I've just got out out of hospital after a bout of pneumonia, which flared up my asthma. Whilst in hospital they told me I had COPD.
I live a relative normal life - I'm a teacher who works full time [I also have mild Pulmonary Hypertension], and the only symptoms I have are shortness of breath when walking up stairs or hills.
I'm on inhalers for asthma, and I need to go back in 6 weeks for a CT scan on my chest and possibly sleep study for sleep apnea.
My main issue is my severe anxiety [which I'm also on medication for]. Will COPD shorten my life span or can it be managed so that you can live a normal life span? Does anyone have any positive stories they could share with me? Thank you so much.
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puddy68
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Hi, I was diagnosed with aspergillosis and COPD 10 years ago and I’m still getting on with life, I know people who had had COPD for a long time. It is manageable and as time goes on you may have to make a few adjustments to your life, I now use a mobility scooter and have a stair lift indoors. I’m retired so no work pressures any more but I must say my employer was very understanding a supportive of my conditions and I still drive a car so I can get out and about.
COPD should not shorten your life, providing you do all the sensible things-well most of the time anyway. My dad lived to 83 with emphysema, in spite of the total lack of facilities and advice in his day which we have now. It sounds as if you are doing very well at the moment- just remember to use your Ventolin/ Salbutamol before tackling those hills. My asthma hardly bothered me for years, until about 5 years ago I was found to have bronchiectasis. I'm now 83, so not a bad healthy life span. Try not to let it get you down- I still do most of the things I want to do, but slowly. I have mixed feelings about people offering to help -don't like being treated like an old lady, but it's nice of them to express concern. Good luck. xxx
Hi, i have had copd since 2007. I manage it well and over the years have had exacerbations, never hospitalised thankfully. Treated with nebuliser ( at hospital , but not kept in), and prednisolone which helps greatly short term. I live a fairly active life, watch what i eat and drink, and try to stay positive. Extreme weather conditions affect me, too hot or too cold, so i compensate accordingly. Always wear a scarf in cold weather and try not to breathe in too much cold air. I use preventative inhaler once a day, and have ventolin if needed. I retired 10 years ago and enjoy gardening, and being with my grandchildren and my animals.
Take care and enjoy your life. Copd doesn’t shorten it. We just have to take care of ourselves. Regular check ups too.🙂
Welcome! There are lots of us here with copd and other lung diseases. Some still quite young,others, like Don our poet laureate, is 92. An indication that you can live a happy, fulfilled life with copd. Mainly it's about taking responsibility for yourself with sensible eating, excercise, and the appropriate meds. Many of us have been on a pulmonary rehab course and that can be a life saver so ask your consultant to be referred asap. I was diagnosed in 2016 after respiratory faulure left me in a coma on life support. I was told my lungs at that time would last five years! Here I am! Gentle excercise such as yoga and pilates are excellent excercise, they can even improve lung function. I've been provisionally discharged from the lung transplant clinic as I have impoved beyond their criteria for transplant. So it is possible. Sorry to waffle but I want you to know a good life is possible. Good luck!
Hi, puddy68. I was diagnosed with moderate COPD in 2015. I joined here a couple of months later. The members gave me a lot of tips on improving my general health and looking after my COPD, including: maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding triggers like smoke and petrol fumes, eating healthily, avoiding catching colds and chest infections (Nasalguard Cold and Flu Block, Vick's First Defence), taking the meds as needed, and doing a Pulmonary Rehab course.
I also run a weekly singing for lung health group, and sing using the diaphragm nearly every day as I am also a church musician.
The result - the last time I had a respiratory assessment, my readings had improved to mild (low end of normal). Nine years later, I am still on the lowest level of medication for my condition.
You're a teacher, that says it allSnotty noses, coughing viral children 😬 that is a quip !!
None of us knows our future with any type of disease, please try not to worry too much, anxiety is terrible, everything seems worse too, (and yes, it may well be).
Self Management, realising when we don't feel right !!!
has to be the important thing for us all and that is hardest for me.
I think pre assumption helps.
If you feel you are brewing something, i.e; cold etc., self remedies may aid fight it, Vitamin C for colds , speak to your GP or practitioner, or if you have a Lung specialist. Long reply, sorry, recognise early, treat as soon as possible.
I was diagnosed 21 years ago with Asthma COPD Overlap Syndrome. Although learning to live with and managing COPD is never easy. Asthma -COPD needs a little more care because of the symptom burden of the combination of conditions.
I can only suggest that you learn all you can about the best way to manage it for you. Do you have a patient support organisation there in Australia ? Surely there must be one ?
Learn about flare ups/exacerbations, how to keep well, pulmonary rehabilitation. How to use inhalers properly, how to use exercise to stay well. Vaccinations, medications, nutrition, relaxation. All these help.
Keep in touch and let us know how things go for you.
hi Puddy, firstly you are a teacher aka Superwoman! Anything else life can throw at you is like a walk in the park!
I like to think what will be will be, but what is in my control, is my desire to have fun and enjoy family and friends! I had a cancer removed from my lung, and have copd, asthma, blocked artery , and blood cancer! Once I stopped stamping my feet and just decided to hide my head in the sand! Being an ostrich is good! Just come out to attend all my hospital appointments and take my medication! Xxxx
I presume there is a hay fever season in Oz. Here in UK we have tree pollen from February, shrubs and grass into summer, and then mould spores from end of August into October. In fact there might be something around to muck you up all year round. I take antihistamine from February into October.
I have COPD and Bronchiectasis, and stopped having chest infections since the eradication of Black Mould in our home. That was April 2018.
Chest infections is what will progress this disease. I was very fit up until earlier this year and now I’m a shadow of my former self, complete with air trapping & constant fatigue. Above all else avoid colds & chest infections imo
Maybe you have mold in your body. Comming from mold in the buildings you visit frequently and/or maybe you are sensitive to mold in foods. They are a hugh burden on the liver and can compromise the longs and worsen asthma and COPD. I have to stay away from mold in foods and moldy buildings. Else I cannot breath or have constant dry cought. Peanuts and maize or the worst moldy foods. But I also have problems with the other nuts and grains and dried fruits and chocolate. Also mold (aflatoxin) can be attachted to caseïne so I have to avoid dairy as well. Grains give me depression and anxiety, while nuts and chocolate give me insomnia. And dairy bring my overweight and candida flair-ups.
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