want to know about life with COPD

[oberan]

want to know about life with COPD

[Spacecat1]

You learn to know how to cope with. If you have just been diagnosed have you made sure you have a rescue pack of Antibiotics and oredesiline just in case you feel a chest infection coming on. Make sure you have your flu jab and pneamonia jab. Hopefully your respirtory nurse will help you. Any questions I am sure some one will be able to help

When did you get diagnosis is it mild can you walk from a to b without getting to out of breath.

[Jason098765]

I suggest you google British Lung foundation they can answer all your questions

[2greys]

Hi oberan, welcome to the forum.

Life with COPD? It is really up to you and what you make it, if you are diagnosed as mild you can work at it and life can be very much as normal. If you are diagnosed as severe then you can still have a good quality life, just at a slower pace. It really is a horrible condition with unfortunately no cure as of yet, but if you 'take the bit in your teeth' and work at it and change your lifestyle, you can minimise the effect on your life.

A good healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and keeping fit and a high compliance to taking all your medication are the key to managing this condition. Plus of course, not breathing in noxious substances, ie no smoking, avoiding second hand smoke and other smoke from combustion. Avoiding traffic fumes when possible or dusty atmospheres. There used to be NHS Pulmonary Rehabilitation course available but I do not think they are still running with the Covid rules, probably not.

I am now 70 years old, and have very severe Emphysema and a fair few other conditions including lung cancer, in remission. Until shielding came in, earlier this year, I was still working full time on my feet all day, as a production engineer. Taking regular holidays sailing cruising yachts on the rivers of the Norfolk Broads with my family.

All that has changed now because of Covid-19, which I also contracted and obviously survived, back in April. All said and done, I still lead an active and independent life and do not require oxygen yet. We even live in a top floor maisonette up three flights of stairs, no lift, I can still carry my partners loaded shopping trolley up those stairs, albeit one flight at a time now, to catch my breath. Sharon, my partner, now works full time (48 hrs a week) in a nursing home so I now do most of the house work, not all but most.

We are all different on this forum and each have our limitations, but the important thing is that we have all learnt or learning from each other how to manage the condition. If you have a problem, just ask, in all probability someone will have an answer or be able to give advice.

The alternative is to withdraw into a shell with a 'woe is me' attitude, and not doing anything about it, that is when life will become hard and difficult. The doctors are only able to help so much, the most help for this condition actually comes from your own inner self.

As suggested above by Jason098765 , visit the BLF site where there is a host of information and help packs and personal stories.

blf.org.uk

or even phone their helpline on 03000 030 555 calls will cost the same as a local call.

[hypercat54 in reply to 2greys]

Great reply 2greys. x

[oberan in reply to 2greys]

Thank you]

oberan

[garshe]

Depends what stage you are at. Mild Moderate or Severe. Everyone is different. I was diagnosed 10 yrs ago with Severe COPD. I am still here and managing ok. Yes I get breathless and I live my life at a slower pace. Theres no hurry so I take my time and when walking stop at intervals to get my breath back. I still live a normal life managing without oxygen although only 30% lung function

Positivity is the way forward and always remember COPD is not terminal it is progressive and you can control this by slowing it down. First thing stop smoking if you smoke and dont panic .learn to breathe correctly by going to Pulmonary Rehab classes. Remember there are many worse off so be Positive. Good Luck xxSheila 💕

[oberan in reply to garshe]

thank you

oberan

[Hidden]

Hi Oberan, wow that for me is like saying in brief write me 5 pages what life has been like with COPD during your 16 years living with it So instead briefly I will write a few words on how we can help ourselves

I am sure others will share lots of info for you but briefly I will say. Try if you can to access a pulmonary rehabilitation course, avoid people with colds and virus of any kind, avoid smoke of any kind. Take your medicine as prescribed, get annual flu shot and pneumonia shot if you haven't already had one. Look after yourself, by eating a healthy diet and drink plenty of water.

Check out nhS : nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-o...

Check out BLFs pages: blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

[oberan in reply to Hidden]

thank you

oberan

[Ergendl]

The best piece of advice I got here shortly after being diagnosed with moderate COPD, was not to commit suicide by sofa. So I started exercising, very gently at first, and slowly increasing what I could do over time. My diagnosis was a wake up call to live a healthier lifestyle, and five years later, I have no regrets about making all those changes.

[oberan in reply to Ergendl]

thank you

oberan

[Gladwyn in reply to Ergendl]

That’s very good advice Ergendl.

[Alberta56]

Hi Oberan and welcome. My advice is to have as much fun as possible. Let your nearest and dearest , assuming you've got any, pamper you. Learning breathing exercises helps. There is a chart of Active Breathing technique on the BLF web site, but it would obviously be better to learn it from a physio. Best wishes, Alberta

[oberan in reply to Alberta56]

thank you

oberan

[micox]

Here's an extract from my blog (not published as yet): the slightest physical effort brings acute shortness of breath: walking a few steps with a walking aid; singing; using my manual wheelchair; having a shower (I have to use a breath relief inhaler before every shower), and drying myself and dressing myself after the shower (I have to allow a good hour and 45 minutes for every shower). I have to sleep or semi-recline upright in a reclining chair - I can't use a bed. COPD is a progressive disease and, according to recent approved research, very reactive to air pollution, especially to PM2.5 nano particles. Exposure to air pollution exacerbates breathing difficulties to the point where it can cause fatalities. I have refused, for several years now, to go near to the centres of urban population here in the UK.

[oberan in reply to micox]

Thank you for article and will deigest. keep well ta oberan