lost...

[yvette1979]

i was told 18 months ago i have copd (stage 2)..... pretty angry mostly with myself .......... i'm 35 years old ... have a hubbie thats not very supportive FEEL LIKE LIFE IS OVER

[sassy59]

You have found this site Yvette which is great and you will get lots of support. It is so frightening for you to be told you have copd but your life is not over. You can help yourself a lot by staying as fit as you can, eating well and not smoking (if indeed you do/did). I am carer for my hubby and he has had copd for over 4 years now and also has other health problems but life is good. Maybe you could sit down and chat to your husband and see if he can be more supportive. Often those close to you are scared too. I do wish you well and hope to see you on here again soon. Take care and take heart. xxx

[Hidden]

Welcome yvette, so glad u found us, now ur never on ur own, and ur life is far from over, if u smoke stop, that's the biggest thing that slows or even stops the progression of copd, eat healthy, exercise, take ur meds correctly and there is nothing stopping u from living a long time to come. I'm sorry if ur hubby shows no support maybe he will in time when he accepts what's going on, talk to him about ur condition he may be thinking the worst will happen and so can't accept it and by ignoring it to him it might go away, it is difficult for partners too, if not , u have us lot for advice, support and even a good old giggle. Take care x Sonia x

[pergola1 in reply to Hidden]

Well, you will find us supportive. You have already been given good advice. Life is far from over. Think you could benefit from any advice you are given and perhaps husband will mellow. We can always hope. xx

[Louisiana]

you life is far from over Yvette. Have you heard of the Pulmonary Rehab Clinic - check at your surgery as you would learn a lot from attending that. Lots of people find it difficult to understand COPD - I know it's hard when your family aren't very sympathetic. Glad you found this site....keep posting, and know you are one of many many many people suffering from COPD. Sending you lots of good wishes

[yvette1979]

thanks for your kind words .... if i can get past this anger at myself i'm sure i'll be fine

having difficulty with meds cause i just feel they don't do anything but sticking at it ... wouldn't be so bad but it costs so much to get a prescription and its one after another

[sue45]

Are you in the UK? Did you know about the NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate? I pay £10.?? (£10.40 I think) every month by direct debit.. covers charges for all your meds. So if you need 2+ items a month, its much cheaper! Hope this helps.

Regards

Sue

[Offcut in reply to sue45]

I second that I am on 14 a month so would cripple me if I had no buffer.

[yvette1979 in reply to sue45]

i did look into this but as i don't need x amount of meds every month its some months are worse than others like the docs give me blue inhaler enough to keep me going for 2 months .... its when i have to go back for antibiotics and steroids they then try to try new inhalers i am on permanent iron tabs --- but can't take over the counter iron tabs cause they make me ill ... i can't take ibuprofen cause of the copd but can't take paracetamol cause of my allergy ...................so from time to time i get pain killers from the doc cause i can't get anything over the counter ... it is a complete nightmare

[spanial]

Yvette 1979 I can sympathise with you,My husband is the same,doesnt help in the house or garden,He still smokes in the house however much I tell him about it,I asked him if he has looked it up about this condition he said no I said I think you should as its not going to go away,I am a lot older than you Yvette,my kids have all grown up,I don't see much of them and my son and family have just moved to Australia,I feel my life is over sometimes,My dog keeps me going and makes me happy.You have to look on the positive and stay as healthy as you can.you will get plenty of support from this group for whatever you come up against. take care

[yvette1979 in reply to spanial]

you are sweet bless you ... i don't know why i feel sorry for myself my kids are 12 and 5 so have both at home they get me out of bed each day ... I SHOULD BE HAPPY

[gallmoe in reply to spanial]

Hi Spanial, Goodness me! what a selfish husband you have how dare he smoke in the house and worse not even help you. I don't know how you can cope without help I would spit the dummy you said he doesn't help you well just tell him point blank you cannot do this anymore. Try to get him to either go with you to your doctor or to your resporitory nurses and they could explain the importance of his support. If that doesn't work advertising for a live-in-care, the health care services could help, then I would show him the front door.

Gallmoe.

[spanial in reply to gallmoe]

hi Gallmoe,Thank for your reply to my post,My Husband has been with me when I have been to drs,He has been told,Falls on deaf ears Im afraid

[Hidden]

Greetings & welcome.......you will have plenty of support with this group.

Soon you will find you have lots of real friends.

I think we all felt his you do, but time helps, and when you talk here with folk who have had the same thing for 20 or more years .. .you realise things aren't quite so bad after all ..........

I am a lot older and at the severe stage, but yesterday I moved the last cubic metre of winter logs dropped on the drive. .....True I puffed a lot.....but I did it. These days won't let anything beat me.

Stay with us and let us know how you get on.

J.

[yvette1979 in reply to Hidden]

well done you .. i get frustrated getting out of puff doing the school run ... but think i don't push myself anymore because now i guess i have an excuse .... so thats it NO MORE EXCUSES GEY OFF YOUR BUTT YVETTE AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE thank you so much ... you have no idea how much your words have helped

[AlBlownout]

I was diagnosed at around the same age as you and I was angry with myself and felt terrible guilt because I had smoked and it all felt self inflicted. At your age, there is almost certainly going to be an underlying cause. It may be Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Ask your GP for a blood test to confirm. If it is, it's s double edged sword because you'll learn it wasn't self inflicted and so the anger and guilt is gone. However, it does mean you still have a problem that will deteriorate. Get that checked and try to get yourself onto a Pulmonary Rehab course, they help physically and mentally. By the way, I am now 54 and still enjoying life. It's not over girl, not by a long shot!

[yvette1979 in reply to AlBlownout]

without making anymore rubbish excuses ... i think it is possible and thank you my nan had chronic bronchitis for as long as i can remember and my dad and aunty have emphysema

[AlBlownout in reply to yvette1979]

Yes, sounds like A1AD, my Dad had chronic bronchitis and my brother has emphysema. We are both ZZ on A1AD which is pretty bad. But as I said, I am 54 and have had double lung transplant, he is 56 and still going on his first set of lungs. There's loads can be done. Knowledge and information is key to keeping in control of your health and your life. Good luck and don't be shy, if there's anything you want to know, ask.

[yvette1979 in reply to AlBlownout]

thank you so much - i'm over whelmed by the kindness and support . i'm sure if i'd known you were all out there 2 years ago things would have been very different lol

[divaanne]

I can see why you feel angry Yvette 35 is very young to be diagnosed with COPD and it's okay to be mad for a bit it ......it must have been an awful shock....but you do have a life ahead of you.Everyone is right the right meds taken properly along side a good diet and exercise will go a long way to make you feel a bit better along with a positive attitude and a good laugh and taking one little step at a time. I am sure your husband will come round in time it's difficult.

Best wishes Yvette

[wraygirl79]

your never alone here, this community is really the one place i have to talk and read. so sorry, your young and still so full of life. if it were your husband that was going thru this he would want your love and understanding.please come here the people are wonderful, there here for you. take care your not alone.

[yvette1979 in reply to wraygirl79]

thank you people seem kind here and obviously understanding

[onamission]

I was diagnosed with COPD at the age of 42 that was 10 years ago and this year has been my worst for infections and flair ups but I go swimming walk my dog anything to keep my lungs going.

Get your husband to run up and down stairs with a peg on his nose breathing through a straw this will give him a idea what its like to have COPD.

We are always hear good luck

[yvette1979 in reply to onamission]

after reading many post i realize now i have done it all wrong .... i got diagnosed EVENTUALLY and gave up sat on my butt thinking this is it ... i get out of breath doing this or that .... seems i should have done these things more not less

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Hello yvette1979. I have COPD Stage 4. diagnosed over 3 years ago. With the right meds I have improved a bit. I still do the part time job I was doing before being diagnosed. Just keep active. Like it has been said, your age is a bit young but maybe mine started all those years ago. Sorry to hear your hubbie is not helping as I think partners, relatives and freinds understanding can help a lot.

[yvette1979 in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

your comment gives me hope ... thank you... i just need to find the right meds i guess

[tigershay1]

Lots of great people on here to support you. I found their warmth and support immensely helpful last Jan when i was suffering back to back infections. Finally diagnosed with chronic bronchitis but also keeping eye on as i have rheumatoid arthritis and never smoked . Its a mind field but once on meds and you feel better you can live life to full. I didnt think id ever get back to work but i have and im fit again i train with personal trainer once week and im back to riding my lovely horse three times a week. Diet exercise and protecting yourself from germs hand washing dont touch face when out carry antibacterial spray for hands use vicks first defence up nose before going out in public (i have to use boots own as vicks sets my sinises off) come on here for advice xxx

[yvette1979 in reply to tigershay1]

so glad i found this site and after looking at it for a month decided to brave posting ... i don't feel alone suddenly and woke up today with a new lease of life .... your all amazing

[jimmyw123]

you just enjoy this site yvette,,, maybe get hubby to look at it, ,,things just might be different.

life is most certainly not over, its only just starting, i am an oap on stage 4 , and through this forum, my life has begun again, and believe me,,but with the grace of god,,,, the poor members will have to suffer me for many years to come lots of kind wishes, and kindest thoughts,, jimmy xxx

[yvette1979 in reply to jimmyw123]

the members can suffer us both lol and as for hubbie ... thinking of getting rid of him to be honest i think i'll be happier and healthier without him after reading the replys on here last night i woke up feeling new and motivated ran up the stairs for the first time in 2 years and i'm spring cleaning like never before

[jimmyw123 in reply to yvette1979]

you go to it gal

best of luck to you yvette, don't overdo the cleaning,, he might want to say

anyway glad your enjoying the forum, and that you now know what you are doing, and are well motivated,, sounds good to me ,, kindest regards jimmy xxx