Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.......

[Farmer Kitty]

I pray for you to have the strength to quit smoking and to learn about COPD and deal with it. My BIL has COPD and Emphasima. He is in his seventies and has learned to manage it and you can too.

 

[MBLayfield]

Thanks for the thoughts, prayers and advice, that's exactly why I posted. I haven't smoked at all today and I don't plan on it either. I didn't smoke because I could barely breathe as it is, now I think out of shear terror am I not. I do take wellbutrin so that helps. I have absolutely no intention of smoking again ever.

I know that COPD isn't a death sentence but I also know that it is a lung disease and won't ever go away. I watched a loved one go through this and die. The difference is that the loved one was fifty years older than me.

I've spent that last two hours removing ash trays, cigarrettes, etc. from the house. Hubby smokes too, so I don't know what his reaction is going to be when he finds out that he can't smoke in the house anymore. I doubt it will be too bad. His mother died of the same thing.

I am now about to go online and read some about COPD from the american lung association. Tomorrow I go see my doc about steriod inhalers and weekly shots of solumedrol.

I know I can freaking get off this cigs, I know I can. I refuse to live my life strapped to a bottle of O2 or as a shut in because I refused to listen to the docs!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Hugs to you!
I have asthma and I spent last Monday in the ER because I couldn't breathe.

The best thing is the quitting smoking. I have inhalers and a nebulizer...Do you have a Peak Flow Meter? The thing to breathe into to test how good your lungs are doing...

DH may have to light up outside if he feels the need.
Everyone in my family and my DH's were all smokers.

Chronic means that it won't go away, but if you're smart, you can keep it from getting worse. Good luck, you can live with this...

That's way too true.​

 

[Henrietta23]

I'm so sorry! My Dad has it as well, after 75+years of asthma. I feel so awful for him when he can't get enough air. I hope that you find wonderful doctors to help you deal with this. I'm glad you feel you can come here for support!

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Your young age bodes very well for you if you manage your condition correctly. Lungs can heal some if the scar tissue is not really bad. Your in a acute phase, and if you get the right treatment and do the right things, like never smoking again, you will improve considerably. Many folks live near normal lives with COPD by careful control and correct medications.

While I agree you need to learn lots please make sure in this acute phase that your getting lots of fluids and rest. Do not sit up in front of your computer stressing this. You have a lifetime of learning ahead of you as medicine never stands still. In the next while you will be put through many tests and get more information on exactly how effected you are. Let the information come to you at first. Once you can breath better gradually increase your levels of activity. Again, this is an acute phase, and it will get better than this, your steriods are going to get it under control for you if you get the rest you need.