Anxiety?

[Clouds2000]

hi I’m very new to my condition and to this site - I’ve just got home from hospital and am feeling really anxious - I’m worried that I’m having another episode or could it be my anxiety - does anyone else feel similar?

[sassy59]

Welcome to this friendly forum Clouds2000. Good to meet you. I’m carer for my husband who has COPD (chronic bronchitis) diagnosed in 2010. It’s understandable to feel anxious at times but the good people on here will be able to reassure you. Take good care of yourself and stay as well as you can. Xxx

[Clouds2000 in reply to sassy59]

Aah thank you so much

[Clouds2000 in reply to sassy59]

Hi I can’t thank you enough for replying - it’s a minefield of scary information and medication I know very little about - I think I will make an appointment with my gp to explain all this plus how I go ahead ordering these new meds!! I am also glad I found this site by chance knowing I’m not alone, although I am really, but on here I can hopefully reach out and not feel so left to get on with this really scary diagnosis on my own - thank you again

[sassy59 in reply to Clouds2000]

You’re very welcome and l hope things improve as you work your way through the myriad of information. You’ve come to the right place for help and advice anyway. Xxx

[Shirazmataz]

Hi Clouds 2000, you will be glad to get home, hopefully you can settle and feel a big more relaxed.. its quite an anxious time in hospital. Hello from me, Shirazmataz, Sally 😊

[Clouds2000 in reply to Shirazmataz]

Thank you

[Alberta56]

Welcome to he forum, Clouds. A lot of our members suffer from anxiety and will no doubt be along to give you tips on how to cope with it. We are all surviving here with varying degrees of lung trouble, sharing experiences, having a laugh and commiserating with each others' horror stories. Hope you enjoy being part of the group xxx

PS. Love your pussy cat. Tell us more about him/ her.

[garshe]

Unfortunately anxiety abd panic attacks. comes with COPD . It's because we don't control our breathing. Easier said than done . We breathe in and out of our mouths very fast which decreases oxygen getting to our lungs. I try and remember but it all goes out of the window when I try to rush to do things. I should be taking it slowly and concentrate on what I can do Not what I can't II am in a bad place at present struggling with breathlessness even on 24/7 .oxygen Respiritory nurse calling today with a plan I've also had to involve mental health team to help with my anxiety as haven't left my house for 9months.

I am hoping to sort out my portable cylinders as too heavy for me to carry .

Hope you feel better soon xx.Sheila 💕

[Clouds2000 in reply to garshe]

Thank you I’m also acrophobic so can relate completely - good luck today

[Clouds2000 in reply to garshe]

thank you

[sassy59 in reply to garshe]

Thinking of you Sheila xxx🤗❤️🌈🙏🏻

[garshe in reply to sassy59]

Still struggling Carole. 9 months now housebound xx love to you and Pete xx❤️

[sassy59 in reply to garshe]

Bless you dear Sheila. Lots of love xxx💜❤️😍

[watergazer in reply to garshe]

Sending you hugs Sheila 🤗🤗🤗

[garshe in reply to watergazer]

Thank you.take care xx 💓

[Bingo88]

Good morning Clouds2000. And welcome to our friendly group. Yes Anxiety does play tricks on the mind and gets us overthinking situations. I find listening and singing along to songs I love helps me take my mind off things and chatting to friends on my phone in different ways. Eventually you get used to usually shutting the negative thoughts out of your mind. Take care and keep in touch with us all. Brian

[Clouds2000 in reply to Bingo88]

Thank you

[ElsaC]

Hi Clouds. Anxiety doesn't help anything - ever! But it's understandable. I have found mindfulness meditation very helpful for dealing with the anxiety this condition creates. I recently finished a mindfulness stress reduction course (8 weeks) which has given me the tools to manage anxiety. I think I was quite an anxious person even before my COPD diagnosis. I'm asthmatic too. I hope this helps.

[Clouds2000 in reply to ElsaC]

Thank you

[Coughingalltheway]

I felt (and still do to some extent) exactly the same as you after my first exacerbation in April. I didn't even know what an exacerbation was at the time but I'd been diagnosed with mild COPD years ago and out of the blue, my breathing became laboured. My husband called an ambulance and I ended up in A&E. Next thing that I knew was waking up with a bipap mask over my face. - I didn't know what that was either at the time.

The scariest thing for me was that no-one explained what had happened or why before discharging me with steroids and a new inhaler.

I met with my community respriatory team last week and told them everything that had happened to me and they agreed that communication was shocking at events like these. They have recommened a short course of Buspirone which is an anti-anxiety drug. I haven't decided whether or not to take it as I am feeling better now that I've spoken to someone about it.

I've had a couple of tests and it's looking like I also have adult onset asthma which was what caused the exacerbation rather than COPD.

Apologies for the life story but it really does help to talk about it and I would recommend that you try to see your GP or respriatory nurse to find out more about why it happened to you. Also you could try phoning asthmaandlung.org.uk/ who have experts on hand to reassure you.

Good luck and keep on posting your thoughts. They are a great bunch of people on here who are happy to listen and help. x

[Clouds2000 in reply to Coughingalltheway]

thank you

[watergazer]

Hi and welcome to our lovely forum xx

[MoyB]

I got a diagnosis of COPD late on a Friday afternoon. The nurse printed off a few sheets of fairly useless information from the computer and sent me on my way!

All I could think of was my poor Dad who struggled with advanced emphysema and coughed so hard he went red in the face!

He died in 1984 and things have moved on since then but when I was diagnosed they hadn't moved on as far as they have now.

So I Googled and panicked. I had no advice about what to do a about an exacerbation and and presumed it was normal to cough up green phlegm.

A year later, I had a COPD review. The nurse heard my cough and was horrified when she realised I wasn't coping at all. She made an appointment for me to see the doctor who prescribed antibiotics - but still no real information. And I didn't know that I should be asking for it!

Fast forward a bit and I found this group and also my local Breathe Easy group. I began to realise that I needed more help than I was getting from my GP and I asked to see a specialist. My GP was reluctant as he said there was a long waiting list. I felt I couldn't go on as I was so I paid privately for a consultation and was told I had 'borderline' bronchiectasis as well as asthma and COPD. The consultant then became my NHS consultant and still is.

I attend the Breathe Easy group regularly and have learned so much from going there. I found out about Pulmonary Rehab groups and asked to be referred to one where I learned much more about my condition and how to manage it.

Life is good now. I am SO much better than I was. I do my best to keep myself informed and, as a result, I feel more in control.

This forum is a great place to ask questions. There will nearly always be someone else in the same situation who can share their experience and offer some support.

Welcome! Pop in any time you're feeling anxious.

xx Moy

[Nicholatracy]

welcome…..this is a wonderful site with many friendly, knowledgeable and funny members. I think we all suffer with a little anxiety from time to time. The trick is to get out of your head and live each day to its fullest. Stay off Dr. Google he’ll have you dead and buried in 20 minutes. You can still have a full life. Watch your diet, if possible attend pulmonary rehab and exercise. Stay strong 🐞🐞