mild copd

[bryan45735]

Hi everyone havant posted for ages just have a question I'm very mild copd apparently I'm 45 years old i was diagnosed because of my anxiety not because of symptoms i guess so as I was saying I'm 45 years old when I got tested my lung age was 55 so I gave up smoking 8 months on my lung age is 53 no fans for 8 months I walk for miles most days a much better diet but I'm constantly on edge because I google and read bad things i just recently spoke to my copd nurse and she said that its more anxiety with me i only get really out of breath when walk up hill but I soon get breath back but if I'm thinking about my breathing it goes to pot i don't really no how to tackle this as its getting to me im not on any inhalers as of yet im doing all the right things I keep thinking im past mild and into moderate now, any advice would be very much appreciated thankyou

[Spacecat1]

Know how you feel bryan45735. I have copd too plus anxiety. I tend to get worked up over things like this morning I woke up at 7am ( I'm usually up at 6.45am snd by the time I got downstairs I had a panic attack took ages to calm myself down all because I was late up. Had to take some orimorph to help calm myself down. I have now calmed down. Did my usual breathing exercises. Hope your ok

[bryan45735 in reply to Spacecat1]

Hiya to be honest I'm scared

[Spacecat1 in reply to bryan45735]

It can be scary to begin with is there a local group at your hospital or gp surgery. My respiratory nurse nurse put me in contact with a group called fab. They helped me a lot they helped me with controlling my breathing through tai chi. And helping with diet etc. It helped me a lot. It was a 9 week course.

Have you got inhalers to help you.

I have a blue inhaler to take out and about. Speak to respertory nurse at your surgery.

It starts to sink in. You do start to understand what your lungs are going through.

Do you have a cough or is it just a breathing

Take care x

[bryan45735 in reply to Spacecat1]

Hi I dont cough I don't have inhaler as the nurse and doctors don't think I need any as its anxiety I can walk 30 miles in a day as for the course I'm not at a significant stage apparently to go to one just have to learn to control my breathing i think its copd but the doctors ect say its more anxiety x

[K-Kilcoyne]

I'm mild too, at diagnosis a friend told me to stay away from Google, smart arse that I am I looked and feel like you do now.

Another COPD sufferer said find a happy place when the Panic starts coming, take as deep a breathe as you can, close your eyes and just breath.

I've two happy places my grandchildren ❤️ and Ibiza.

Doesn't matter where or who it is you just need to find it and use it.

Hope this helps.

Also plenty of people on this site who will have advice through experience.

Take care 🙂😷

[bryan45735 in reply to K-Kilcoyne]

thanks for the good advice take care too

[Bkin]

- You can walk miles and manage without inhalers, you gave up smoking all huge pluses

- You've been told the main problem is anxiety, you get scared when you read bad things on google - the obvious solution to that is to stop googling and reading bad thing, that will go along way to help with your anxiety.

The worry about going into moderate - so very unlikely as you are managing what you are without inhalers -- another huge plus.

Breathless going up hill having to stop and catch your breath, yes many of us are the same even with inhalers. Some would be needing to stop and recover 3-5 times.

Breathlessness is no biggy - its the way life is with COPD,

Rejoice in what you can still do, all without inhalers. Just wonderful.

Hope you will be reassured and less anxious knowing that you are still very mild and your anxiety can be managed by not believing the mind chatter and 'bad things' on google.

Enjoy all what you can achieve, breathing easy.

[bryan45735 in reply to Bkin]

Wow thanks for that statement anxiety in its self is horrible x

[JS67]

Hi. So sorry that you are feeling anxious. I too am suffering from breathlessness and a tight chest, but I'm not sure whether it is an asthma attack or severe anxiety as the symptoms are so similar. My GP has recently prescribed Fostair Nexthaler but it doesn't seem to be working as my chest still feels tight and I am unable to take deep breaths. My Ventolin reliever inhaler doesn't seem to help either. The problem is all the advice for anxiety suggests concentrating on breathing techniques and taking deep breaths, but to be honest, the last thing I want to focus on is my breathing, as I am unable to take deep breaths, either due to asthma or anxiety, and it makes me even more anxious! So I'm now trying to get my asthma under control with the Fostair and if that doesn't work, I'll assume the tight chestedness is due to anxiety. I also eat healthily and do 2-3 hrs cardio and weight exercises every day, even though I am breathless, as I'm hoping it will help to distract me from my anxiety. If I am able to rule out the issue as asthma, I'll contact my GP to discuss other techniques for dealing with my anxiety including medication if necessary.

I hope you manage to resolve your issues. Good luck.

[stayinga in reply to JS67]

when you get anxious I strongly advise you to STOP and do purse lip breathing [PLB]........ big breath in through the nose [as if smelling flowers] and slowly out through the mouth [as if blowing candles out] ... this should help you keep calm ....... stay safe

[JS67 in reply to stayinga]

Thank you so much Stayinga for your advice. I'll keep persevering with the breathing techniques and hope that I learn how to cope.

Bryan45735 - thinking of you. Hope you feel better soon.

[stayinga]

Hi bryan45735.............. you seem to be uncertain of your lung damage which is causing you to worry needlessly .............. your SOB is very small and you are exercising brilliantly ....... therefore the only option is for you to know EXACTLY how damaged your lungs really are and that can be done VERY easily with a spirometry test .......... you need to know your FEV1% which will show what stage you are......... I would be happy if I could do half of what you can..... STOP GOOGLING get a spirometry test ...... good luck ....stayinga

[bryan45735 in reply to stayinga]

I've had a spirometry im at mild

[bryan45735 in reply to stayinga]

I was told someone my age and wait is 70% im 68% and the nurse said very mild

[Ergendl in reply to bryan45735]

After following all the advice on this site and running singing classes for people with lung problems, my spirometry showed I had improved my lung function from the top end of moderate to the low end of normal. I still get breathless going up hills.

The moral of the story is, be careful what you read online.

[bryan45735 in reply to Ergendl]

Thanks for your feedback means alot I cant determin if my breathing is anxiety or copd I wake up in morning then I find i am hungry for air so I get up and do things then it goes im thinking about my breathing 24/7

[stayinga in reply to bryan45735]

that is stage 2 so all is cool .... stop worrying please

[bryan45735 in reply to stayinga]

I only done a spirometry Feb very mild shorley I cant be stage 2 in 4 months

[Bingo88]

Hi Bryan 45735. Another Brian here i was told i had severe copd June last year Had a 1 to 1 with a Respiratory nurse and told i dont need inhalers either at present Which seemed strange for Severe. But i just keep plodding on as we do. Just stop googling. Because that's helping to make your anxiety worse Pal. Just try and stay positive carry on doing what you're doing exercise wise That all helps to keep your lungs working and clear as possible We are all here for support . So just try to look forward plan for days out and holidays eventually It all helps me to carry on and be motivated Take care Brian

[bryan45735 in reply to Bingo88]

Hi Brian I suffer really bad health anxiety and I have a 3 year old boy and a puppy so pretty stressful at mo but I've said before my breathing is weard I would be just sitting there and I comes out of no were its no the kind of breathing you get when you exercise its like got to keep my mouth open shallow like feeling

[Bingo88 in reply to bryan45735]

Hi bryan45735. I would be getting it checked out just to be on the safe side Its better if you know what causes it And then hopefully avoid it happening in the future Keep in touch Brian

[bryan45735 in reply to Bingo88]

I have a 5cm hiatus hernia that may not help

[Timepiece]

Hi Bryan you sound like me. Waiting to pick up my fostair from chemist. Struggle breathing and anxiety it is all part and parcel I think of the condition. Will try fostair see how I get on. I am moderate Copd/ asma tight chest also. There is no quick fix for this condition. But very scary and other people don’t have a clue how it makes you feel. Unless it’s someone going through the same. Keep talking and get as much support as you can ⏱🧼 makes all the difference.

[stayinga in reply to Timepiece]

struggling to breathe is always scary and all I can suggest is to stop and do PLB .... Deep breath thru the nose [smell the flowers] and slowly blow the candles out thru pursed lips PLB [pursed lip breathing] try this a few times and see if helps OK......... Stay safe

[Hidden]

Hi Bryan. Just to say I hope you found the feedback on your spirometry numbers reassuring. Based off those readings you posted earlier, I’d be inclined to say at least some of what you’ve been experiencing is anxiety rather than related to COPD and your lungs.

[bryan45735 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Charlie thankyou I'm just Confused I was told by my doctor that if I game up smoking ect the disease would holt and would not get worse the only way it does is because all lungs age as we get older but the disease would not get worse i can't see it would as dont smoke now I had chest xray all normal no significant damage done and when I had my spirometry done in Feb my copd nurse said my lung function was close to normal yet my breathing problem is like a shallow breathing i have to try and relax and not think too much and thanks for your time charlie