Just diagnosed with mild COPD! Scared! Is it a death sentence?
Learning to cope : Just diagnosed with mild... - COPD Friends
Learning to cope
Written by
Hopeconnieee
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12 Replies
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I was diagnosed in 2004 and I'm still around, though it has progressed i still live life. My advice would be to eat well and exercise. Positive thinking helps and getting the right medication is a must. Try to avoid people who have colds and avoid infection that could lead to a chest infection. try to get on a pulmonary rehabilitation course because as well as getting exercise you should also get information on diet and how to cope with COPD. You are more likely to di of something else than you are from COPD.
no it's not a death sentence if you do what you need to do and don't give up. Exercise daily if you can, just a walking will do, you can start out 3 days a week for 15 minute walk and increase it as you can. Drink lots of water as this will keep the mucus thinned out. have the doctor order pulmonary rehab and make sure the nurses teach you how to use your inhalers. My doctor gives an COPD Action plan every time I see him, this lets me know when I am to call him and when it's an emgerency. Make sure you are under the care of pulmonary to treat this, they have more training then a PCP plus they know which test need to be done.
Thought the same thing myself 4 years ago,change of lifestyle. Tai-Chi for me,change of diet,plenty of water,keep away as much as possible from anyone sneezing or coughing.
Don't worry too much
Stress doesn't help
As I said simple lifestyle changes make a huge difference
Come to this website if you need advice,not so much in depth medical advice.more like coping advice.
Thank you very much
Has your COPD progressed at all over the past 4 yrs.?
Sorry missed your question
As to the answer
Some days feel worse than others but I think that's mainly down to whatever I've been doing at the moment I've got a hint of the flu or cold so not at my best.
This is part and parcel of this disease as I said in my original answer.
For the best part I don't believe it's any worse
I seem to be standing still as far as the illness goes
Which is a good thing since it is a progressive disease. Just got to smile and get on and enjoy life as much as possible
Do not smoke
Plenty of exercise
Plenty of lemon and honey
I am same mild, if you exrcise you will hardly notice you have it. If you smoked takes slightly longer to repair the damage as you are removing gunge whilst trying to avoid colds etc.
You will be fine i was 89 lung capacity means i lost 11% stopped smoking for 2 and half years and apart from the to detox which is still taking place expect to recover a percentage of the 11% back.
Do not panic i am two years diagnosed and do not give a shit about it anymore, i exercise more cautiosly to avoid colds, changed my diet to include more fruit and fiber and if i was not diagnosed would probably have smoked my lungs out so, take the positives out of life, people are having to wear oxygen masks and would swap with you without giving it a second thought. Most of the poulation are mild copd without knowing it.
And no it has not progressed since diagnosed, ps i do not even touch inhalers anymore, i breathe naturally.
Great to hear how you handling it. I was diagnosed 3 days ago and really freaking out and surprised. I work out 1.5 hours daily and run everyday for years. I never had breathing issue. Still I was diagnosed mild because of a fraction of a percentage. 69% after dilator. My FEV1 is 95% . You said you recovered 11% , can I recover the damage?
Its not about the recovery of the damage its the putting an end to further damage. A half blown tyre will take you much further along the road than a flat out tyre without causing damage to the wheel.
