Copd emphysema

[Stephentibby]

Today 26/07/2021 I was told by doctor I have copd. I get abit out of breath. No chest infections or anythink else. I first thought it was because of not being very active due to having chronic lower back pain. Prolapsed disks and a indentation on spinal cord. Feel very lost at the moment so any advice or help would be great. Thankyou

[rossie1942]

It is devastating to be given this news but please read the posts on this site. Many people are living long active lives after the diagnosis. If you were fine yesterday you will still be fine today. Personally I think that people should get a lot more support around this diagnosis.It is not a death sentence

[Stephentibby in reply to rossie1942]

Awww thanks for replying. I totally agree as this was over the phone and not by my regular doctor. Feels like they just dropped a bomb and then ended the call. Now the waiting game for the tests etc x

[rossie1942 in reply to Stephentibby]

It really is disgusting the casual approach. Stay strong.

[Bingo88]

Good morning Stephentibby. Yes that diagnosis does knock you for 6 at 1st. Because all you think about is that there's no cure. I was like you. Just thought getting a bit out of breath was because I was unfit after not doing exercise but working 6 days a week for 30 years never got chance. I was diagnosed with copd and needing a pacemaker in the same week. It was only the copd diagnosis that threw me. But we have to keep moving and pushing back as much as possible. And as someone said you will find people very encouraging on here and have lived with it for many years and still carrying on. So keep positive and hope you have a good day. Brian

[Stephentibby in reply to Bingo88]

Thanks brian for replying. It's pretty scary. But hopefully will know more in the near future with the test etc. Glad I asked about an xray as I still wdnt of known about it and smoking which I'm cutting right down with hope to completely stop

[Putnam]

Stephen, sometimes “copd” is a blanket term. It covers “asthma” also. Maybe that’s what you have. You can live pretty good with a little asthma. Start a walking schedule. Keep moving, cut down on the carbs, lots of water. What meds are you on?

[Stephentibby in reply to Putnam]

They said emphasema. I not on any meds or even had a breathing test yet. Still waiting. I walk me dogs twice daily but there's times that I can't even get out of bed due to back problems. Which is why I just thought I was unfit.

[Putnam in reply to Stephentibby]

Seems like a hasty diagnosis. You’re not smoking, are you?

[Stephentibby in reply to Putnam]

Yes. Guilty lol was only yesterday I was told so today I'm cutting down by half and going to clinic for help to quit.

[Putnam in reply to Stephentibby]

Good for you, man. Anything else I can say would be “ overstating the obvious.”

[Stephentibby in reply to Putnam]

But sometimes it does need to be said and as you can appreciate my stress lvls are thru the roof as I'm going thru tribunal for benefits as well. But I want to go to smoking clinic and stop. Thanks for replying

[Putnam in reply to Stephentibby]

Good luck with Tribunal, good name for it. Not used in USA, NY.

[janno in reply to Stephentibby]

I know the stress of being given the diagnosis and trying not to smoke is really difficult. Do not be too hard on yourself right now, and I wish you the best of luck in quitting smoking as soon as you can.

[Feelingblessed2013]

Eight years ago I was told I have emphysema and lung cancer. I have since lost both upper lung lobes to the cancer. I am on a maintenance inhaler, and I carry a rescue inhaler which I hardly ever use. Take care of yourself, work on getting off the cigarettes.

[Stephentibby in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Sorry to hear that and yet you still taken the time to reply so thankyou. Yh I will be giving up. Cut down by half and seeing the smoking clinic

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to Stephentibby]

Don't be sorry, you didn't do anything. I am grateful to still be here. Every day I wake up in the morning is a good day.When I quit smoking 20 years ago I used welbutrin (?). It was new, expensive, and really didn't do anything for me. I took it for a month, set my quit date, and on that date I went from cigs to the nicotine patch, red liquorice, and butterscotch candies. I've been smoke free since.

I wish you luck, quitting isn't easy, but definitely worth it.

[Stephentibby in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

O gosh I packed in sweets and moved to smoking to save what few teeth I had left. Haha Im joking x

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to Stephentibby]

I only used the butterscotch candy for those times that the craving was strong. Something in the butterscotch killed the craving, no idea why. The red licorice was for the hand to mouth part of the habit. Gave me something to suck on while driving to and from work (since having a cigarette was out of the question 🙃.

[Jake25]

Hi Stephen

I was diagnosed in 2017 and stupidly kept on smoking. I had the worse chest infection / pneumonia last November took a wile to recover. I quit the fags in December and 7 months later I'm still trying to improve the breathlessness. The most important thing with copd is to keep exercising this is what my GP said I must do. Whatever you can manage keep going. But you must quit the fags. Good luck.

[Stephentibby in reply to Jake25]

Wow welldone jake25. You give me hope. I only found out yesterday so I cut down to half and going the smoke clinic. Sooner the better I know. Small steps lol thanks for replying