Retired finish carpenter. Smoked heavy for 40 years. Now as I quit smoking 20 yrs ago u now have Sever COPD and Sever Azma

[Durcot]

Now trying to cope with my illness. Using Spiriva every morning w/ Albuteral for emergency. Had an aspiration event 2 weeks ago and now the doctor has me on Symbicort also. Hope to feel better, I still have work to do around the farm now. But work has slowed because of my health.

Tough being the man of the house now.

[sassy59]

Hello Durcot, I hope you’re getting all the help you need and are being well cared for by the medical profession.

Your life seems like hard work and a struggle but I hope things improve for you soon.

Take care xxxxx

[Durcot in reply to sassy59]

Thank you and God Bless

[Kittykat2 in reply to Durcot]

Welcome .

Im sure you will get loads of help on here if you need it.

Lots of chat and interesting stuff to read.

Fun too with these great people .

Hope things improve for you soon💕x

[Durcot in reply to Kittykat2]

Thank you so much

[madametobacco49]

I hear ya Durcot--I quit after 53 years-and 4 months later things started going downhill-Im on 02 most of the time-I have emphysema and heart issues.So you arent alone in being disheartened. I think there comes a point--when a person is just not going to walk away scot free. I am telling my daughters get off of them now and you might have a chance to heal. Isnt hindsight great?What matters now is getting the word out there--because all the bad stuff really is true,and I wouldnt wish this on anyone........ Wishing you well. MmeT

[HungryHufflepuff]

Hello and welcome. What kind of farm do you have? 🐄 🐑 🐖 🌾 I'm sure it must be hard work. I hope things start to improve for you soon.

[Durcot]

Sheep farm along with the chickens, a few goats and a pig . Mainly sheep. I'd prefer cattle though

[madametobacco49 in reply to Durcot]

Love me some goats!!!! and sheep are ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ad to the bone!! Pigs are as smart as dogs or smarter I think... ----MmeT

[madametobacco49]

Lucky you Durcot..Love to be near animals like that--Mmet

[Durcot in reply to madametobacco49]

Yes,there my babies, but the dust from them is tough with COPDn Azhma though. But they need cared for to.

[madametobacco49]

Yes of course--I was just walking around here today missing my ol Bub--Sure gets lonely. Caring for them gives us a sense of purpose and keeps us from focusing on ourselves to much--They are so important and full of love..MmeT

[pegbl]

Welcome to the forum, you'll find lots of help and advice here. you will find a lot of people on here who have given up smoking me being one of them, but the damage has been done, we can only learn how to manage it now.

I used to help rear a few calves , had milking goats, chickens, ducks..... miss not having any animals round now. Just my little dog 🐶 you see in my profile.

I hope you feel better soon, take care. Xxx Peg

[Durcot]

Thank you, hope you feel better too.

[jmsutt73]

No cure, so our goal is to maintain our respiratory health at our now levels, and to stay as well as we can for as long as we can. Commonsense behavior will enhance our potentials for staying well. Stay out of crowds, particularly during cold and flu seasons. Avoid big box stores. When one has to go where crowds will be, wear a mask, and studiously avoid everyone who is sneezing or coughing, and when one becomes aware of someone sneezing or coughing turn and go in another direction. Germs hang in the air for a time. Do as much exercise daily as your body allows. Best to you. J.

[Durcot]

Thanks for your advise

[Ergendl]

Welcome, Durcot. Great to have you aboard.

[Izb1]

Welcome to the site Durcot. There are alot of people with your condition on here. I admire the fact that you can still work with animals, it is hard work running a farm, my brother in law worked on one most of his life and he was out at dawn and in at dusk. Lets hope the inhalers help, take care x

[katieoxo60]

Hello Durcot, nice to meet you. Sorry to hear you have severe COPD . Don't worry too much about the work on the farm I am sure it will wait a few weeks till you are a little better. But guess you will need to look at the option of someone to help as a farm does not stand still while you are ill . Main thing is to get your self back to daily coping. It must be quite downing after giving up 20yrs ago and healthy working to have severe COPD. Doing things slower and more spread out is the way to manage each day. Hope it helps you knowing many of us have to change life styles as our health changes and you are not alone , health problems can be very isolating at times. You have come to the right place to chat & get advice. Take care best wishes for improvements with use of your new inhaler.

[Durcot in reply to katieoxo60]

Thank you.

I just feel like a lesser person, very humbling and mad at myself.

[katieoxo60 in reply to Durcot]

Don't be mad with yourself we all make mistakes in life all you can do now is make the best of a bad situation . Do your best for your farm animals nobody can expect more and take pride in what you have given to others in your life. Hopefully your doctor will be able to do their best for you too.

[Dedalus]

Hello and welcome.

[patmc1]

I smoked for about 12 years and had quit for over 30 when I was diagnosed with COPD and asthma. I had so thought I was safe. But it turns out I have the one bad gene ---alpha 1 deficiency- so the smoking I did was about 70% more disruptive than a non carrier. Still if you have alpha 1 you can have severe COPD in your teens and twenties with never smoking. So like with anything (over eating etc) --it's still a lottery.

The best thing is not to be angry at yourself or the universe and get on an Pulmonary Rehab course , learn, and take control of it. I still have bouts of "Why Me?" but since I take my PR at a rehab/fitness facility I am less sad about me when I see the people around coping and triumphing after strokes, amputations, and debilitating illnesses.

I wish you well .

[Durcot]

I'm starting rehab next week.

I also wish you well

[madametobacco49 in reply to Durcot]

Hi again--you will like rehab--happy to hear you will be going...MmeT

[Nicholatracy]

Welcome. Great site for information, reassurance and general well being 🐞

[optim278]

Hi Durcot, just a thought, but have you been checked out to see if you may be allergic to any of the farm animals? I say that, because I am allergic to some dogs and cats, or more exactly their fluff. Could be, maybe you're allergic to the sheeps' fleeces or sheepdog's fluff. All the best to you.

[Durcot in reply to optim278]

Thank you for your concern. That was my first though when I went to see the doctor. But I use to smoke heavy like 4 packs of Camel regulars a day for 20 years. All my test say my COPD is because of smoking severely in the past. My doctor also said people might have COPD and dont know it. The longer you wait to get help the worse the condition gets. I've had problems for years before I told the doctor.

My advice to everyone is dont wait till it gets bad and yo get checked out first time you have problems breathing

Thank you for your responce.

You take care

God Bless

[robert1957]

Hello Durcot please research magnesium deficiency and symptoms of magnesium deficiency also vitamins vitamins d3 k2mk7

And b12 and if you wore a mask when working with your lovely animals it might help good luck

[Durcot]

Thanks for your advice I am on vitamin d3 and b12 also I use magnesium tablets and fish tablets. I've tried to stay on top of my illness , my VA doctor knows and agrees with what I use . I tell him everything and if I'm wrong he will tell me to.

Thanks again