I need to find a way forward after damaging my lungs

[gillygirl1]

Hi everyone, I joined this forum ages ago but felt too shy to post. I am 60 years old and was diagnosed with moderate COPD 5 years ago. I was in denial at first and continued smoking. I would get breathless on occasions but still managed to enjoy life.

Two years ago I started to feel really breathless and am now on salbutamol, Spivra and Serotide. I was hospitalised three times in six months. I then had a nasty fall and fractured my hip and pelvis. It transpired I have brittle bone disease. I haven't been very mobile which hasn't helped the lungs. I still suffer pain from the fractures and need a wheel chair to go out anywhere. Because of this I've tended to hide away from the world.

I got so depressed and have been feeling it's the end of my life now so I haven't stopped smoking completely yet. I feel ashamed and guilty. My family are very good to me but are obviously disappointed that although I've cut the cigs right down I haven't quit. I didn't think it was worth going through the agony of quitting.

Sorry if this is long winded, I'm not used to discussing how I feel. A recent CT scan showed that I have moderate emphysema but I have 37% lung function left so am severe. I came on here tonight as I have been very unwell for the last few days. Very breathless and lots of mucus. Taking prednisolone and antibiotics at present. After reading some marvellous posts I just felt a glimmer of hope that just maybe I can find a way forward.

[music]

Hi gillygirl1

Sorry for the problems you have been having with this copd and wonder if you might try the e-ciggs or vapeing to help you stop the smoking has it must be so hard for you to stop feeling how you do at the moment'

Also if you could get some sort of plan going with trying some sort of exercise and keeping has active has you can at home

When i had my hip opperataion last year i started doing exercise with just my arms at first sometimes use small weights and i did seem to get more fit has time went on.

I know how hard it must be for you at the moment but try anyway you can to keep has active has you can on any days you may be feeling ok to do, but you must stick to it/

and on the days you dont feel up to it use them days to rest.

you should get stronger and be able to do more has time goes...dont think this cold weather helps anyway.

Same has you i was diagnosed 5 years ago with moderate copd and went back to mild stage after working at i has was very unfit'

For me exercise i think has really helped me to slow the progresion of this copd down and learn to live with it.

Good luck and very best wishes

Music

[Hidden]

I’m 86 gillygirl1 so to me you are still young. Of course it’s worth the effort to stop smoking and to get on with a reasonably full life. You have a family to support you which many of us don’t have and you will now have many friends to help you along the way here on this group. Just keep posting and go for it. 😀👏

[sassy59]

Morning gillygirl, it’s good to see you are no longer hiding away and are now part of this great forum where nobody judges but just offers support and helpful advice where needed.

Try and eat well, exercise as and when you can and generally stay well. I hope your breathing improves and you feel better very soon.

Take heart, you are amongst friends. Xxxxx

[Pentreath Volunteer]

Well done in posting Gillygirl! It takes courage as many will know. You seem to have hit bottom, with good reason. Keep posting as you will get lots of encouragement and support. Hoping you have a good Christmas with your supportive family and that 2018 will see you on an upward direction.

[hypercat54]

Hi gillygirl nice to meet you and welcome. Please don't beat yourself up about smoking as most of us here have been smokers including myself.

I will tell you a little story. I was diagnosed mild at about the same age as you and I carried on smoking (I was a heavy smoker) for 9 more years. I have been lucky enough to stay mild but decided the fags had to go as I didn't want to progress to severe.

In July this year I joined the Quit site on here and managed to stop with the aid of patches and the inhalator. Because I did it slowly I didn't suffer agonies and it was quite a bit easier than I thought it would be, but I won't kid you it is still hard.

To my surprise many of my breathing difficulties had actually been caused by the smoking and not by my copd. I feel so much better as I cough much less, have more energy, look better and so on. I am not sure at severe how much benefit you would get but I am willing to bet there would be some improvement.

The members of the Quit site are amazing and extremely supportive and they build you up instead of running you down so you have the confidence to try and stop.

I hope this helps you a bit. Bev x

[jjnanna]

12 years ago I had a lung removed so now have COPD. Of course I gave up smoking the day before I went in for my op, but that doesn't mean that in every dream I am smoking!!! lol ... I am presently going to Pulmonary re-hab which is more about exercise than anything else but as I have osteoarthritis in my hips it is difficult but hey ho I am due for a pain relief injection in the new year so hopefully I will get some more relief with that. The re-hab is all go and the course is tough at first but I do enjoy it even if I am stiff next day. You need to do some form of exercise to build muscles up to support those brittle bones so may be worth having a word with Physio and see what is out there. Definately better if you can go to a class ..... Also if you are having trouble with mucus ask doc for Carbosisteine, they are very good and also ask for the breathing clinic to show you how to HUFF ...that is amazing and works for a lot of people. At the end of the day it is about wanting to live so if you do ... pull your socks up and think positive xxxx Merry Xmas x

[mskpjb]

Hi gillygirl1 . Well now you've done it I hope you'll never be too shy to post again. Don't beat yourself up about the smoking lots of us had to keep trying before we finally gave up the evil weed. Many use a vape now. Concentrate on what you can do not what you can't and don't hide away - you've got years ahead of you yet. By the sound of things you're in the throes of an infection at the moment so I hope you're soon feeling better. Happy Christmas to you and yours, Sheila x

[Donie]

I too at times want to hide away and have to push myself to come out of my shell. I have stage 4 lung cancer and copd. I am 63. It really does help to associate with others that understand our battles. It inspires me so much and gives me a positive outlook. I gave up the cigarettes with Chantix. Expensive but I had no choice. I live in the US and there is tobacco programs to assist. I loved my cigarettes but it has been 6 months and I am glad they are out of my life. It is hard to learn a whole new life with health problems. I hate the side effects of all the meds I am on. I just started Albuterol and have to get used to it. I do Keytruda treatments for cancer. I eat healthy and try to do exercises. It is hard. At times I have to vent. It makes me feel better. At times I have to force myself to do anything at all. I have always been active so this new life is somewhat boring and I can only move so fast any more. I will hang in there and I sure love and appreciate the inspiration from all the good people here. You too, hang in there and realize there will be bad days. We just have to keep fighting and there is a whole lot of us fighting the same battle. Stay strong and you are never alone.

[Stumpy55]

Hello gillygirl1, reading in between the lines of your story I think you are definitely in need of support and a link with like minded people, so stay with us and let us support you. I am 62 years old with stage 4 copd emphaseama and osteoporosis and like you I have breathing problems like most people on this forum, it is scary and agonising at times, knowing how to breath properly helps me to calm down. I'm wheelchair bound due to having one leg, due to vascular Disease so the only excersise I can do is head, shoulders chair and foot chair and foot lol. My husband is my absolute rock but he didn't really understand when I am panicking, people here do. As for the smoking gilly, try not to be so hard on yourself most of us have smoked in the past and the fact you have cut down, well done. With me I kept putting it off until next week and adventually got there. You need encouragement . We all know it's better for our health but we😊do it in our own time and way. Don't give up ✋️😊