I was diagnosed with emphysema about three years ago. I was told that my lifetime of smoking has caught up with me, and that I had about ten years of reasonable health left, and that I can prolong this by giving up smoking, through diet and exercise.
I did change job for a much more physical one. My diet ahs always been pretty good, but, carried on smoking (I did try and give up many times).
Unlike many on here, I was pretty calm and fatalistic about all this, and accepting of my fate.
I do feel my condition worsening, but fail to see much point in prolonging things.
I am 57, divorced, no kids of my own, but a grandson through a step daughter, who is the absolute Apple of my eye.
My question, after all this rhetoric, is this in any way a common response to this sort of diagnosis, if not, can I be doing anything about it?
Written by
DaveHoughton
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Hello there, I have experience with psychology and acceptance is part of loss, usually following other emotional processes like anger, denial and bargaining, hearing 10 years reasonable health I think can contribute to your attitude of acceptance as it is quite a distant figure, I wonder if as time goes on and as you say your health has declined a bit whether you now question your acceptance a little. I am by no means a COPD expert, but I do believe the medical opinion and as others on here will testify that there is no exact way to predict how long you will remain healthy for or at what rate your lung function will decline, for some with mild emphysema the decline can be no more than expected with natural aging, for others it is quicker, I have read accounts on here of members that have been living with COPD for many years, but as you already understand for the most part your choices make a difference to that decline, smoking is going to speed up this process, think about it as already having caused and contributed massively to you having this condition, others on here will tell you it is NEVER too late to give up, you say you are active, maybe a bit more exercise that includes your grandson, implementing these two things may enable you to improve your outlook even further. Speak to the lung nurses here for more advice, All the very best.
Hi well if it gives you more years of healthy living I think it is worth packing the fags in. It can accelerate very quickly if you don't.
You may be suffering from depression.Yes, lots of people feel this, but you NEED to find a GOOD Pulmonary Doctor , one that you can connect with, get anti depressants, and begin to fight this.If you start to feel better in the head, you will be able to truly see that a fight can bring you results.Also know this, NOBODY will be able to tell you just how long you have left yet but you.Go for it, fight it, every day learn and deal. Heck, it is worth it.Life is worth it.
Most everyone thinks their diet is pretty good. Just how good is yours? A good diet for Emphysema is basically a Paleo diet or a Plant based diet (10% animal protein 90% vegetable. No processed food ie sausage salami etc and nothing out of a packet or a tin. All fresh veggies organic if you can afford them. No soft drinks etc. Follow this diet and you should live for years. Regards, Norm
Give up the cigs! I was a 40 a day man and was in hospital in 1992 on O2 so could not smoke unless I wanted to blow myself up. However from that day I have not smoked a single one since. Yes you will probably feel rough for some time. But when peeps say "I enjoy it" it is the addiction they are enjoying not the ciggy.
Go on to Vaping to get the habit side away and then give that up!
Get an e-cig - I did after being a pack-a-day smoker for 60+ years and never smoked another cigarette; that was 7 years ago and my pulmonary problems have improved to a point where they no longer bother me. Your lungs, your choice of course but you have a lot of living ahead of you and we never know what could be just around the corner - don't you want the chance to find out?
Hi Dave, let me ask you something. Have you ever received Chemo? I can find a gazillion reasons to keep on living! I read where you fail to see much point in prolonging things. The doctor seems to think that you probably have 10 more years left. What if he is wrong? What if you have 12 or 15? You can absolutely live a long time with emphysema! Especially if you have quit smoking. That alone can buy you years!! I recommend you spending all the time you can with that grandson! Go fishing one day. Let him catch and release them and don't forget to take a few pictures. Oh, and by the way, the next time you get to feeling down and out, depressed, and think life is not worth living---go to your nearest Oncology office, then go by the Chemo lab and take a walk through. It is very enlightening. Take your time to speak with some of the patients. I want you to keep this in mind---When you think life isn't worth living, take a look at these Chemo patients. They are having poison ran through their veins trying to live a little longer. They are fighting like heck to live longer. Fighting with everything they have. And when they finish that last Chemo treatment---it is one proud moment! I know. I've been there. Your condition is treatable. There is no guarantees in life, but the possibility is great, the odds are in your favor---you may live another 10 to 15 years....there is a lot of fish to be caught. Take a walk through a Chemo Lab, Then say your thank you prayers.
I hate to be the one to say it, but those e-cigs are all chemicals. The vapor is from chemicals. Please try to quit smoking another way. I know cigarettes have so many chemicals and additives, but the e-cigs are all chemicals too. Inhaling them is not healthy. There are patches, gum, etc. I quit with the gum. After smoking my entire adulthood, I quit with the gum, after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011. I just wanted to let you know about the e-cigs. Good luck on quitting. It's the hardest thing I have ever done, was quit smoking....I mean quitting for good. Hang in there Dave, you can do this!
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