Bit lost still,I did register but not sure if my first message counts or got anywhere can’t see it .So here goes ...

[Cruiseliner]

Helllo All, firstly Thanks to you all the information forthcoming on here is great.I have said this before but to cut it short I was diagnosed in Feb 2018 just weeks before my 50th Birthday, I initially had pneumonia saw the doc heard crackling in lungs , was ok for a while similar symptoms again so back to docs ,sent to A&E clear X-ray on lungs clear CT scan . Heart all good, sent home with a blue inhaler advised to visit lung nurse at my GP surgery, ok did this over few months but all chaotic, each appointment was a nightmare.Nurse off sick ,Breathing machine not working or broken. Basically the nurse said yes You have COPD, very mild you gave up smoking 1 year ago ,( now 1 and 1/2 years non smoker). Thanks Goodbye we will be in touch in a year.So off I go I have a bad chest about March this year phlegm changing colour so I ring GP.s and I see no one have a chat with a locum doctor on the phone he was nice but hey I didn’t see a doc again ,a prescription was sent to my local pharmacy took the antibiotics and (touchwood) have been ok since the odd coughing fit I live and work London ,so pollutiion is terrible.Now after all that I feel ok most of the time I am fat and unfit I have started excerice though more walking and an excerise bike, I am in for weight lose surgery in 4 weeks ( no not the nhs I am paying private) not loaded just I feel I have to help myself here.took on a second job. Now I feel ok is this normal I thought I would be dead in 5 or so years after first looking up COPD, it’s the summerI have the odd coughing fits like I am a smoker again ! I put it down to pollution in London, I am dreading the cold weather I feel very let down by by local surgery in 20 years of being a patient I must have been a dozen times until I had this ,Do I spend my time googling help as I found this site and paying private for help which I can not really afford my home will be the next to go. ? Sorry it’s long Folks and am sure I m not the first ,again thank you for this site I feel a tad better typing the whole thing anyway.Good health to you all Cruiseliner.

[sassy59]

Welcome to you Cruiseliner, it’s good that you’ve told us a lot about yourself and how you are now. This is a great site with kind and caring people who will be happy to help and advise you.

I do wish you well with surgery but wonder if you could exercise within your capabilities and eat sensibly, it would save you a lot of money. See if your GP will refer you to a specialist as London has many.

Take care and good wishes to you. Xxxxx

[Cruiseliner in reply to sassy59]

Thanks Sassy59 for your reply ,it’s real lol, I have lost faith at present in my GP surgery I am determined to go ahead with my weight lose operation, there are other factors my other half has waited 2 years for an operation on the nhs and in the mean time has developed further problems.Thing is we both work full time have our own home and claim nothing from the state. We have to help ourselves ,your reply is much appreciated take care .

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome to the site Cruiseliner..relax and enjoy your among friends and fellow sufferers,Ger

[hypercat54]

Hi nice to meet you. Your experience at the surgery was typical for us copders especially us mild ones. I was diagnosed by a respiratory nurse and only have a review once a year too. My doctors actually refuse to discuss my copd with me as 'We don't have time' and 'The nurses know more than we do anyway'. This is just what we get I'm afraid.

The good news is you are mild and whilst there are no guarantees with copd and it is a progressive disease the chances are very much in your favour against progressing to a more severe level. Not smoking and leading a healthy lifestyle will help this no end especially the not smoking bit. I must admit my lifestyle isn't healthy but I have remained at the same level for 10 years now mainly through luck but you can't count on that.

Stay away from Dr Google as you will go from a mild cough to dead in 3 clicks. Stay with us as we are the ones who live with lung disease. x

[Bkin]

Welcome Cruiseliner.

Very mild COPD the docs won't be overly concerned with and it is quite normal only to have annual checks when condition is stable even for people with moderate to severe COPD. In my experience its normal for more frequent test only when a person is having repeated exacerbations throughout the year or not recovering from a chest infection etc.

London is renowned for pollution, people living in london generally have a lower reading on the spirometry test for lung age (so my brothers respiratory nurse told him).

I find I cough with any kind of poor air quality, but as soon as I remove myself from the room or area I no longer cough, unless I do have a lung infection that is.

Its good you have a diagnosis early this gives you chance to learn the does and don'ts regarding living with COPD. Ask your GP for a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

Check with the BLF website to learn more about COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation, the importance of regular exercise, avoiding smoke of any kind, avoiding wherever possible people infected with a cold or flu virus. Get annual flu shot and ask your doctor about having the pneumonia shot as well, its routine with people diagnosed with COPD but sometimes you have to ask.

BLF website: blf.org.uk/

and don't hesitate to contact the BLF helpline for further support and information.

Look after your lungs, best wishes BK

[Alfiebax2]

Hi there and welcome .I'm so sorry about your health practise .I too have a GP that is not really on the ball with COPD .I pushed for everything I needed this last year .I asked to be referred to my consultant at my local hospital had loads more tests the I got a referral to The Royal Brompton Hospital in London .I have been going there since Oct 2017 and the upshot is I'm having an op on my lungs 10 th September this year .If I hadn't of pushed for all this I'd still be waiting which is no good as my condition is now stage 4 .Ask to see a consultant at your local hospital and take it from there .I wish you luck with your surgery and keep in touch ,this site is the best .good wishes to you love Babs ❤️ xxx

[Ergendl]

When you lose weight after your weight loss op, you should find it a bit easier to breathe. Fat around the lungs, heart and abdomen can get in the way of breathing properly. It might also help you to look up diaphragm breathing and/or singing lessons on YouTube, to help you control the breathing you do have. All the best, M.

[corriena]

Your gp is unfortunately all to common but not all gp surgerys are like them. Phone up for a non emergancy appontment to discuss your copd. Take a list of questions . With mild copd it is normal to feel ok (normal) and you may only notice symptoms when you become unwell or with pollution, smoke, fumes ect about. Try and stay away from people with coughs and colds etc try and work out if anything particular makes your breathing feel worse so you can try and avoid it. Exercise and a healthy diet are key to keeping your copd at mild it may never progress past this stage most people with copd who give up smoking and exercise and eat well will live well into their old age so forget the 5 year stuff dr google tells you utter noncence. Remember the blf help line is a wonderfull place to get good advice. Try and avoid infections as the damage caused cant be repaird. Try not to worry about it and get on with life. Good luck with your op.

[Buzzytruk]

Hi,. Greetings and welcome to this happy group.

Had a similar problem with Gp surgery and an apathetic nurse, I changed the GP practice and all is very much better.

Jo.

[SquirrelsHolt]

Welcome,welcome,welcome! The best part of Googling you did was to find this forum and you can see from all the replies, that you will get first hand,expert opinions on all things to do with lungs in general. Many,including myself have COPD, and we're all at different stages and are affected differently - so you see there's not "a typical" sufferer. Some of us find the depression and anxiety when in the severe stage,our biggest worry whilst others can stay mild to moderate by exercise,drinking plenty of water and not smoking. The honest chances are,any one of us could be hit by another illness which is why its important to get it into perspective. Looking forward to seeing you here!

[lKeith]

Cruiseliner

I moved away from London some 13 years ago for pollution reasons and am sure it is a lot worse now so you have my sympathy.

It sounds like you may need to change your doctor practice, getting no support for something like COPD or a lung problem is not right. There are treatments, inhalers, nebulisers (using Salbutamol)and tablets that could help for which you need specialist help & advice.

Lungs are precious things that do not mend easily if at all don't let a "don't seem care" practice ruin it for you. Good on you for trying to get the weight off. Try to keep it off, eat sensibly and try (when fit enough) to exercise, walking etc to keep things functioning, (although in London you may need a mask against pollution) . It's also good that you have given up the cigs they harm the lungs more than we tend to realise, keep off them.

IKeith

[Cruiseliner]

Thanks to all for your replies, I was not expecting such a lovely response lots of good information, I shall certainly be taking notes and following up your advice. Take care all.