This thing I have

[hope132]

This thing I have called COPD which doesn't really even bother me is destroying my life.i have to live every aspect of my life around those 4 letters and move away from the ocean and friends because of those four letters and I hate it !!!!

[hypercat54]

No you don't as you are mild. You still have a long and active life as all at our stage do. It's your perception of of it which out all proportion to the disease itself. Your copd shouldn't be ruling your life but you ruling it instead.

I don't expect you to believe me unless you can change your mindset.

[K-Kilcoyne]

I moved closer to the water and it's improved my life.

Felt a bit like you feel right now when I was diagnosed but through our NHS services and in particular this website I came to realise that COPD is like most other diseases.

You adjust your lifestyle, simple as that.

Doing that you will continue to live if not happily, content.

We all have things that drive to distraction, it's the way that you deal with them.

For example, you will live a more healthier life, being careful of your old habits.

I'm mild at the moment but know what expect in the future.

I'll adjust as necessary and continue my life as well as I can and my life at the moment is no different apart from the medication and care about going into polluted areas which of course is one of the reasons I now live near the sea.

Don't let it take over your life, use it to improve it.

Sorry about going on about it but a good mind set is invaluable while we continue our lives.

[frose]

Why?????

[Scottish65lass]

Why do you need to move away from sea!

To me it’s a much cleaner air, more relaxing healthier place to live 💖

[Spacecat1 in reply to Scottish65lass]

Worth thinking f staying by the sea fresher air. I love our breaks to the coast I always feel that I can cope and keep my copd in check. We would move to the coast but for personal reasons I wont move.

[garshe]

You are only Mild. You are being ridiculous. I was diagnosed Severe 10yrs ago and have lead a normal life and still do. I do not let my COPD rule my life . You have to remember there are others far worse off who never complain.. Be grateful for what you can do not what you cant.

[Hacienda]

Absolutely Agree with all your replies, I control mine, it does not get in my way of Living a Good Life, I'm Severe stage 4.(6 Years). Get to understand it and your Body, it does not have to be your Enemy, only if you let it. Stay calm & Positive Hun. Best wishes. C. XXX

[garshe in reply to Hacienda]

Totally agree. It's what you can do not what you cant xSheila.

[gingermusic]

I do not understand why you have to move away I would have thought that being by the ocean is the best place for cleaner fresher air. You really have to change how you think about it. If you don't smoke eat as healthily as you can and exercise you will live to a good age. I have had COPD now for 30 years and believe me it does not rule my life, so come on buck up and start living the rest of your life. You can do it

[BrianTaylor]

Your username is hope, yet you appear to have lost it! Nobody says that it is easy to make the changes needed to move on with your life but you can do it. We have all been there, all struggled at times, but you can’t give up. Keep fighting. Best of luck with it all,

[wheezyof]

I have two lung conditions : my fev is 30%.

Yes, I have made some changes. However my life is not over.

I gave up my physically demanding job with children (Love them but they are little germ machines and my immune system is not good)

I have given up mountain walking, exploring the view from the top of crumbling old castles and weekend hiking.

Yet, I still garden (I accept help with the heavy stuff and use no dig methods), I feed and watch birds, I read, knit, do cryptic crosswords, play scrabble, laugh with my husband and my friends.

I joined a Breathe Easy, British Lung Foundation Support Group. I have Learned so much through the group. We swap hints and tips on coping with lung disease. We have speakers each month who talk about aspects of health, safety and well being. A friendly fitness instructor comes to alternate meetings to teach us exercises we can manage, that strengthen our bodies. We have outings together and at the end of November a plate party.

As I said I've made changes. I do less of the active things in my life but now I do more of the gentle things.

So take a look at your life. Think of the things you can do.

[ross-35_]

Rather than let COPD control my life , I was totally on Oxygen, could hardly walk...I went to Pulmonary Rehab to strengthen what muscles I had, I was really weak and breathless, but my attitude was right!! Because of the attitude I had it was suggested I could have a lung transplant...my consultant put m e forward ...I had all the tests, I needed a double lung transplant, and I am sure because I was not feeling sorry for myself, was prepared for all the tests, and once again because of my attitude, I was put on the list at 65!! I had double transplant, I am now free of oxygen life and COPD. There are many people on here who are probably a lot worse than you, so do something about it, see what you CAN do and fight for a better attitude it will help you lots!! I am not sure whether to send this or not, but I just felt i had to share this, get your fight back don't give in and enjoy what you can still do.

[Whitechinchilla in reply to ross-35_]

Inspiring. Thank you. 🙂

[hypercat54]

At the mild stage copd affects your life very little. I have been mild since diagnosis 11 years ago and my doctor told me something else would get me long before such as old age!

I live by the seaside and I believe that this helps .

[hope132 in reply to hypercat54]

Thanks I don't even know what my numbers are anymore.i read something different every other article.wanted to go to pulmonary Dr 150 bucks to shake his hand .year and half ago mid to upper 60s some articles say this is mild some say moderate.eay well exercise swim run nothing bothers me .thinking I'm in 70s now after year and a half of not smoking.just shouldn't even worry about it.if I can run swim work and nothing bothers me I guess I'm mild.plan to stay mild till I die that's the plan just can't find a place to live to control own environment.thanks for telling me 11 years still mild I can't tell u how much that helps me when I read that !!!!?

[hypercat54 in reply to hope132]

Good I am glad I helped a little. Oh and I use air freshioners and other cleaning stuff in aerosol form as they don't cause me any problems! It's only if they affect your breathing (ie cause exerbations) or you are at a late stage then you need to be cautious. x

[hope132 in reply to hypercat54]

Sorry airfreshners drive me crazy I hated them when I was young.for some reason they started hurting my mouth it starts to tingle and there is pain.i also feel sick.they do have toxic chemicals in them I have looked into it at nauseum i.they are not good for you or your lungs.the CDC doesn't even allow them in there buildings I have read.they don't even list the toxins in them they are not required I read cause it's not a food.they leave them out for a reason and that reason is they are bad for you.millions of years of evolution for all species including humans has made it so the only good thing for lungs to breath in is clean air any chemical man made is bad

[hypercat54 in reply to hope132]

Everything has toxic elements as they are everywhere not just air freshioners, but if you have a thing about them then fair enough x

[hope132 in reply to hypercat54]

You are right the world is full of toxic elements they call them HUMANS!!!!

[Yatzy]

You’ve just lost your dad, hope. Give yourself time to recover before you worry about other things too much.

💕 Big hug and love to you. Take care xx

[lKeith]

hope132

Hi, why have you had to move away from the ocean? surely lung disease is better by the sea and the air is less polluted. Please tell.

IKeith

[hope132 in reply to lKeith]

My mom is helpless she lives in West palm the beach is far away.i just told her I will put in for a transfer.i live with lunatics I can't get full time and even if I could it's to expensive for me.i can't control my environment I don't want to breath anything but fresh air.no airfreshners nothingfinding a place that I have to live with other people and doing this is next to impossible

[Spacecat1]

You do learn to live with it. Have you joined rehab yet it helps you are eith 0ther people in the same boat so to speak. I wouldn't go to classes at first I have anxiety and panic attacks and with copd felt like it was to much. Then the nurse at doctors surgery told me about FAB. Which I started 2 weeks ago. I made hubby come with me he had to sit in corridor. With a lovely lady who plied him with coffee for 2 hours. The course helps you to understand what's happening to you with your copd and breathing and they showed us different exercises to help you with anxiety. By second week I felt confident enough to be able to walk into the room they are small classes 10 people. At most my breathing is starting to improve my anxiety attacks are flowing it does take with time and support from family and friends I know I cant get rid of copd unless they decide I'm a good enough for surgery. Was going to be this year but kept having chest infections. But now feeling more positive about it. Talk to people around. FAB maybe called something else. Ask at Doctors respertory nurse should be able to help. It's taken me time to get there but not going to let copd take over my life I am only 59 so want to be around to watch my niece and nephew grow. Go to groups they suggest you meet people in the same boat. Good luck