Very scared

[MiFerna]

Very scared ... I was diagnosed with minimal emphysema almost three years ago when I was 46 years old and I've been without symptoms all this time.

Just recently started to feel a bit shortness of breath and I'm now in panic mode.

My lung consultant told me three years ago that the emphysema was very minimal, "barely there" he said. But now, like then, I am again extremely scared.

I suffered severe panic attacks and I was treated for health anxiety when diagnosed. Now the same thoughts are back. Feeling that the condition is a death sentence and it is only a matter of time. I haven't been able to sleep for days.

Just the thought of seeing my GP in a couple of weeks scares me massively.

I am sorry about this negativity, but to write here helps me to release some pressure from my chest.

Thank you all for your time,

Miguel

[teddyd]

Firstly rather than a few weeks I would arrange to see your GP sooner. I am sure he will put your mind at rest.I dont have emphysema but I am sure others will have personal experience and give their opinions.

Its could be the hot weather, infection ,virus infact lots of things that are making you feel poorly.

If you have taken all the precautions to keep lung healthy. Healthy eating, exercise, stop smoking and avoid anything that irritates your airways i think its unlikely your mild emphysema has progressed that much but only your health professional can tell you that.

Anxiety plays tricks on your mind and body so try and focus on something positive you have to look forward you.

[peege]

From reading here anyone with copd/emphysema will tell you it's not a death sentence, if managed well you can keep it mild for many years. If you progress to moderate it's still very manageable with support from your GP and respiratory nurse. As teddyd says, a healthy lifestyle, weight, diet & exercise as well as no smoking, avoiding others smoke, pollution, germs, drinking plenty of water will all help enormously.

For anxiety look up breathing techniques on youtube. Deep diaphragm breathing really really helps.

Personally, when my head is full of negative thoughts I change the record to listen to positive ones. It takes a bit of practice but it works

[Troilus]

Many, many things can cause breathlessness not all of them sinister. Chances are it is the weather that is affecting you right now. Could be pollen related. Best plan would be to see your GP as soon as you can. Chances are he will have something he can give to get you back on top and a chat with him might just calm your anxiety. Why wait and worry.

[Hidden]

Hi MiFerna, I have severe emphysema, just now my breathing is crap but then so is the breathing of a lot of people I know just now, some with asthma some with other non lung related health issues, some without any known health issues, the weather and environmental changes make a big difference, my main problem just now is the humidity, when it's high my breathing is very bad, yesterday the humidity was an estimated 97%, that is high, the pollen count is also very high, pollution doesn't help either and that's even worse when the weather is very warm..

Emphysema is by no means a death sentence either, you need to take care of yourself, eat right and exercise regular in some way, talk to a health professional about your concerns to help ease the stress, and seriously you really don't need to be thinking the worst, you have a long long way to go yet, please take care....

[Danielmystar]

I have very severe emphysema my Breathing is really bad but the weather makes it a whole lot worse try see your doctor sooner because panic attacks will make you feel worse x

[B0xermad]

Don't be scared and it's far from a death sentence, I have been living with copd,bronchiectasis and asthma for 9yrs now and many others a lot longer on here and as long as you take prescribed medication keep healthy by being as active as you can eating well and when you are a bit breathless rest you should be better at coping with your own health. We are here to help and support people by lots of 1st hand knowledge and with your gp appointment looming lay all your cards on the table and tell them how you feel about what's been happening with you and hopefully they can settle your fears and worries.

[Nottobad123 in reply to B0xermad]

How are you now compared to 9 years ago. I to was diagnosed with mild copd + asthma 9 years ago, and it has worsened very much in the last few years.

[B0xermad in reply to Nottobad123]

So much more active ,I walk everyday and go to blf gym once a week

[Nottobad123 in reply to B0xermad]

Thanks for your reply, am glad you are doing good.

[Mellywelly]

Hi chook, know how you feel, they can't get my medication right for a long time now so I am constantly trying new things which never seem to work. Anxiety does creep in and impending doom, but that's only natural. Don't know about you but for me it's like trying to breath through dense fog. Have they got you on any medication yet? Don't ever apologise for venting or feeling down as with any illness it does get to you from time to time. This site is good for chatting to others in your situation. As for the doctors, I hate most of mine but you may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Good luck 👍

[Biker88]

Hi Miguel, I have emphysema and Aspergillosis along with a few other issues, it’s been there since at least 2003. Try and get on a pulmonary rehab course, apart from exercise they usually gives good info on breathing techniques etc. Doesn’t matter how bad my breathing is I have adapted to compensate O/K I can’t mange to walk more than a few paces so I use a mobility scooter instead I can still go fishing and started different types of crafting. I’m in my 70s but carried on working until I was 69, I had a desk based job and a very understanding employer. Don’t dwell on the negatives think positive and look forward to adapting and enjoying life

[Lupino]

Hello MiFerna,

Once you have more information from your GP you could ask him about Pulmonary Rehabilitation. I asked my GP for a referral and It really has helped strengthen me and my breathing is better and in doing so it has helped me remain remain more positive.

Just stay in the moment and maximise your knowledge, well being and have something to look forward to each day.

Lupino. 🤗x

[Thepainterswife]

Please , please don’t waste your life worrying unnecessarily!!!! As others have said the way you’re feeling now is probably nothing more than the weather . My husband died recently, he was 75 and lived with emphysema for the best part of twenty years but probably had copd for many years before it was diagnosed as he was one of those people who never saw a doctor or worried about his health . He was 69 when he gave up a physically demanding job and up to that point we enjoyed a perfectly normal life with just the help of an inhaler and a few tablets . You haven’t been given a death sentence, yes eventually you will have to make adjustments but that could be many, many years from now and doesn’t mean you won’t have any quality of life even then . hopefully you are already doing everything you need to do to stay healthy - no smoking , exercise, good diet and most importantly stay active Don’t worry yourself into I’ll health !! Two of the biggest obstacles to be overcome with lung disease are fear and panic , not easy but it has to be and can be done if you are to enjoy many years of relatively normal life . Good luck 😊 xx

[Loopylorre]

I can understand your anxiety & can only tell you how things are with me to stop you feeling like it’s a death sentence, I was diagnosed about 12 years ago with COPD & Emphysema, it wasn’t until the lockdown happened & I wasn’t able to get the proper care due to not seeing anyone that it then changed to severe, obviously it has an impact on my daily life but I find as long as I keep up the walks & exercise it helps greatly with the illness & my mental health, so please be assured that you can keeping going for a very long time if you have a healthy diet & keep moving, I wish you well & hope you get reassurance from your doctor & other people in this forum 😊👍🏻💐🌷🌹xx

[Karenanne61]

Please see your gp sooner rather than later. As you'll have read, the weather, lovely though it is, affects the breathing of many of us. I find having something to look forward to helps banish negative thoughts. Theatre trips, days out, meet ups with friends etc. Good luck

[H0peful]

Miguel please try not get anxious as I have been diagnosed some years now and this is all fairly new research whereas once it was just all called asthma, and think it is really just one of the signs of getting older, I was also recently also diagnosed with heart failure and leaky aorta valve, which caused the big heart failure it seems. It may well be genetic, main thing is at least discovered and being monitored, and as aware try to keep healthy, exercise and enjoy your life as some who have not made it thus far cannot.

[TheOldBoy]

Hi Miguel, I have a similar diagnosis to you and are generally asymptomatic… I am noticing that at this time of year I have become sensitive to tree pollen and pollen in general especially after smoking cessation… So I’ve been taking over the counter anti histamines like ‘Piriton’ I’ve found it helps… I became symptomatic immediately after diagnosis and it seemed as the escalation in symptoms (from almost nothing to high) was connected to my anxiety… is it worth considering whether your anxiety is feeding back into your symptoms, I found mine did… I have no clinical experience just personal experience of a similar diagnosis…

Regards, Adam…

[Myownidea]

Oh Miguel, I can so relate to your health anxiety, and I understand your fear. Don't apologize. Places like this online have taught me so much, and one of them is that so many of us feel the same thing.

I just finished my umteenth PFT yesterday, and I was just as negative as you were. I was sure I would have brain damage or maybe even die simply by being in the booth. My therapist helped me understand that our brain sometimes has a bias toward the negative. And while I can understand on the intellectual level, that emotional level, for me at least, is SO STRONG!

Hang in there. I promise it will get better. By the end of the test, the respiratory therapist and I were laughing at the things that went wrong including a dying battery in the pulse/ox machine. It said I had no heartbeat and no oxygen in my blood, and I said see, I told you I was going to die!

[Ergendl]

I was diagnosed with moderate emphysema in 2015, and joined this group. It was the best thing I could have done. The advice and guidance of members here helped me stop 'committing suicide by sofa' as member Toci once said.

I gradually increased my activity levels from an average 2500 steps a day to 10,000 steps a day (over several years). I improved my eating habits to make sure I ate more healthily. I took the medications prescribed as advised. I did a Pulmonary Rehab course. I avoided triggers like smoke and high humidity and cheap perfumes. I tried a salt lamp and salt pipe. I got a blood pressure monitor and an sp02 monitor to check blood oxygen levels. And I started running a weekly singing for lung health group with support from a local physio, which is still going strong.

At the last measurement, my emphysema had improved from moderate to mild, with readings at the low end of normal. The only time you can tell I have the condition is if I do heavy work without using my inhaler beforehand.

If I can do it, you can too. Take it as a wake-up call to improve your lifestyle, not a death sentence.