volvo1951]

Stop smoking now with luck you will not suffer as I have done. I smoked nearly 80 a day and I started off nearly ok but then it gets you, the chest tightening the chest infections all the time struggling to get air into your lungs not being able to walk more than 5 steps without a rest looking up at stair cases dreading having to walk up them, not being able to sit amongst 💐. The list is endless Trust me STOP

[Spacecat1]

Hi. Chrisleee.

Welcome. More the likely GP will send you for chest x ray to confirm and you will meet your consultant who will advise you to give up the fags. There is a group on this forum who wil help you through giving up the fags. It will be hard to start of with. You do feel guilt angry with yourself asking why me. I was diagnosed 2008 I was mild then. 10 years on and 2017 was the first time I was taken to hospital and i know it was my fault I started to sneak a few cigarettes and regret it. Consultant has been brilliant . We are here if you want to shout rant scream we are all in the same boat but also we are here to talk to. It dosent have to be about your copd if you just to need to get things off your chest. Welcome to your new helpful friendly friends

[Trajam17]

Hi and welcome. I had similar story but without spirometer test, really threw me as I lost mum and dad to this disease so I knew how it goes!

Altered travel insurance to cover it, sick notes for work etc. Six months later I’m offered spirometer test to be told it’s probably Asmtha! I’m really worried all documents state copd so please insist on proper diognosis!

[Hidden]

You are one of the fortunate ones being diagnosed early on. Now it’s really up to you! Clearly stopping smoking is first and foremost. Nothing else you do at this moment will be more productive. There are those whose copd progresses slower than others. There are some who for some reason progress quickly. I’m not trying to panic you. All the advice given has been correct. I just know what the nicotine addiction does. If everyone tells you this disease moves slow you may not feel the the urgency to stop smoking. A glacier appears to be moving quite slowly but when it collides the damage is extensive no matter how long it takes. You need to concentrate on the stopping smoking Get and use all the help you can gather. That is the number one way to slow the progression of this non reversible lung disease.

[lKeith]

chrisleee

Hi, read your post. Stop the smoking straight away, cutting down is not good enough. Most of us on here have had the same diagnosis, you are luckier than most in that your diagnosis shows "Early onset of COPD" you have some time to put some of it right or not worsen it with smoking. Lungs are precious and don't repair themselves, treatments are out there but you need to talk this all thro' with Your GP.

I didn't listen to the warnings or signs and now I am unable to do much at all without getting shortage of breath or lack of energy and always feel tired. You don;t want that for yourself it is very frustrating. You must start doing something about it NOW. Harsh info but to the point.

Ikeith

[Chicagorda]

Hi, I know how you are feeling having been diagnosed with COPD in August and now waiting for spirometer testing. On steroid inhalers which seem to help but very depressing to be constantly aware of lungs limitations. There are some very good short exercise programmes on utube for pulmonary rehab. I have found they really help my breathing and are a quick substitute until you get recommended a local facility. One other thought for all you smokers out there, I quit 20 years ago using the paul McKenna book and cd. Had tried to give up many times but this worked. Stay positive. Every day is a gift.