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Anyone successfully stabilize their COPD?

michaelm700 profile image
24 Replies

I occasionally read articles were it mentions that with proper care some cases of COPD can be stabilized such that although the damage done cannot be reversed, further progression can be halted.

Anyone achieve this?

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michaelm700
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24 Replies

In a word no. It is certainly possible to stablise it for a number of years ie stop it progessing further but it is impossible to stop the decline permanently. But you haven't got to progesss very quickly. When I was diagnosed mild 7 years ago at 55 I was told not to worry as something else would get me first ie old age!

Don't forget too that lung function naturally declines a bit with age anyway. x

Shocked1 profile image
Shocked1

Personally I don't think they know if it can be reversed or not. I think the docs just like dishing out the medication!!!! 💕💕💕

Jillybaby profile image
Jillybaby

I was diagnosed with COPD 11 years ago with a FEV1 of 68% and for most of the time have done the right things - weight stable, eat reasonable diet excercise in moderation and no smoking (well occasionally!). My FEV1 now is 63% and I intend to keep it above the 60% mark for as long as possible. I'm now 65 and really didn't think I'd make 60 so now I'm aiming for 70! Still doing most things okay (have a disabled spouse so have to do everything in house and garden). So yes you can stabilise COPD but remember everyone is different. Hope this gives you some peace of mind!

Nanny1086 profile image
Nanny1086 in reply to Jillybaby

I was diagnosed in 1992 aged 46 ,,,,at the time I thought I'd be lucky to make 50 ,,,,in January this year i made 70 ,,,,so now I say,,,,, bring it on ,,,,,

The day I was diagnosed was the day I STOPPED SMOKING ,,,,,,it was until 2008 that I started pulmary rehab course,,,,,,since then ( except when Ill ) I exersise 2 dayes a week at the gym ,,,,over the years I've been hospitalised,,,but as soon I'm well ,,,I'm back at the gym ,,,,,

The first week in December 2015 I was in hospital with a chest infection which developed into pneumonia,,,,then in January this year I was diagnosed with pleurisy ,,,,,,I now in recovery except for,,,,,all the antibiotics I've had to take over the last few weeks has caused me to have oral thrush ,,,,where I'm struggling to talk ,,,( hubby is quite happy ) haha,,,,,,but last Tuesday I made it back to the gym,,,, I managed an hours exersise ,,,,,but at the lowest level ,,,,,,,but hey ,,, I had times the last few weeks where I thought ,,,,,,well you all know what I was thinking ,,, But no more ,,, I will be back at the gym again on Tuesday and I will do that little bit more each time until I'm back to the level I was in November last year ,,, ,before I hit the illness wall ,,,

,my aim since being diagnosed was ,,,,,,,, , ,,,I will not be the lady sitting in her chair in the corner of the room ,,,,,,attached to an oxygen cylinder,,,,,,,

aged 70 ,,,,,,,my aim is still the same,,,,,, and my motto is ,,,,,,, just keep trying a little more each day ,,, and Stop the cigarettes altogether,,,,, best wishes,

michaelm700 profile image
michaelm700 in reply to Nanny1086

Thanks Nanny1086. I feel a whole lot better :) I totally agree, exercise is the key and to stop smoking.

michaelm700 profile image
michaelm700 in reply to Jillybaby

Thanks Jillybaby, thanks for the good news! We look forward to your update on your 70th birthday.

Jillybaby profile image
Jillybaby in reply to michaelm700

Will do!! Stay well.

Toci profile image
Toci

It took me a while but I found it:

healthunlocked.com/blf/post....

soulsaver profile image
soulsaver in reply to Toci

For info. the link within that link has been updated to take into the 2014 Gold stage definitions.. and has been moved to pulmccm.org/main/2012/revie...

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to soulsaver

Thanks, but it was the original posting I was seeking. :)

soulsaver profile image
soulsaver in reply to Toci

No doubt. I posted the info in case you considered it pertinent and were unaware it had moved, or for anyone, like me, wanting to read the info. in the link which had migrated. Ed :)

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to soulsaver

Cheers.

Shocked1 profile image
Shocked1

Thanks for that toci I just loved that article.

I think that if we keep on moving that's a great start. Motivation is lacking in most of us but we need to push ourselves. It gets a bit easier each time even though it's exhausting it's doing us good. Once again thanks for taking the time to find it 💕💕💕

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to Shocked1

Moving is the key. A good place to start.

Michael

I'm not certain if the progression of COPD can be halted but it can certainly be slowed right down. Cannabis oil, a healthy diet and exercise. Those three things will slow the progression of the disease.

frances,

Cannabis oil cannot be bought on the internet, though people advertise it. This is not the kind of oil you need for your husband.

AbbyRudi profile image
AbbyRudi

A) Canninbus (marajuana) is illegal in the U.K.

B) Any drug bought over the internet from nonregulated sources is a big risk

I am glad whatever you are taking works for you, but before devising people to engage in illegal activities with an untested s

ubstance you should warn them of the risks as well. Plus, whatever is said on Facebook is not necessarily private, even in a closed group.

in reply to AbbyRudi

AbbyRudi

a)Cannabis (marijuana) is illegal in many places in the world, not just in the UK.

b)Those of us who take cannabis oil have warned people multiple times on this forum NOT to buy the oil from ads on the internet. It is neither wise nor safe and they will be ripped off.

I don't know of any risks involved in taking cannabis oil but clearly you're aware of some so please be kind enough to post these risks on here for our information. I know a number of people who have been taking the oil for some time and there has been no mention of any negative side effects. If you know of these risks you speak of, please list them on here. This is important information.

Cannabis oil has been tested for thousands of years. There is mention of it's healing properties in the Bible, I'm told.

If you have read the content of our posts about cannabis oil you will see no (device?) advice has been given by those of us who take it. We have spoken only of our personal experience and observations.

AbbyRudi profile image
AbbyRudi in reply to

In the UK cannabis is a class B drug and possession

can earn you 5 yeas in prison nd an unlimited fine. A supplier can get up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine. Suppliers are not do gooders, they are the last link in a chain of ruthless crimnals. It is naive to believe that FB is private or even that best admin can prevent nutters or other unwanted from joining a group. If you are happy to assume those risks that''s up to you.

FYI, I am for legalisation approving the use of cannibas for medical use.

janesilver profile image
janesilver

I think I can give you some hope here. I require daily medication with Advair (bronchodilator plus steroid). I work, run, swim, basically do all the things I've always done, with NEVER any shortness of breath. However, when I do not take the inhaler (which has happened for a variety of reasons since onset of COPD 8 years ago), I become seriously short of breath within a week. I mean SERIOUSLY short of breath. I must have the inhaler every single day. That is that. I hope this helps, Michael.

Tatters profile image
Tatters

Like many others that have sent in replies, I am doing everything possible to stabilise my COPD and Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I did the rehab course and continued with half hour exercise a day. I am looking for a group at the moment, maybe Tai Chi or light gym work. I think it's the only thing we can do. Best wishes, I hope that you find a way to stabilise yours.

Well, my husband's favourite drug is whiskey. He swears it eases his breathlessness, which it does. It's legal but it certainly is not without its own risks to overall health.

Be well.

sufferer2 profile image
sufferer2

Hi Michael. I believe that I have managed to stabilize my COPD by using a Dehumidifier.

Take a look at this item that I posted on the forum - you just might find it of help to you. Good Luck & Health from Eric.

I was diagnosed with COPD in the summer of 2013 having suffered with constant coughing both day and night for about 6 months prior.

I was unable to lie down in bed to sleep and had to sit upright propped-up with pillows so that I could at least get a little relief.

Even so I was lucky if I could get more than a couple of hours sleep a night.

Having been issued with a Spiriva powder inhaler and a Ventolin Evohaler, after attending a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme at my local hospital and being given advice on how best to manage the condition I had to get on with the rest of my life as best as I could.

Despite taking the prescribed medications as directed they gave me little relief and each day became more of a struggle to combat the illness.

Then at the beginning of December 2015, with my condition rapidly deteriorating, I began to search the Web in earnest to try and find some answers to my problems.

To cut a long story short something steered me in the direction of purchasing a Home Dehumidifier with a built in charcoal filter and ioniser.

Living in the UK, as I do, we can get very high levels of moisture in our homes due to the excessive amounts of rain that we get.

This can basically fill the lungs with water from the atmosphere and I was coughing up excessive amounts of watery phlegm on an hourly basis.

The humidity level inside your home should be in the range of 40 – 65 (on a scale of 100) and, having purchased a cheap gauge costing about £3.00, I found that the levels in my home were reading a massive 85.

So I went online and purchased a dehumidifier costing £120.00 and which could remove about 10-12 litres of water a day from the air in your home.

It arrived about a week before Christmas and when I set it running it was giving a reading around 85 and, running it for just 12 hours a day, it was removing 2-3 litres of water from the atmosphere on a daily basis and the humidity level reading was gradually getting lower.

After 4 weeks of use the humidity level is now down to between 45 & 50 and the level of water that it is removing is getting less and less everyday.

My home was not showing any signs of having these high levels (such as mould on walls & ceilings, windows running with damp etc.) but I still had very high levels just the same.

My condition has improved in leaps and bounds over those 4 – 5 weeks and I now find that I am no longer coughing day and night, in fact I hardly cough at all now, and I no longer need to use the Ventolin Evohaler.

I am able to sleep at night now and my mental health, (I was getting very depressed and may I also say verging on suicidal?), is also starting to improve as my health gets better.

So the question is did I have or not have COPD? I don't really know, but I do know that my health has started to improve now (although I feel that some damage has been caused to my lungs because of all the years of coughing) and I am looking forward to a healthier life.

The doctors didn't seem to be able to help me – the answer to my problems was the dehumidifier and, although it might not be the answer for everyone, it could possibly be the answer for you too.

So, in conclusion, I offer this advice to those suffering with this dreadful condition.

(1) - Go online and get yourself a cheap Humidity Gauge for around £3.00.

(2) – Use it throughout the home for a week and see what readings you're getting.

(3) – If you find that you are getting high readings get yourself a dehumidifier.

(4) – The £120.00 that I paid for it was the best money I have ever spent in my life.

I CAN'T GUARANTEE IT BUT IT WORKED FOR ME – IT COULD ALSO WORK FOR YOU

sufferer2

How are you when your are out of the house, say to see a movie or go out to dinner? Can you walk around the block without breathing difficulties?

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