Scared

[Jipjop]

Hi I was diagnosed in September with empersemia I got pnomonia and spent 5 days in hospital that's when thay found it ...I am petrified I am going to die the anxciaty is so bad ...I go back to see the specialist in may to check things have cleared and I am dreading it sorry for the long post

[CDPO16]

Hi and welcome. The shock of the initial diagnosis can trigger fear and anxiety. Many of us have gone through that and understand how you feel. I was diagnosed with emphysema in 2014 and although I have worsened since then, I'm still plodding on.The asthma+lung website has a lot of useful information about living with lung disease. It is good that you are seeing your specialist again and it will help to make a list of questions to take with you. Best wishes.

[peege]

Hi Jipjop, welcome to the lung patients forum. As CDPO says its a shockmand a worry when you get a diagnosis. For a start, there are several stages of emphysema/ COPD, the lowest being mild. There are members here who've had it for decades so look after yourself ie healthy diet, health weight, all the exercise you can manage and if you smoke please stop asap.

A neighbour's mother had emphysema for 50 years, she died at 95 . Good luck

[tracyball1]

Hi sweetie don't look on Google like I did and terrified myself, you can live with it for years but you need to stop smoking its not easy I know but you will feel better for it, plenty of exercise and a good diet, stay away from people with colds etc too x

[B0xermad]

Hi I have emphysema and bronchietasis and asthma and I manage it with inhalers and medication, I have been in hospital twice with pneumonia and survived to be stronger than before with walking and exercise to help me maintain my conditions, it's quite scary trying to recover from infection and pneumonia and it does take time but I have been with my conditions since 2014 and adapted a new way forward. Please don't feel like you are alone and you have a life to fulfil with your own way of coping.best wishes to you

[ghousrider]

Good day to you i have roughly the the same my stated 2013 i was in duced in to a comma i got through it if you are putting on weight , try joining a gym they are good , also try joining a coffee morming team its goodto talk . people can help try citerns advise where there are groups that can help you this is something you have to do your self for help no N/H/S canhelp you they can only advise so get talking this is what i done i am in gym 2 time a week or ask for a rehab lesson all the best ghoust rider

[Timberman]

Hi Jipjop - I can understand your response. That first diagnosis is not a good time! But mine was now 16 years ago so fears of imminent demise were a bit premature! I am now 79 and have severe emphysema along with bronchiectasis (and a few side dishes!). I take my meds every day (five for the COPD) use my inhalers (mild asthma) and am now on 1 ltre oxygen per minute 15 hours per day. But I get out every day for coffee, get to the shops on a trolley when I need to and life, while restricted, is getting better every day the spring springs!

So here is may advice - learn as much as you can about your disease, and especially about the business of breathing. Talk to your clinicians - the COPD specialist nurses are the best for this and more accessible than specialists (GPs are, well, generalists). Use this resource - a lot of us are moderately skilled patients by now!

And get into a routine first thing when you wake. It can take longer to get going - let it. And learn the breathing tricks that help you.

Good luck - I am sure you will get along just fine once you have acquired the knowledge about your own condition and how to manage it.

[Patk1 in reply to Timberman]

Great replyTimberman x

[Alberta56]

Welcome. I hope the answers you are getting reassure you. There is no reason why you should not live a full and satisfying life once you've learnt the many ways available to help you live with emphysema. Ask for pulmonary rehab. It has helped a lot of us. xxx

[Karenanne61]

Hi and welcome to this friendly funny and informative forum. It's an awful shock when first diagnosed and so easy to catastrophise - I know I did! Fortunately I found this forum, a good consultant and a motivational pulmonary rehab team. Whilst it can be a progressive disease there is much we can do to slow it down and enjoy life. Many members on here are testament to that!

[Patk1]

Hello+ welcome to the forum.i always think a diagnosis is a positive- now u know whats up, U can learn to manage it,moving forward.if yr anxiety is bad,do get help to manage it - gp or Mindsmatter r extremely gd.anxiety can affect breathing.if u smoke,the single best thing u can do is stop.

[Jipjop]

Thankyou so much for all your lovely message s it means so much and helped me xxx