Me at work advice please

[Vonnie50]

Hi all I am 50 years young and diagnosed recently with Emphysema and Ashma🙁 cried for days totally terrified hoping this group can give me some hope and positivity. I love looking after everyone goodness know how I look after myself. I have two grown up children and a 4 month granddaughter. Recently had to leave my job at the vets as makes my breathing worse. Any tips welcome, single lady needs friends

[Newfie1]

Hi Vonnie, I am a 51 yr old woman, 2 kids in college, one highschool. I came by my lung issue through smoking, dust and fumes from carpentry and a mysteriously aquired case of TB, which Dr's told me left on 20% of lungs. Thefirst thing I want to say is ddon't let them write you off, give you 15 meds and an oxygen bottle and prepare to die. Look into me some natural remedies, which have helped me tremendousley, no meds. Now I'm not hiking up my mountain daily as I once did, I hike slower, still work making rustic furniture, still carry all the groceries up the stairs. I am very careful To avoid germs as it tend to end in pneumonia, but even that I found I can beat back with some natural antibiotics, no side effects. Please look into medicinal Mushrooms, cordyceps, chaga, reishi. Also an amino acid called NAC, I credit this with clearing my lungs, magnesium. For sudden symptoms, I brew up A pint of fresh ginger tumeric, onions, raw honey and take a few tablespoons daily and as needed. This stuff has so improved my immune system that most days I forget I have a problem, even though I still struggle with smoking. There is so much out there thecdrug companies don't want you to see. I believe in many cases. The drugs are worse then the symptoms and dont work to heal the respiratory system. Be strong, its your body, let it do the work it was made to do, minus the poison.

[Vonnie50 in reply to Newfie1]

I do agree on side effects of many drugs horrendous. I am glad you are doing so well and will look in to natural recipes from Mother Nature 👍

[Vonnie50 in reply to Vonnie50]

Where did you get them from ?

[Feelingblessed2013]

Hi Vonnie,

At 56 I was diagnosed with "mild" emphysema and stage 2 lung cancer. I lost the upper left lobe, have been cancer free since, and my emphysema is still considered "mild".

I smoked for over 30 years but quit years ago (at the time of diagnosis it had been at least 13 years). Try not to let this disease terrify you, it is not a death sentence. I am now 61 and my emphysema is still mild (my mother lived well into her 80's).

My best advice is to do your best to avoid the "trigger smells/scents" that bother you (this is unfortunately different for everyone), and listen to your body, it will tell you when something is wrong. You also need to start taking care of yourself and not just everyone else. As care givers, we tend to take care of everyone else and put ourselves last, that needs to change now. I do my best to eat right, try to avoid processed food and chemicals, and I eat fresh foods as much as possible, a lot of fruits and vegetables. My rule of thumb when I see something I want at the grocery store is if I don't recognize the ingredients as food, I won't eat it. I wish you all the best, keep in touch. We are here if you need us.

[Vonnie50 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

What a lovely reply you made my day thank you very much xx

[revagayle]

Hi Vonnie, I am a 62 year old woman with mild/moderate emphysema. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago. I also cried for days & was terrified. This was the first site that I joined. It helped me more than you can ever imagine. Remaining positive is half the battle. Three days before Christmas last year they found a spot on my lung. I was on my way to my daughters house to be with my 3 grandchildren. I cried most of the way there (19 hours). But once I got there I bucked up & told no one. I was determined to have a good Christmas. Actually it turned out to be the best one ever. I made such an effort to "be present" & soaked in every moment. When I returned home I went to see an oncologist & he thinks the spot is an infection & will repeat the CT in 6 months. To me that is one of the biggest problems with this diagnosis--lots of crappy things pop up to cause us anxiety. We just try to push forward & enjoy life. There I another site called Team Inspire that is very good. Also on facebook there is group Ultimate Pulmonary Wellness, COPD, IPF, et al. Very good group. Take care, Gayle

[Vonnie50 in reply to revagayle]

Don’t think I ever cried so much in my life . My son is 30 and daughter 23 and granddaughter 4 months. Would like to be around and able for many many years best wishes and thank you

[andyrrc in reply to Vonnie50]

I also have emphysema and my father has had this since 1972 (at least that's when I found out he had it ) and he is still with us at the age of 82 - 45 years later. he never smoked and really no one can say how he contracted it. So don't give up the fight you have many years in front of you, just keep well, follow the rules, avoid the triggers, eat well and exercise and you will see your great grandchildren as well.

[Vonnie50 in reply to andyrrc]

What a lovely post from a lovely man thank you sir so much

[andyrrc in reply to Vonnie50]

My pleasure, I was diagnosed in 2013 and was in denial for 4 years but this year I had 2 serious exacerbations one after the other and that decided me on putting myself straight and accepting the situation. even though it has only been two months of following the rules I already notice a difference and I hope to be around for many many years yet.

Keep well and thanks you for your words

Andrew

NB I am a Brit. across the world in Saudi Arabia working at the moment and even with the continual sand dust in the air following the rules make a huge difference.

[Yvonneh1234 in reply to Vonnie50]

Me too ! I actually was naive thinking you could only get this when older I was devastated at the thought of not been here for my 3 children especially my disabled son who relies on me a lot now I’ve also got a grandson and I’ve got 2 stone to go and will be my ideal weight ☺️it’s been a long couple of years and hard work trying lose the weight but hopefully it will benefit my health and I think it’s a small price to pay so that I can be with my children an grand kids xx

[Vonnie50 in reply to Yvonneh1234]

We need to be here I don’t want to miss seeing my grandchildren either. I need to lose a bit of weight too for the first time ever and finding it very hard to do x message me anytime x

[Hidden]

Hi, Vonnie.

I am down to 29% gas exchange, althoug˙ my FIV1 is still good (I think; seeing the doc tomorrow). About 2 years ago they told me I had weeks, maybe months. Low gas exchange, it turns out is really bad. Well, that was almost 2 years ago and I am still going, if not strong, at least OK. Oxy 24/7 but walk with my best friend, dog named Harry, twice a day for a total of just under a mile. This is in Salt Lake City, town with the worst air pollution in the U.S. So al I can say is "keep on keeping on!"

[Vonnie50]

Your story is inspiring keep up the good work 💖

[Shads71]

Hi Vonnie, I was diagnosed with severe emphysema 4 years ago, and am still working and swimming 5 times a week. I joined this site yesterday and am so glad I did, all the information is so helpful, I wish I had joined years ago. Wishing you the best, Tracey.

[Vonnie50]

So pleased to here that and keep up the brilliant work Hun xxx

[Mimibx3]

Where do you live?

[Vonnie50 in reply to Mimibx3]

Maidstone Kent

[Yvonneh1234]

hi just seen this as I’m quite new to this site I was diagnosed emphysema copd at 42 I was devastated at first I was a heavy smoker an was brought up with all family members smoking I got my diagnosis and stopped smoking I also have a disabled son who is 13 I went down the path of not doing much because of breathlessness an putting a lot of weight on since then ive recently kicked myself up the bum and made some lifestyle changes which i should have done before I’m now on medication and hopefully the right track ☺️x

[Vonnie50 in reply to Yvonneh1234]

So glad to hear this well done x

[Yvonneh1234]

sorry to ask I have a lot of muscle aching in chest when coughing every time I get chest infection cough or cold the aching can last for weeks could you recommend anything natural to ease this as I can’t have ibuprofen or anti inflammatories xx

[Vonnie50 in reply to Yvonneh1234]

Strange as suffering with this too at the moment . I’m using hot lemon drink with grated ginger and turmeric in seems to help x

[Yvonneh1234 in reply to Vonnie50]

Thankyou I will try that 😊 same here if you need to off load or put the world to rights 😂just give me a message

Voni xx

[Vonnie50 in reply to Yvonneh1234]

Thank you so much appreciate it x