8 months

[Jake25]

I am 8 months smoke free. I have moderate copd. At the beginning of my journey I was quite ill having just had a bad infection or pneumonia last November which took time to get over which led to me quitting the fags. At first I couldn't walk and not be breathless which scared the hell out of me. I quit in December and started exercise in February, just walking couldn't get far but kept going daily and doing what I could, I remember gasping. Anyway had a setback in April had an exasibation which kinda put me back to square one. I decided to keep going and glad I did as I am so much better now, I still have breathlessness on inclines and sometimes just out of the blue. But looking back to how I was I'm grateful to still be here. I just thought I would share.. Nobody seems to be posting on here, I visit this site daily hoping to see peoples inspirational stories. 🤔

[Troilus]

Well done you!I visit this site now and again, but you are right - it does seem to be quiet.

I am also on the BLF site, which is a lot busier - a very active community.

[Jake25 in reply to Troilus]

Hi TroilusThanks for the reply, yeah I'm also posting in the BLF site but I wanted to read specific copd stories from people 😊

[barbs47]

Well done Jake I’m sure it’s worth all the effort take care Barbs x

[Welshcatlady]

Well done Jake25 I know it can be difficult to give up the fags, I did nearly 30 years ago, didn't stop me developing COPD but luckily it's quite moderate most of the time. It would be nice if more people posted their experiences on here, like you I sign in most days to see what's been put on here. I don't post much because as I said my COPD isn't too bad. Keep up with the walking, great exercise, like you when I started a few years back I couldn't walk very far, but now I am able to walk a couple of miles, with stops to get my breath, and I feel so much better for it.

[Feelingblessed2013]

Hi Jake, congrats on getting off cigarettes. I know how hard that is. I quit 20 years ago. I had been 13 years smoke free when I was told I had emphysema and lung cancer. I have since lost both upper lung lobes to the cancer. My pulmonologist tells me that we will never truly know what stage I am , but I look at it this way, I'm walking and talking. I figure that every day I wake up in the morning is a good day.I am not as active as I want to be (due to other medical issues), but I am as active as I can be. Most days I get in at least 5,000 steps, there have been a few days I've hit 6,000 plus.

All you can do is the best you can do.

[Jake25 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Hi KatherineYou are insperational thank you for your reply, stories like yours gives me hope. 😊

[mikelocke]

Hi Jake, Good for you. You are doing the right thing and you’ll find as your general fitness increases you can do more and more. I’ve got pretty bad asthma and emphysema but I get out daily. My dog 🐶 is my coach, he insists we go out irrespective of the weather. On the steeper inclines I just zigzag, taking small steps and we get there. My other exercise is on my electric bike where you can just dial in how much effort you want to use and it is a lot of fun.

Keep it up, it gets better now you’ve quit the fags and getting that exercise.

All the best.

[Jake25 in reply to mikelocke]

Thanks MikeYour reply means a lot