Depression

[Margie2553]

Hi my second post first was yesterday am really struggling with this diagnosis of copd my head is all over the place have pulled myself through cancer and kidney failure but this seems so different everything seems a bit pointless

[2greys]

Take heart that most of us here have been in the same situation, with the shock and dismay, on diagnosis, that they have a chronic disease. Don't let your mind run away with despair. You can and will have a good life in the future, it just means a change in lifestyle, a small adjustment to your daily life that will bring big dividends.

I have severe COPD, am 66 years and an ex-smoker, I work full time as an engineer and also improved my lung function through exercising. My life is far from over, in fact the truth is that I will probably live longer now than if I had carried on with my old lifestyle without getting COPD.

Worrying about it is not doing you any favours at all. Anxiety will actually make you even more short of breath, which makes you anxious and even more short of breath again, in a vicious downward spiral. Take a little time and read some of the past posts here and you will discover that you are not alone and what you are currently going through is a common reaction to the news.

Hopefully you will start your rehab course soon. Take care and be strong, don't give in to that urge to light-up a ciggy it is imperative that you don't smoke again, in fact avoid breathing in ANY kind of smoke or fumes.

[Margie2553 in reply to 2greys]

I've had it two years but wasn't told and not referred for treatment was told it was water retention from my kidney failure feel let down so i have coped with it just in shock your words are very inspiring

[Margie2553 in reply to 2greys]

my problem is when nurse said its bad 3 how fast does it progress

[2greys in reply to Margie2553]

Sorry for the late reply I've been at the hospital all afternoon. So you are at stage 3? which is the same as me. By following all the good advice you should be able to stop it's rapid progress and your lungs will only deteriorate slowly at the normal aging rate. Even healthy peoples lungs will deteriorate slowly as they age. You can have many years of good quality life left yet.

[Margie2553 in reply to 2greys]

Your post has made me feel better i can cope with illness i have for yearsits just all the info seemed to be doom and gloom

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi please don't give up hope,we've all been there, its hard to accept at first but you will come to terms with it. Try to stay positive exercise and eat healthy. There is plenty of support about,especially on here. Don't ever feel alone. Please take care and let us know how you are doing.Have a lovely day 😊 xxx Bernadette

[Margie2553 in reply to Damon1864]

Thank you i will come to terms with it like i did when i was told i had cancer and kidney failure

[Damon1864 Volunteer in reply to Margie2553]

you are never alone,we are all here to help and support you. Never be afraid it worried about asking anything, or if you just want to have a rant. Have a lovely day 😊 xx Bernadette

[Badbessie]

You have lived with it for two years already. In some ways what's changed? You just have a diagnosis. It does come as a shock. But renal failure is not the easiest condition to deal with let alone cancer but you pulled through. I think once the shock passes you with find the strength to fight on.

[Margie2553 in reply to Badbessie]

The kidney failure has been stable for five years can severe copd stabilise that long if i knew it could I'd be happy with that it's the not knowing that's driving me mad

[Badbessie in reply to Margie2553]

You can stabilise it yes, Take heart from how others have coped, I am fitter now than before diagnosis.

[Hidden]

Pull.yourself up out the mire ..you have kicked cancers ass and lived to tell the tale ...don't let this condition get you down take it on the chin and fight back like you did your other conditions...if you smoke stop ...if you don't exercise start ...change of diet take advice from your GP and nurse regards medication ...and if you think you are going to be depressed because of it then get help for that to ....don't think your alone cause your not big huggy from me xxxx

[revagayle]

You are not alone. We have all been there. Lots of exercise, heart healthy diet & meds will all help slow the progression. Take care, Gayle

[Margie2553]

I am usually positive I've beaten cancer am diabetic and have been five years with kidney failure each time I've pulled myself up these always had hope but copd doesn't but i hope i will get my head around it what i don't understand is if it's severe how i have no cough wheezing mucus use a walker but I'm out and about and active do all my housework washing ironing sleep fine it confuses me your words are very encouraging thank you

[twopars12]

Hi Margie, you know the copd can be controlled and you can have many years ahead of you despite the fact it will be much slower and sometimes physically demanding but you have to take into account that your not getting any younger. I believe you would benefit from talking to someone regarding what's going on inside your head, a doctor who could put your mind at ease.

Take care.

[Margie2553 in reply to twopars12]

I am going to talk to the doctor next week been called in because of my kidney function test apparently not urgent but another worry i do face up to facts but it's the the uncertainty that's hard a nurse is ringing me tomorrow from the lung foundation for a chat which i hope will help i keep wondering how other people have dealt with it probably better than me 💓the peeps on here so supportive

[twopars12 in reply to Margie2553]

I wish you well Margie and no doubt you will be fine, take care.

[Clamdigger]

It's a shock when you hear such a diagnosis but Im going vegan my mother cleaned up her whole diet and got off the kidney list her numbers went back up.. I going to juice and go vegan I'm going to fight this every step and I'm using food good clean food. My mother was suppose to die ten year ago she thought she would never see her eighties that is what they drs said. She had two strokes heart surgeries kidney copd . She looked into changing her whole diet. Got of the kidney list and the Dr's are shocked the kidney Dr phoned her and asked what she was doing... Her meds all droped like diabetic meds really reduced. I have been looking into this. China study plus Gerson to many people fight by changing there diet.. My mother is living proof. So when I get home I'm going Vegan and I have never told any one this in my life that I don't know. But lift yourself up look things up on the interenet and start the fight with food good pure food.