I was diagnosed 4years ago with Copd and it gets me down terribly. A paramedic told me mine was mild but I stiil find it hard to deal with - always on my mind. I don t know how to manage it - seems to affect my stomach most - sorry if I have been saying all this before
Paul
Don’t apologise Paul, we here to listen. Having a long term health problem is scary.
You need to speak with your doctor about your anxiety and remember we’re here for you. Take care xxxxx
I was diagnosed at 47 with moderate copd. I’m now 58 with very severe. My diagnosis came as a real surprise as I was being treated for arthritis and my rhuematologist had given me methotrexate. After 4 weeks I began to feel winded. The rest is history. My point is there are so many variations in copd. I had no symptoms at all of shortness of breath until the methotrexate. Then after stopping the med my breathing pretty much returned to how it was. While I am sorry you are feeling unwell it does interest me that some become short of breath at the mild stage. It’s impossible to know the progression of copd with so many variables. Each persons copd is so different.
I was diagnosed with Asthma years after taking medication to reduce blood pressure - the leaflet with the medication states that a side effect could be breathlessness???
I informed my GP who said the side effects are worth taking to avoid a heartattack??? So what is worse???
I can't stop heart tablets to see if my breathing returns to normal - but now have to take inhalers to help the shortness of breath...??
It seems to be a viscous circle- my best wishes to you.
Methotrexate is well known for the side effect of damaging lungs. When prescribed I was told if you begin to have breathlessness stop taking it immediately. This led to my eventual alpha one ZZ diagnosis.
We are all here to listen. It is hard to take in I was diagnosed inv2008 very mild. But I did the idiot and carried on quietly smoking which didn't help. I eventually had a really bad time 3 years ago. I got to a stage were I needed help just wouldn't allow myself to think my copd was getting worse. Hubby ended up calling an ambulance and I got help. Never been afraid to speak to your gp. It is scary but let him/her know how you are feeling he maybe able to help put you in an easier frame of mind to cope.
Please speak to your gp or consultant about how you feel x
Stick with it Paul. It’s not easy, I know. I would like to wish you and urs a good Christmas and a happy new year. 👍🤓🎁🎉🎅🎄
Hi don't be sorry we know how you feel, and it's natural to feel like that. Just take each day at a time exercise, eat healthy and above all stay positive. Go and see your GP and tell them about your stomach they may be able to either adivse or give you something to help. Have a lovely day and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx
Just remember Paul COPD is not terminal its progressive. You determine how to manage this. I was diagnosed 10yrs ago Severe COPD and still severe after all this time. I still get around albeit a little slower but we all slow down with age anyway . Just be Positive and stay active. Along with COPD comes anxiety so just try not to worry. Good luck and good health. xx Sheila
I have advanced pulmonary fibrosis, so yes it is natural to feel down, I have been in and out of hospital until a month ago, when I had all the stuff to help me breath, but thanks to the very great folks on here, and listening to advice, I now cope a lot better, and my advice to you is air your views and feelings on here, and you will get the support from fellow sufferers, I sincerely wish you well, and hope and pray you have a great Christmas and a happy new year.
Finally quote.
" Don't let the B&**-&we grind you down.
God bless you.
Paul don't apologize, everyone needs someone to talk to.
I was diagnosed in 2002 and I am still in the moderate range. The only advice I can give you is to eat right, exercise and talk to your doctor about any questions you mat have
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and praying you will feel better in the coming year. 🎄🎁
Hi Paul. I was diagnosed in 2015 with moderate COPD. Since then I improved my exercising regime and started running singing for lung health groups, plus followed a lot of advice on this site about avoiding infections, etc. My present FEV1 readings place me back in the lower end of the normal range for my age.
So think about joining a singing group, or at least trying YouTube videos showing diaphragmatic breathing and then sing lots of carols. Nothing to lose and it may well help.
We need to keep moving even when it's hard, my experience is the more we move the more we can. Check with your doc first though
Breathing is something that the majority of people take for granted but we all understand on here. I hope you find a way to deal with it soon, we all cope in different ways.
Sorry you feel like this , its crap, but I'm going to be frank....you can choose....live out the rest of your life fretting and worrying or live it detached from this COPD and milk everything you can do ! Maybe you need some counselling to gain strategies to think differently about this, or antidepressant/anti anxiety meds.
However, you cant do a damn thing about the illness . You can not let it beat you or define you. One thing is for sure friends are not interested in us harping on about our health. They dont understand . So choose life not a living death. See your GP and get referred to psychology or look for free counselling in the area. Often there are charities who do this. Good luck and let us know how you get on. 
Paul, all the replies are great advice. I've been following this thread/forum for a few years now really trying to figure out my shortness of breath. My problem is not being able to on demand to take a really deep breath. When I am not thinking about it occasionally a nice deep breath happens and I relish it so much. But 1/2 pack a day smoker on and off over 45 years and am feeling the effects. Brought this up to my Cardiologist in August and told him my Primary care doctor stated it wasn't my lungs as the spirometry test show FEV1 at 88% and all other readings were good for age, race, weight (criteria they use). I was diagnosed with mild as well. So Cardiologist had a echocardiogram and stress test. First no problems but flunked the stress test. Off to hospital catherization lab. Right and left heart cath performed. No blockage requiring a stents. But told I have a diastolic dysfunction and probably the reason for shortness of breath. Can be treated with medication. Back to primary care doc who placed me on Thiazide Diuretic very small dosage (12.5mg). One month later I had afib RVR. Pretty scary. two days after that happened again and then diagnosed with paraoxsmal afib (can come on for no reason whatsoever). Now taking a beta blocker and blood thinner. Of course they irritate the gut and now taking protonix to knock down acid. I still have shortness of breath but more frequent now. Afraid to exercise that the afib is gonna happen again because it happened two times during exercise (once on exercise bike and second after a beautiful approach shot to the green with a short iron). I really am at a loss with this mild copd and now AFIB. Hoping to see how it all plays out. Stay strong my man and do come to this forum as someone has been down this road before us and may provide us with insight on things to come. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Hello paul.I am the same I found out a year and half ago and feel low.It hard to come to terms with im sure we will in time.I hope you have good doctors mine not supportive nor my family.I hope you get support and understanding.
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