I was admitted to hospital,treated with steroids antibiotics nebulisers.I was told I probably have COPD -46 and frightened

[alice14]

[elian]

Hello alice14 and welcome to the group

Please don't be frightened it's not a death sentence you've received and, if you follow doctor's orders and take care of yourself then there's reason to believe that you will be around for many, many more years yet

There are lots of us here who know exactly how you are feeling at the moment, as we were there too (my diagnosis was 13 years ago now). With a good respiratory team taking care of you, you will find you'll be able to do most of what you did before the diagnosis, albeit a little more slowly.

Feel free to drop by here any time, there's usually someone around to 'talk' to and help allay your fears.

Look forward to 'seeing' more of you

In the meantime, chin up !!

[alice14 in reply to elian]

Hi Elian

thanks for that dont know what to think or where to go for support at the moment. After 6 days in hospital was told probably COPD but I dont go for lung function tests or see consultant till end of November.

I will return to this site as answers have been friendly and you feel you are not alone

[xfox3x]

hello Alice 14.

I am in the same position. I was admitted to hospital as an emergency in July and told it was COPD.

Just had all the tests and diagnosis confirmed.

It is very frightening (and I'm a Registered Nurse but my mind went completely blank regarding symptoms, treatments prognosis etc) but I have been looking at this site for a few weeks before I plucked up the courage to join. Not because I was afraid of the other members, more because it seemed like I was accepting a long-term condition into my life.

I'm 58 and anxious about the future etc.

[Vicky_BLFHelpline in reply to xfox3x]

Hi

My name is Vicky and I am a respiratory specialist nurse for the British Lung Foundation, if you would like please give me a call on 03000 030 555 and I can take a history and give advice in line with your symptoms. I am in the office all day today.

Regards Vicky

[alice14 in reply to Vicky_BLFHelpline]

Hi Vicky

thanks

will try and ring next week if I get a day off work.

Just feel a bit lost and have not spoken to anyone about this since coming out of hospital,.

[alice14 in reply to xfox3x]

Hi I know how you feel. Im a nurse also and feel , quite ashamed as i feel I have brought this on myself when I should have known better. I knew what I had for a couple of months now , didnt go to doctors and just about collaosed at work and off to hospital I went. I know how you feel dont know where to start with acceptance. Lung function tests the end of Nov but I think it will be COPD.

I think like me you should return to this site as it is very informative and full of good support and also phone blf nurse-I will next week if I get a day off

good luck

[Perce]

It is a worry to everyone when they find out they are ill, you can find out so much information here, we all have similar problems but more importantly we all understand what you are thinking about. Ask any questions and someone will have a bit of advice for you.

[alice14 in reply to Perce]

Hi Perce

thank you its good to know Im not alone

[Gordon57]

Alice, welcome along to the forum.

If you have a read through the various blogs and questions on here you will see that there are a lot of others like yourself. For example, a new user 'Vangelis' asked a very similar question just a couple of days ago. It may help you to read the advice and information given there. Just click the blue bit below this line:

blf.healthunlocked.com/ques...

If you have any questions, just ask. Many people on here can answer as they are going through the same. Also call the BLF helpline and ask for their information pack.

The sooner you learn about your condition, realise it isn't an instant death sentence, and how to deal with it, the better you'll feel. The medication you've been given is a start.

[alice14 in reply to Gordon57]

Thank you Gordon

the site seems exellent and explains a lot of things which is re-assuring.Yes I will definately contact BLF

[valm]

Hi and welcome

[alice14 in reply to valm]

Thank you Valm

[Lynne1955]

Welcome and I can't add more than the others have said. Just try not to worry, everything will be fine.

[alice14 in reply to Lynne1955]

Thanks Lnne

Im hoping things will be fine just a worry at the present and have not seen a nurse or doctor since hospital discharge-feel a bit abandoned to be honest

[Hidden]

Try not to panic. I think we all felt about the same at point of diagnosis. Lots of good advice already given. Welcome to the site.

[alice14 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you auntymary

thank goodness i dont have much time to panic its took me ages to find the time to get onto the laptop but Im pleased I made the effort to look

[Vicky_BLFHelpline]

Hi

My name is Vicky and I am a respiratory specialist nurse for the British Lung Foundation, if you would like please give me a call on 03000 030 555 and I can take a history and give advice in line with your symptoms. I am in the office all day today.

Regards Vicky

[lavender1]

Hi Alice hope you have spoken with Vicky and are feeling less frightened. I am 66yrs old, was diagnosed 6 years ago, I didn't get frightened as I didn't know anything about the illness but having found this site and the many nice and helpful people here have learned to take a great deal more care of myself and learned also that it is certainly not a death sentence as Gordon has said. As you learn more about looking after yourself you'll become less anxious and that will help your breathing along with your medication.

Hope you will read more posts and blogs and feel better soon. Forgot to say I very likely had this illness at your age, just didn't take time to get to the doctor until I retired so that the earlier the diagnosis the better in my opinion anyway. Take care.

[alice14 in reply to lavender1]

Hi lavender

thank you.Been at work all day have a day off next week so i will phone her then.I do know a bit about the illness and it is never portrayed in a very good way(not that there is anything good about it)- Im not expressing myself very well sorry, Thanks just feel a bit abandoned since I came out of hospital. I havent seen a nurse or doctor and just got appointments for lung function tests and consultant in November. Told it is probably COPD in hospital and then discharged and feel oh heck what now

[kimmy59]

Hi Alice

I was diagnosed in February and was terrified, it felt like I had been handed a death sentence. I joined BLF a couple of weeks ago, everyone has been lovely and given me some great advice. Hope this makes you feel a bit better.

[michelle1969]

hi all,

hope everyone keeping well. i also was having problems breathing more so in the evening time, its a nightmare to try get sleep with coughing! my gp gave me salbutamol inhaler (prn) had my bloods done and results all came back fine! im waiting to go for a breathing test but only can be fit in in november, alice i to feel frightened as i dont know whats wrong, and feel nothing being done to help, its very scary when you cant breathe normally isnt it? my gp wont ive me any different inhalers untill my breathing test been done, so i feel like i have to suffer until then. my gp mentioned copd but said not sure till breathing test been done! some use he is.

think i will go have another visit to my gp. so glad i came across this site only couple days ago, everyone so kind and friendley, thanks to you all for advice and reassurance. x

[Hidden]

hi Alice 14 I found out in January 2012, that i have copd made me worry about how much time i had left but talking it though with my copd nurse helped calm me down a bit. When i came across this site , I found a lot of encouragement from people that are going through so much more than myself, if you go through a period thats getting you down, throw it on this site there are a lot of good people here it feels like a family.

All the very best

redmod

[alice14 in reply to Hidden]

hi redmod

yes Im finding this site very helpful and supportive

thanks

alice 14