The Knowledge Board:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Hi I'm Belinda
I'm your community manager at The Patients Voice.
If you would like to leave a comment please click on link at the bottom of the page.
You can reach me at belinda.shale@healthcarelandscape.com. Feel free to get in touch.
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The purpose of this blog is to help The Patients’ Voice find out more about of COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, as one in seven people suffer from a form of lung disease in the UK.
The Patients’ Voice is keen to find out how COPD is diagnosed, whether you were affected by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, how is it currently treated. We would like to explore whether you are supported emotionally by your family, friends and the healthcare professionals and if you are working, by your employers.
Please feel free to tell us your story or those of family or friends.
The kinds of things you might like to include would be
- Tell us the story of your diagnosis. Who diagnosed you? When? What symptoms or events prompted your diagnosis of COPD, if any?
- Are other people in your family affected by a lung disease or COPD specifically? Before your own diagnosis, were you aware of a family history of the disease?
- What tests were done to establish or confirm your diagnosis?
- What physicians/specialists have you seen in connection with your COPD? Who do you see on an on-going basis? Who do you see but occasionally?
- Have you had to change your diet, lifestyle and exercise routine to cope with the disease? What support did you receive from family, friends, physicians, pharmacists?
- If you smoke, did you manage to stop smoking? What support did you receive from family, friends, physicians, pharmacists?
I look forward to your comments and ideas
liesa | 02/04/2007 17:33:00
My grandfather had COPD after a lifetime's smoking - he suffered enormously and could not walk upstairs anymore - this created a terrible strain on him emotionally and physicially
Eric | 02/04/2007 22:46:00
I feel that your program is geared to the U.K.? therefore that syatem here in Canada would be different?
Belinda | 03/04/2007 10:10:00
Hi Eric I do not know much about the Canadian situation. Could you tell us a bit more please? Belinda
vicki | 03/04/2007 14:31:00
i was diagnosed in november with the begining stages of copd i went to the hospital cause i have asthma bad and couldn`t breath thats when they told me i was in the begining stages of copd but almost 3 years ago i lost my dad to copd it is an aweful way to go ,,but i have been on sprivia since and i find it helps me so much,i have a steriod inhaler flo ven,t and also myalbuterol inhaler plus i have my nebulisor as needed i have not used my brething machine since i got the sprivia i also take advaiir so i will try whatever the dr says to try these things which had not worked for my dad because he was too far into the disease .
Samantha | 04/04/2007 16:05:00
My grandmother has COPD and was diagnosed in Spain where she used to holiday for 4 months every winter. She is now nearly 77 and is still smoking. Her doctors are amazed that how far she can walk as her lung capacity is so poor but she continues to carry on with her cooking and housework. The only thing is that she takes a lift now instead of the stairs.
alison | 04/04/2007 16:27:00
My husband, (we were married in November'06,) was dormally diagnosed last March. He is 63. He has a "rescue" inhaler, Amasal, uses a Salmeterol inhaler twice a day, and has recently been prescribed Spiriva once daiily. He stopped smoking when he got his diagnosis. We met in Aug '04, and I watched him through 2 winters struggle with acute exacerbations - coughing until he vomited or virtually blacked out. This winter, since stopping smoking, he has had no acute chest infections, touvh wood. He also gets his flu jab, and also had a pneumonia jab in the autumn. I recently got for him a breather trainer, and was fortunate to get the newer version of this, a "Youbreathe" trainer with a vibration attachment that is supposed to increase the benefits of use without more effort. I get very frustrated that he seems to resist my attempts to encourage him to take gentle exercise and to drink more fluids and I often feel angry with him that he will not make efforts to prolong his own life. I feel like I am fighting this thing on my own. Anyone with "loved ones" who get similarly frustrated?
Bernice Cook | 04/04/2007 16:36:00
Hi my mother was dioganosed with empyysema 15 years ago .She was a smoker but was told to survive she must give up she managed to do that .She lives right next to an airport so the air is very polluted what she breathes .She belonged to a site in america for people with the same thing ,she learnt a lot about her desease and of ways to help her .The medical proffession cant believe how well she copes with it she will be 75 in oct ,she used to to aerobics untill a year ago as she used to go with my sister who has now emigrated ,i think she is an inspiration she is always doing things to keep her mobile she has a walk rides an excercise bike ,she has a huge garden i take the first winter cut on the lawn get it short so she can manage to do it her self mind you she has to keep stopping to get her breath but she says the more she can do the more she can get oxygen in to her body which helps her breath .It is frightning sometimes if we have been out and the wind catches her breath once we were out i took her for a day out she also suffers from krones disease and needs to get to a toilet in a hurry this is very hard if you are nowere near one we were rushing to find a toilet it started to pour and the wind got up my poor mother could not breath i could see her eyes fill up but she manged to get her breath back then i make a silly joke to get her laughing ,i said to her i admire you so much how you cope with it and i think you are brave ,she said i am not brave i just have to fight it or it will get the better of me .She fights very hard she is on steroids and asthma spray and preventives .she used to get a chest infection every 2 weeks ,so having to have lots of antibiototics ,as you know with this desease and the krones she has no imune system ,but i told her to take a priobotic to help build up her imune system funny enough a couple of weeks later her gp suggesrted the same thing .She takes a priobotic yogurt type drink every day she eats very healthy ,she keeps her 3 berdoomed house imaculate it does go to show the more sedantry you are the worse you get the more active you can be helps she has had emails from people who have just been diognosed and there world has fell aprt thinking this is a death sentance in a couple of years my mum tells them how long she has had it and it gives them hope .I know she does worry about it they measured the oxygen in her she has %29 but she takes every day as it comes she is a marvel and i hope my story will give others inspiration thank you Bernice ps She has had 1 bad chest infection in 18 months so the ptiobotics do help to boost her imune system
Rosemary | 04/04/2007 17:24:00
I have had copd for 9yrs , i was born in London in the forty's and in those days we had smog , yes I used to smoke I started at 5yrs old but stopped 3yrs ago . Since having copd I have put on so much weight as I can not exercise or move around like I did . I do not use inhalers as I find they do not help my doctor has told me they do not suit every one , I do not get any help as such from my doctor , where I live they don't want to know .Most of my family have or have had copd I think it is inherited . I still do a couple of hours a week as a volunteer at Scope also I can still do my favourite thing and travel the world , I find the winter the worst time of the year , thats when I go abroad I am so much better when its hot. My husband helps me round the house I also have arthritis of the spine and knees so I find walking very difficult. I get very frustrated that I can not do things that I used to.
Judith | 04/04/2007 17:39:00
I had asthma from the age of seven, and continued as an adult to have acute attacks when away on holday, until my late 30s. I smoked very occasionally in my 20s, but did not inhale. My breathing since has never been brilliant but at about the age of 65 I began to feel more breathless on stairs and hills, and my GP measured my lung capacity. This was low for age and my GP said this put me in the category of mild COPD. He gave me a steroid test, which did not seem to help, and put me on an Airomir inhaler, which seemed sometimes to make me worse. At about the age of 69 I became more breathless and my lung capacity was then measured at 140. I was referred to a consultant, who suggested a Seretide inhaler, and this seemed to take me back to the level of breathlessness before the recent worsening, but my lung capacity still measured 140. This degree of breathlessness has not incapacitated me in my everyday life. I walk everywhere, having no car, and do three dance exercise classes every week. I can get up a steep hill, though more slowly than my children. I now see our Practice Nurse who specialises in respiratory problems, and she has recommended various devices, such as a spacer, to help, but I am happy using my Seretide inhaler morning and evening, and suffering the degree of breathlessness I have at present. I have in the past fortnight started using Seretide at double the dose but have noticed no particulaar difference.
Amelia | 04/04/2007 18:00:00
My Mother had emphasema. She smoked since she was 14 in the London blitz, until she died in 2003 at 79. We lived directly under a flight path very close to Heathrow Airport, and the air was always polluted as well due to this. Mum was reluctant and refused help from GP for most complaints. Every winter she would have the flu jab which would trigger a mild flu attack which developed into bronchitis and would remain despite antibiotics for the rest of the winter. I think this was the pattern for at least six years. The year before she died the dr. dropped into the conversation that she had emphasema and with the adverts on tv about people with oxygen masks with emphasema, Mum decided she had had enough and was not going to rely on oxygen and be iincapacitated. Therefore finally she refused antibiotics for pneumonia and died 3 days later. She had taken 2 asthma type inhalers one as an emergency (blue) and a brown one night and morning for about 2 years but had not told me and kept it hidden. For the last 3 years she couldn't walk up stairs and had a chair lift fitted. She didn't want to give up smoking because all the people in our family who gave up smoking eventually developed Alzheimers, and she didn't want that either. I consider my Mum had a very distressing last few years, admittedly partly of her own making, but I didn't find either of the GPs very able to connect with my Mum to convince her to have assistance in a variety of fields. She did need support.
jackie | 04/04/2007 19:45:00
I had multiple pulmonary emboli in 1997 and was diagnosed with copd about 3 years ago - i am a smoker and battling to give up at this time I am 59 years old. i had to have a change of inhalers because i am allergic to cfc's apparantly i am now budesonide with formoterol 2 a dqy and an emergency one salamol easi breathe - cfc free inhaler
Brenda | 04/04/2007 23:32:00
I have Sarcoidosis as my primary disease and Bronchiectaiss as my secondard disease. I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis 18 years ago. I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis 12 years ago. I am on prednisone, 8 mg. every other day. I take 4 puffs of Advair which helps me greatly.
joseph leonad | 05/04/2007 04:23:00
hi im 46 yrs old both my parents have copd there in there mis 60s i have been diagnossed also to the same chronic bronhcitis and use albuterol an flovent. its been 2 yrs now fo me and ive not been able to quit smoking as of yet im hoping that soon i will be able to its so hard to qui and need the streghth to do so both my parents quit but it took them untl 60 yrs old to stop and not till they were so bad . its a horrible disease ad the phenominas are so bad when i get that im needing the abulance. well thankyou jo.
Jennie | 05/04/2007 09:40:00
I am 63 years old and have suffered from Bronchcitis all my life. I was diagnossed with COPD 18 months ago. I was a smoker but gave up two years ago. I now have a Combivent Inhaler which helps with my breathing as sometimes i am quite breathless just doing mundane tasks.
ann | 05/04/2007 10:58:00
I suffered very badly from whooping cough as a child, a result of which I was always inclined to be 'chesty' this has gradually deteriorated over the years and I was diagnosed with COPD 2 years ago. I had to give up work as somedays i can barely climb the stairs. My mobility is limited as I cannot walk very far. I find that the attitude of doctors and other health professionals is largely quite unhelpful. They may order various tests etc - but you have to wait forever to get them completed. I have also lost over 2 stones in weight over the past year - I have not been dieting- but again the doctors have the 'better thin than fat' attitude towards me. I feel that if you are constantly seeing the doctor then you seem to be labelled 'middle-aged neurotic woman' at least thats how it feels. I know that they cant cure me - but an effort to make me more comfortable would be something!
Ken | 05/04/2007 11:12:00
I am 61 this month. Started smoking when I was 17 and stopped 8 years ago. For years I have been treated for one chest infection after another, always with different anti-biotics. I saw a new doctor to our surgery and it was she who embarked on what turned out to be COPD and not chest infections as such. I have a brown inhaler for two puffs morning and night and a blue on for as-and-when I need it. Although the COPD is bad enough it is a relief that I am now not pumped full of anti-biotics. My coughing was put down to my pipes being cleaned out after all the years of smoking. I am also disabled and vigourous exercise is a definite nono. I have a pet dog who I take for walks four times a day, whatever the weather. As far as I see it and feel it, with the puffers and the walking my coughing is down to a tolerant level. My family are very supportive, when they visit there is no smoking at all unless they go into the garden (and they have to take their tabends with them). I suppose that as I get older it is going to get worse..... only time will tell.
Fran | 05/04/2007 11:13:00
Hi, I am 45 and was diagnosed with COPD 18 months ago. I have suffered asthma since I was in my early 20's, and at first it was something that was triggered by stress. I then became allergic to all sorts of pollens and grass seeds, which used to bring my asthma on. I do smoke, but I am also very overweight. Whilst in hospital, my drug regime was looked at and I was prescribed various drugs. I had originally been using Ventolin inhaler and Becotide inhalers. The becotide use to make me feel really ill, and I used to get really acute pains from it, so I stopped using it altogether. When I went into hospital I was on Ventolin, but I had been using my nebuliser at home as well. I was admitted to hospital because my Peak Flow had dropped from a regular 500 to 130, and I was lucky that I had gone in when I did. The doctors were very close to having me put on a ventolater for a while. I was told alot of my problems, though contributed to by smoking, had been caused because of my lack of taking the becotide and being very flippant about my asthma. I was subscribed Ventolin, Seretide accuhalers and singular 10. I also had the usual oral steriods. I did eventually start to feel better, then six months ago, I had an asthma attack. I came out of it fairly quickly, but got a chest infection at the same time. I was treated with antibiotics about six times altogether over a four month period. I lost my voice six months ago, and a month ago, I had was rushed into hspital because there were lumps on my vocal chords. The ENT consultant, looked at my throat, and saw that the lumps were Thrush. He said this was a combination of the seretide accuhaler, and all the antibiotics that I had had. He suggested that as that I should change my seretide to a normal inhaler, which I now take through a spacer, along with normal ventolin inhaler. He treated my thrush with medication. I now feel one hundred percent better, and I am sticking to my drug regime properly. I know that over my health I am my own worst enemy, but I have other things like arthritis wrong with me at the same time, and I have been flippant about everything. The last 18 months have taught me a real lesson, that you need to take the inhaled steroids, or the preventers, to stop yourself getting worse. I wouldn't want anyone to suffer and feel the way I did 18 months ago. I am hopefully on the way to recovering properly, I am on a weight loss scheme, as I am terribly overweight, and once I have lost another three stone (i have just lost one and a half stone in the last month) then I will endeavour to give up smoking. Both my GP and Chest consultant, said that I need to lose weight before I stop smoking. So for once I am actually following hteir advice. My advice to anyone, is don't be flippant, don't think the doctors prescribe these drugs for their own enjoyment, we are given them for a reason and we need to stick to the regime. It does stop worse things happening to you. I know that i will never be COPD or Asthma free, but I have learnt now that I can control it to an extent.
MRS BROWN | 05/04/2007 11:16:00
Icome from a family of bronchil asthmatics all of whom use inhalers and nebulisers, however they lead normal lives and my mother is the ripe old age of89 if this helps anyone. I myself are diagnosed as having a sort ofBronchitis which limits my effort ability however I have never received any treatment for chest problems during my life.I would love to talk to people with similar problems to me but without a proper diagnosis I cannot relate to similar suffers
Fran | 05/04/2007 11:22:00
In reply to Ann's comments. Ann don't give up, and if you are unhappy about the way your GP treats you, ask to be referred to a Chest Specialist at the Hospital. YOu are entitled to this as you are a considered a consumer. It could well be that your drug regime isn't working for you and you need to have it changed into something that does work for you. When I had my drug regime changed, things did look a lot better Please, please don't feel that you are a middle aged neuroitc woman, you are not, you are a normal person with chest problems. It is good that you have lost weight, but at the same time you mustn't make yourself feel ill. You can get the support and there are a number of online support groups that can help. You sound really fed up and down, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, and perhaps with a drug regime changed, you can start to feel a bit better yourself. I have got loads and loads of information on Asthma and COPD, not just because I suffer it, but I was also a qualified nurse in a chest ward.
Jayne | 05/04/2007 11:26:00
I answered an ad in our local paper (manchester) asking for volunteers for research into lung conditions, they were looking for "healthy ex-smokers" I was an ex smoker and, in my opinion, healthy. So I went along because my grandfather died after suffering with COPD for many years and I wanted to do anything I could to help. After having lots of tests at the centre I was shocked when I was told I had COPD and couldnt be used for those particular trials. I have completed many other trials since for COPD and dont normally have any medication. When on the trials, it makes me realise how poor my lung capacity is, because it is so much different when I have the trial drugs. I have never been to my own doctor about it although the trial centre say I should, but I dont want to be labelled as having COPD. I have had surgery under general anaesthetic on a few occasions since my diagnosis and have never said anything at the hospital about it, and never had any problems. I feel it may be getting a little worse though now, even though I dont smoke, so, who knows, I may need to go to my GP sometine.
Tony Price | 05/04/2007 11:27:00
When I was first diagnosed with COPD I was a little shocked but realised that it started as asthma and because I smoke this has made things worse. I regularly get short of breath, and I am currently being treated with inhalers. I know I should pack in smoking as its bad for me, however I like and enjoy smoking and therefore I still smoke.
Jay Garrett | 05/04/2007 12:13:00
I've had asthma since I turned 20 yrs am now 52, my younger brother had it (died in a hit&run the asthma didnt help) my father had asthma and chronic lung disease. Since June last year I've been diagnosed with emphysema. I've also suffered since birth with severe bronchitius and pneumonia (I know have scars on my lung from pnuemonia). I have difficulty walking anywhere. I tend to forget I have a lung problem and always set out as usual, by the time I've passed the third house I'm ready to pass out. I use serotide 250 inhaler, atrovent, ventolin. steroids when severly ill, and a nebuliser(only when bad). Climbing strairs is a problem but I try not to think about it. I did smoke from the age of 19 and packed it up 14 years ago. My regrets for starting. Now laden with chest problems which takes time to adjust to, which leaves me frustrated as I cant get used to the inabllity or inactivity.
John Squire | 05/04/2007 12:37:00
I was diagnosed asthmaic 50 years ago (acute) acompanied with ocasional bronchitis until 15years ago when doctors said it was now chronic sarcodosis followed in 2001. No more construction work not enough wind
Myrtle | 05/04/2007 13:11:00
I have suffered with breathing dificulties since I was in my twenties I am now 62. Ten years ago I moved and my new doctor asked when I had last had an X ray done. When I told him not sivce I was 15 he sent me stright of to the hospital and I was diagnosed as having blocked airways. I was put on a ventolin inhaler which helped but did not cure the problem. Then three years ago we had an asthma clinic set up at the doctors and after a seriese of tests I was told I had COPD. I was given a Spirivia inhaler which has helped me a lot, nurse then tried to top me up with a steroid inhaler but haveing tried two different types both of which made me feel worse I aske if I could just have the Sprivia to use daily and the Ventiolin for if I had a bad attack usually brough on by have to breathe very cold air. I also suffer from artritis so I cant walk very far which does not help with my weight. I have lost four stone over the last three years and have an agreement with my doctor that if I ever manage to get down to my ideal weight I will then try to stop smoking. I have still to lose two stone so I am working hard at that. My doctor, nurse and family are very helpful and give me loads of support. I have a check up every three months at the dotors and am never made to feel uncomforatle about how my body is recating
Debs | 05/04/2007 13:36:00
I suffer from Bronchitis every time there is a bit of damp in the air. I am now fast approaching 50 years old and have suffered like this since I was a very young child, I had pneumonia when I was two years old and then had whooping cough shortly afterwards, which I have been told has probably left my lungs scarred.Despite that I have NEVER been referred on to a consultant or had any tests or chest x-rays even though my doctors have regularly seen me nearly passing out from shortness of breath or vomiting when having a coughing fit. I have been asked by doctors on various occassions if I am asthmatic,I tell them that I don't know as I've never been tested and they just shrug their shoulders and prescribe me with yet more anti-biotics or tell me to 'let your body fight it off'. I am at present off work sick with yet another bout of bronchitis...I have recently discovered that my natural mother (I was adopted) suffered from Emphysema in later life and now I wonder if that is what I have to look forward to as I get older.
Jay | 05/04/2007 15:11:00
I was diagnosed with TB just into my teens,and was sent away to a Sanatorium for 7 years. My parents were told I would only live 6 months. I had a lot of lung damage from this and although I was discharged my Mother was told I might live 2yrs I might live 20yrs. I married, had a child , worked full time but always looked after myself as much as possible. My chest has deteriorated over the years but I could handle it up until last year when I had to go into Hospital because antibiotics I was taking were doing no good. I was given intravenous antibiotics and was home 14 days later. Since then my chest has not felt as good and I have a very productive cough. I was also put on home oxygen for 15 hours which really makes me something of a prisoner because I don't want anyone to see me on it. I get out of breath quite quickly.No one has bothered about me from any medical point of view since I came home and I feel as though I have just been dumped. I was told at an earlier Hospital check up (15 years ago) that I had COPD because of having TB. I have also picked up Pseudonomas, a Hospital aquired infection. I found that out quite by chance.
derek purden | 05/04/2007 15:18:00
i have c o p d also i have been told i have type 2 diebetes i am also elergic to dust mites and my blood pressure is high i take seritide twice a dat andspiriva onceapart from that im okey im 71
rosemary beddows | 05/04/2007 15:33:00
I have been diagnosed with copd since i was a child, when i contracted it due whooping cough as a baby. I then went on to develop asthma due to a nasty chest infection i picked up whilst working as a nurse in a nursing home. I have never been without a productive cough, and my condition seems to deteriorate if i am stressed . I am presently thinking of retireing from my job as a district nurse as the condition seems to deteriorated since my close involvement with bad infections and close contact with patients. I have had psudomonus and the first signs of a chest infection i contact my gp who without seeing me prescribes antibiotics. My mother had copd due to whooping cough as a baby. My mother also contracted asthma later in life and was issued with prothilactic antibiotics for if she ever needed them quickly ( there is reseach to support and also to dismiss this ) it seemed to work for her. However she recently passed away with heart problems due to the enormous strain on her heart due to her lung condition. My father died of emphsema due to the cigaretes which was so generously issues durind the second world war and the ignorance of the the ill effects.
linda dibnah | 05/04/2007 17:02:00
I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis in 1971,given no information or treatment or ongoing care,so basically forgot about it,I do smoke,have since 15 years old,then after years of chest infections and asthma attacks,I ended up in a coma on 02.01.2005,in hospital 12 days,only after that on a visit to the surgery was there any mention of OPLD,have constant chest infections,breathless most of the time,but not refered to a specialist or any special care or treatment,I was put on symbicort when I left hospital,but I have underlying illnesses as well,I have Lupus and cancer,underactive thyroid,high blood pressure,sojgrens disease,conective tissue disorderand afew other things,I found that by weaning off a lot of the medications prescribed and replaceing them with natural meds.and vitamins etc.and a change of diet has inproved my physical and mental health a lot,even the rhuematoidologist said I am managing everything a lot better than they could managed things for me,(shame on him)I live day to day and just do my best to get through whatever is happening to my body at the time,but keep busy with lots of craft works that occupy my mind and do the physical when I can
Joy | 05/04/2007 17:03:00
I never had any problems with asthma until I moved to live near the sea on an island. It first started when I was 59, and I still smoke although would dearly like to give up. I'm worried about weight gain as I have lost 2½ stone since moving and fel a lot better for it. I always thought sea air was good for you, remember those 'bracing Skegness' posters? I find out that a lot of people here have the same problem. I'm now on Handihaler and Symbicort, and they do seem to help.
lynne | 05/04/2007 17:53:00
I also hve COPD I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. I have 2 inhailers and I also take a nuelun tablet twice a day. I do get breathless easliy I also have arthritis in my knees so I find it hard to exersise however I have just joined a slimming club so perhaps when I hopefully loose some weight I might be able to do some kind of exersise. I feel sorry for all the people who smoke ! I use to smoke and my doctor prescribed a new tablet that is on the market it is called champix and belive me it realy does work !! I was smoking almost 30 a day. now none... I think that is pretty good
barbara sinclair | 05/04/2007 18:11:00
i was about 30 when i first had bronchitis and thought i was practically dying i walked to the doctors thinking it was just a bad chest infection and as soon as i got there he put me on a ventolin and oxygen which without i could not breathe since then i get bronchitis every year and suffer so much, that sometimes i wish i wasn't here get a flu jab every year and take inhalers and this has helped but do not understand why i get so ill, i have never smoked do not drink and still get so much more ill than others.
James | 05/04/2007 19:19:00
Dont even think about giving up. istarted out with astma and excema 66 years ago. My first treatments for my chest were with Potters "Herbal Asthma Cure" from there I became a smoker. I have used all sorts of treatments over the years and lived life to the full. In 1997 I suffered a severe Bronchitis and this ended up as pneumonia which hospitalised me. My consultant diagnosed COPD. I was advised to live within my limitations so I had to retire on medical grounds. Today I plan what I can do and try to provide for emergencies in my planning. I have just returned from taking two of my nine grandchilren out for the day. Tomorrow I know I will need to rest but I did enjoy myself today. I could write a book about a;ll the things I have done just to keep working and making a living over the years. I am told that I did all the wrong things for a chronic asthmatic, but I have enjoyed my life and in the past few years as I learned to manage COPD my hospital admissions have reduced to about one in 18 months. I would say to anyone whos is starting out living with a poorly chest. Follow your consultants rules but also apply common sense. For example I have to use steroids as a maintenance drug and in large doses for infections. My weight is up for my build so I am careful but not obssesive about my diet. Reduced sugar and fats, increased fruit and veg. It works, I have reduced my weight from 105 kg when I came out of hosptal last, Christmas 2005. to 93kg. I am about to go for a rehabilitation course to improve my muscle tone as I find that this is something that needs adressing. Weak muscles do not work efficiently so they use more of the oxygen that it is so hard for people like us to get in. I hope this is not to garbled, but this is me.
old bill | 05/04/2007 20:14:00
I was diagnosed with copd about 8 years ago. I had experienced considerable pain in my chest, shortage of breath and inablility to undertake physical excercise. At the time I was a keen cyclist but had to give it up as a result of the problems. The chest pains were finally diagnosed in 2006 as being due to angina and had nothing to do with the copd.I had given up smoking some 25 years previously , having somoked a pipe from the age of 15 until i was 53. I was a heavy smoker, 3.5 ozs of st bruno flake every week, inhaling the result.I had tried on several occasions to pack up smoking but this always ended by my experiencing a nervous tic in the pit of my stomach which disappeared once i restarted smoking. The treatment which finally stopped me from smoking was acupuncture. For the last 7 or 8 years I have found problems walking any distance or taking any form of physical activity although I now believe much of the problem was due to the angina and NOT to the copd. I currently use seritide and tiotroprirm inhalants and carry venolin with me to use in the event that i run out of breath. I live crawley in w sussex and gatwick airport lies within its boundaries. I believe that some of my breathing problems are caused by pollution from the airport as i have noticed that under particular weather conditions my problems increase.
Joy | 05/04/2007 20:20:00
My Mother has had COPD for almost 8years and is on several inhalers - morning and evening and occassional emergency. She is 80 years of age and smoked up to the age of 50/55. She swims at least 3 times a week and uses cardivascular gym as often. She is very overweight. I believe that if she was lighter the COPD would not be as debilitating as it is. She suffers particularly badly if there is low mist/cloud and the air is very still.
dorothy | 05/04/2007 20:51:00
hi i was diagnosed with the early stages of copd a couple of months ago i did not have asthma till i reached my 30s this illness runs in my family and it is very hard at times to combat,the weather can trigger this off in different ways as well as the asthma at the same time.i also suffer with me which is a very hard disability to get through each day espeicially with walking and activities as the stiffness can be unbearable.COPD is i think passed through the generations and also i think asthma is one of the causes before you get diagnosed with copd i think the winter and cold weather triggers it off more than the warmer and summer days where it seems to improove.When you struggle getting your breath is the worse and also the cough
John P Clark | 05/04/2007 20:51:00
I suffer with plural thickening due to working with asbestos and my lung capacity is now down to 45%. unfotunately there is no cure and things are going to get worse. I am greatly overweight due to another condition : diabetic neuropathy, the two conditions mean that I am unable to train like I used to and I can only stand up for fifteen mnuites at a time.
Janis Hay | 05/04/2007 21:14:00
I suffer from Asthma, and I get bronchitis every winter without fail! My late mother had bronchitis from a young age and spent many a month in a sanitorium hospital in Edinburgh as a young child!
Janis Hay | 05/04/2007 21:14:00
I suffer from Asthma, and I get bronchitis every winter without fail! My late mother had bronchitis from a young age and spent many a month in a sanitorium hospital in Edinburgh as a young child!
val | 05/04/2007 21:18:00
Hi I had brochitis as a child until I was 7 then not again until after a bad case of flu and plueresy at the age of 28.I took the regular medicine but started to get major reactions,so I decided to look into the herbal side of things.This caused much laughter as it was in the late 70s.I was called witchy poo a lot but I pressed on and have been taking oudorless garlic for donkeys years.I take the multivitimins and other minerals and at the age of 62 feel for most of the time fine.The garlic keeps the phlegm loose except if I get flu and then I take a much higher dose till it loosens up and then go back to the original.At the moment it is working but I don't have faith in most medicines as my body reacts so badly so only see my doctor only every 5-10yrs. Even my underactive thyroid I am self treating but I am soon to have a check and then I will see if it is working.The medicine the doctor gave me made me feel worse even after taking it for 9mths. I don't suggest everyone does what i do but i do research my illnesses on the net but the Garlic i would reccommend.
JOHN BERESFORD | 05/04/2007 21:24:00
I`VE HAD BRONCIAL ASTHMA MOST OF MY LIFE ,IM 43 APPARENTLEY I HAD EXEMA FROM NEW BORN WHICH THEN PROGRESSED TO ASTHMA.WHILST A CHILD I WAS PUT INTO OXEYGEN TENT MANY TIMES .EVEN NOW AS I TYPE I HAVE MILD ASTHMA .I TAKE PUFFERS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY BUT THE SLIGHTEST ACTIVITY WILL START IT UP AGAIN
Anon | 05/04/2007 23:18:00
I am in my 40's but my Bronchitis, or COPD as they tend to call it now, makes me feel like an old man at times. I also have asthma, rhinitis, and alergies. Recently I had a flare up of my bronchitis, but instead of getting the usual tub of amoxicilin (or amoxycylyn - however it is spelt) I was given a different antibiotic, called Avalox or Moxifloxacin, and it seems not just to have dampened down my symptoms but to have cleared them up fully. I only wish I had been given Avalox in the past, as it seems really effective and I am full of energy for the first time in ages now it has done its job.
SIMON | 05/04/2007 23:20:00
WHEN YOU HAVE A BADLY CONGESTED CHEST, APPART FROM RELYING ON YOUR MEDICATION. TRY CHANGING YOUR DIET FOR A WHILE AS WELL. CUTTING DOWN ON BREAD AND DIARY PRODUCTS HELPS SOME SUFFERERS REDUCE THEIR SPUTUM, AND HAVING CERTAIN SPICES IN YOUR FOOD SUCH AS CUMIN, TURMERIC AND CINAMON HELP AS THEY ARE DEMUCULANTS.
marie | 06/04/2007 14:09:00
i have had bronchectisis for many years.it was so bad that part of my left lung was removed.i was then pescribed ventolin and atrovent and a nebuliser .i then heard about a salt pipe and bought one and gradually tpgether with postural draining i have managed to come off both drugs apart from the odd occasion when my chest is very wheezy
daughter sue of shirley | 07/04/2007 17:08:00
my dearest mum has suffered from copd for quite a few years now she has all the medicatiion that there is ,oxygen 24 hour a day and has send most of this year in hospital where we were told that she wouldnt make it because of high carbon dioxide levels , but she pulled through due to this bi-pap machine and now has to have it on all night every night. they say if youy give up smoking it will slow down the progression of the disease.my mum gave up a long time ago . every day in my mums life is a bonus. but id like to say to these so called consultants what right have they got to play god with a persons life .
Pat | 07/04/2007 19:54:00
I had Bronchitis when I was 18 yrs of age, and, the doctor at the time , told me to hang my head out of the bed, lower than the mattress, and cough any phlegm up. This has eased congestion for several years. I had a heart attack 9 years ago and was breathless, but also suffered from severe chest infections and my GP diagnosed me as having COPD. He referred me to a chest specialist who did pulmonary breathing tests which fortunately only showed a slight loss of lung function. He then decided to do the camera into the lung and the result of that was a diagnosis of slight emphysema. To let you understand I am now 69 and have NEVER smoked.
Judy | 09/04/2007 00:45:00
I was told I had a weak chest and was susceptable to asthma about 15 yrs ago. I didn't take a lot of notice just used the "blue" inhalers when necessary. After many years and various other serious ailments diagnosed, I was sent for a lung function test in relation to another illness, and discovered my lungs are in perfect "fettle" I have the lung capacity of an athlete, shame I dont have the physique... But I do think its worth while getting a second opinion if there is any doubt at all. I'm 54 yrs old now and have a seriou s blood disorder which gives you strokes, so I'm glad I gave up smoking for the "lung" disfunction seven yrs ago. My grandson suffers very badly with asthma but with a lot of cleaning every day and freezing his soft toys, it has got a bit better, and has been told he should grow out of it. I personally think its what my daughter has done, cleaning etc. And encourageing him to try lung excercises eg swimming etc. My friend has bronchitis every year in the win ter until this last two years due to taking shark cartilage for his bad back, the side effect is a better immune system and he swears this is whats stopped him getting it for two years....
Marcus | 10/04/2007 08:28:00
I have Asthma and have had since my mid 30's, I have also had Bronchitis in past years, (about 4 years on the trot)always around October - November time. I went on a rare visit to my doctor at the time and tried to explain my breathing difficulties, he said I was Hyper Ventilating and had I any stress in my life. I hadn't as far as I knew, at least no more than any other time of my life, but said OK and tried to control my stress levels. the symptoms continued until I was an the verge of blackouts with the extent of my coughing. Apart from anti biotics he again said I was Hyper and if I wanted he could refer me to a consultant for conformation. Aha! I thought, maybe a consultant could tell me what was wrong... All he did was weigh me 14St (I was not overweight), measure my height 6' 6" and tell me what a cleaver chap my doctor was and I should listen to what he was telling me. Thinking it was all in my head, I went home and muddled through the bouts of coughing and days off work through chest infection after chest infection. This continued until we moved to another part of town and I changed my Doctor. The usual happened and I got a chest infection which turned into Bronchitis yet again. When this was cleared up I was called into the surguryby my fine new doc, and asked a few questions. He asked me to blow into a tube, and said he was going to put me on a course of steroids for a week. At the end of the week I felt better than I had for years, but as soon as the Steroid course had finished, I was back to square one. This doc announced I had Asthma and put me on a Ventalin inhaler. The first time I took it, it was like an angel had stroked my lungs, it was fantastic. Today I am 49 and have to take a brown and blue inhaler on a regular basis. I have problems getting rid of coughs after colds and have still had the occasional chest infection, but never anything like I had when all that was wrong with me was I was Hyper Ventilating!!
Karen James | 11/04/2007 12:51:00
I have asthma in the winter, linked to chest infections. Also in spring and summer, linked to pollen and cut grass. I was given spiriva, which helped. When I moved to a new doctor, the asthma nurse said I didn't have COPD, so stopped me taking it. My lungs have now deteriorated to the point where the doctor decided to try me on spiriva, to see if it helped. I think I wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't had the spiriva withdrawn.
Paul | 16/04/2007 18:19:00
I am interested in what uses people have found for respiratory muscle trainers? Alison above mentioned the youbreathe device?
MARIAN H | 18/04/2007 14:30:00
I was diagnosied with COPD in 2006 having has a long stretch of chest infections, and problems breathing in hot weather. I was given Seritide500 and kept on with my ventolin, the seretide has helped a lot and as I was a keen athlete in my younger days, have kept up a basic exercise programme, with deep breathing and developing the airways and ribcage expansion, there is nothing difficult and a little every day is far better that once a week! I do feel as a ex-smoker I have been treated with respect and dignity by my GP and the asthma nurse who is so dedicated.There are times when I can not breathe easily and have great difficulty after a cold, but am now on two other inhalers, and attending the local hospital under the chest consultant, who has now decided apart from COPD I may possible have sarcoid, how I wish I had never smoked!
megan | 18/04/2007 14:35:00
i have suffered with shortness of breath when walking and going up stairs I was on an inhaler for about ten yrs and changed doctors in thate time of the change he has taken me off my inhaler saying i dont need it this winter was a bad winter for my chest and going up and down steps made it worse but I wont go back to my doctor because basicaly he is an idiot and thinks what can he save money on i had cancer and suffer with athritus and he is forever changing the tablets for cheaper versions
Brian | 18/04/2007 14:40:00
I can only thank who ever as I am not as ill as others.I am 64 disabled and on that much medication I do not know what as help with my infection
yvonne | 18/04/2007 15:05:00
My lungs usually sound clear, unless I have a real severe infection. Luckily my GP knows that when I say I'm sick, I mean it. COPD is Chronic Obstructive REspiratory Disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis). My asthma is mid-range but there is also an obstructive component (in doctor speak). It's funny, my asthma was bad as a kid (untreated reflux), then I got much better, and the last two years I've been going downhill!! Fustrating! The last two times I've been in for a methacholine test (bronchial challenge) I have been below the threshold and I can't do it - overall lung function < 60% (after being off my Singulair and Advair) - with those medications I am usually at 80 - 83% The feeling is that the damage in my childhood from the pneumonias has caused enough scar tissue at this point to lead to the obstruction (which really just means lost flexibility in the lung tissue), and the hope is it won't progress. On top of which is the asthma.
David | 18/04/2007 15:43:00
As a child I had a (non-malignant) tumour on a lung which, when eventually diagnosed, removed along with the lung. After this, my parents and grand parents were most insistent that I do the deep breathing exercises that the consultant insisted upon - but which I'm afraid I would try to avoid. I must thank them all for their efforts as I later learned that if left untreated the doctors reckoned I would have lasted until I was 12 or 13. I've never been what you could describe as a fitness freak but I can still do the odd bit of hillwalking without collapsing in a breathless heap - ok, the steeper climbs can leave me a bit breathless but this is as much due to my carrying a stone or so more than I should. I'm now nearly 60 and fairly healthy despite being quite a heavy cigarette smoker until my early 50's. I can't quite bring myself to give up the odd cigar as yet.....perhaps this year? I am a little prone to bronchitus - always have been - miserableas this can be miserable, reading some of the other contributions here reminds me once again just how lucky I've been. I don't need reminding though to give my silent thanks for the skill and dedication of the doctors and nurses all those years ago and the gift they gave me.
Charles Sharp | 18/04/2007 15:47:00
I was diagnosed with lung disease in my early teens, even though it was the result of pneumonia in infancy. Now I'm 53 and on a regime of perpetual antibiotics. Life hasn't been miserable so far but as I get older the limitations are becomming more apparent. I don't have the lungs for healthy exercise so obesity looms. I worry about the progress of my disease and would love to increase my lung capacity and breathe freely. Ideas?
john marshall | 18/04/2007 16:47:00
I smoked for 20 years and recently gave it up.I have asthma and bronchitis ,and i dont doubt the smoking did have an effect on it.I feel better inside,the only thing is i have been catching more and more chest infections and viruses since stopping which i was told may happen,in a strange sort of way all the tar in my lungs kind of stopped most germs getting through before.I dont advocate smoking by any means,i never thought i could giver up , as i was such a heavy smoker,but i am definitely happier i did.
Rob | 18/04/2007 17:20:00
I always remeber my grandfather have breathing problems, when I was about six my father explained to me that it was a cronic bronchitas condition that runs in the family. He was constantly on medication and inhailers in all my memories of him until he passed away. My father now suffers from the same condition, as did my uncle and aunt on that side of the family. He is the only one left of those three, his condition is compounded by the fact he has also been found to have asbesdoses due to some of the work he was doing in the mid-sixties whilst with the GPO. However, although on various medications he still remains active - including skiing (he has also bought a motorbike to get about on) so he is not doing badly for a 73yr old (going on 25). As we were aware of this problem both myself and my sibblings took steps early on to avoid things that would agrevate the problem (i.e. not smoking etc.), the two of us that are left (the other two dying young of unrelated illness/accidents) are both now approaching 50 (her quicker than me), and although we both get bouts of bronchitis more frequently, for longer periods now, we both find that we can cope with this mainly with over the counter drugs/medication, lots of TLC form our partners and the occasional visit to the Dr's if needed. This is very much a case of having knowledge and managing the condition, I have no doubt that in the future (distant I hope), it will begin to give both of us more problems that will require stonger medication. I have noticed that when playing with my young son or after strenuous excercise, a familliar whistling or light rasping coming from one side of my chest, along with a slight tightness in the same area. This matches exactly what my granfather and father both said they would get - I am hoping it will stay at bay long enough for me to enjoy his growing up. I think so far I have been lucky as I remain active (probably also as I have a fairly rigorus physio session two or three times a week for an unrelated problem) and use shankses ponies and public transport rather than a car to get about. I'd hate to think where I'd be now if I had been a heavy smoker - as my uncle and aunt were, there was probably a fear factor at work as well, I did not want the same for me as them, sometimes it was not nice to see.
barbara | 18/04/2007 17:55:00
i have very recently started swinmming again just to try to strengthen my lungs, as i have mobility problems this has been a very hard job, but i am hoping this will help with the bronchitis i get every year. it is supposed to be good for your lungs so i will give anything a try
Colonel W F W | 18/04/2007 18:48:00
I am 82, and diagnosed COPD 4 years ago,by a cruise ship medical officer treating me for mild bronchitis. following a report to my own doctor, and a spirograph one lung deemed to be non functioning (stopped smoking 30 years ago) and low oxygen content in blood. Treatment now ongoing Prednisolone, and oxygen 12-15 times a day from a (provided) concentrator, and a tank of liquid oxygen (provided) all as required. I have learned when I need and take oxygen as and when. Current physical condition not good - due to ambulatory muscles mal functioning - nor free walking, and free standing very difficult , but still hoping to last at least another ten years to keep up with my lovely new wife (25 years younger) after 46 yrs hardship with the first one, succumbed to cancer. My advice to all is read as much as possible about COPD - there must be 50 plus different presentations, and find the one that matches yours, and do what they suggest.
Pauline Willis | 18/04/2007 18:59:00
As a young child I had pneumonia and then constant bouts of bronchitis every winter. My mother died of bronchial asthma at the age of 26 when I was only three and both my brother and I seemed to escape this. I was very sporty at school and soon the bronchitic winters seemed to be less. Stupidly I started smoking at the age of 17 but with periods of non smoking until life threw a crisis in my path and then off I would go again. As I reached mid 40's it was noticed that I never had colds like everyone else but that I did get occasional bouts of chest infections. It was during my follow up with my doctor that I was diagnosed as mild asthmatic and I was given salbutomol inhalers. My brother had reached this stage 2yrs earlier, he is 2yrs older than me. I rarely had to use them.I moved from my home in the sticks and closer to town as my children were growing up and I was spending more and more time in my car as the local taxi service. My new doctor did nebuliser tests and found a big difference in my peak flow. I see the asthma nurse occasionaly to check all is well and my peak flow was remaining at 400-450. then earlier this year when all around me had bad colds and I had nothing I suddenly woke one morning with major temperature and breathing difficulties and used my ventolin and spacer, that I was given last year during a chest infection, I drank loads of water that helped me to cough and called the doctor out. I was given antibiotics and was told this was all down to my COPD. I was never told I had it !! I Had given up smoking yet again last Christmas and this was making the infection worse as my lungs were still trying to cleanse. My peak flow plummeted to 150 and I thought I was about to die. It took me 9weeks and 2 doses of antibiotics to improve and my peak flow to rise to 250. I went for a recovery break to Spain and felt amazing. And then I returned. I live in the wettest part of Wales, itself one of the wettest parts of the country, itself one of the wettest places in the world. Guess where I am retiring to next year? Yep you got it Spain. As I have arthritis in my spine I can kill two birds with one stone in the warmth of Andalucia. I am still struggling to get my peak flow back up but now the warm weather has arrived I am sure it will go up some more just not as much as before and with lots of doggy walks I should feel better. I know I will always have this to contend with but I will continue to fight back.
mary | 18/04/2007 22:19:00
i have had lung problems for a number of years i do still smoke tho im considering giving it up cos of my medical problems dont have the will power , but copd has coused me my life and i have alot of physical problem becouse of copd wish i had a magic wand if i knew now want i kw now now i wouldnt have started smoking when i was a kid
margaret | 18/04/2007 23:17:00
my father was a copd sufferer,my brother had asthma,myself and 3 sisters have recurring bronchitis every winter.not all of us smokes so i was wondering if there is something genetically being passed on.my son has recurring bronchitis also but my daughter doesn't suffer with any chest complaint.
karen | 19/04/2007 07:51:00
the last time i posted i reported my mum had c o p d and id also been diagnosed.....id managed to stop smoking and have been stopped for over 3 years now and the c o p d seems to be easing - im losing weight and exercising more and making myself feel better - im now down to the one inhaler too..... unfortunately my mum wasnt so lucky - a month before her 50th birthday she passed away due to c o p d and heart disease - we had to sit by her bed and watch her slip away - it was awful - the xrays at the side of her bed showed she had no lungs left to show up.......please please try stop smoking for your loved ones....
Larry Hotchkiss | 19/04/2007 11:01:00
From 17 years old I began to suffer from steadily increasing bouts of bronchitis, until by the time I was 69 it was up to three times a year and lasting up to three months with each attack. I had been prescribed with large amounts of different prescription medication and had tried just about every otc medicine I could find, the best of which merely softened the coughing for a short while whilst the majority had no effect whatsoever. Three years ago I was fortunate enough to find a herbalist in York by the name of Culpeppers and by chance went in and asked for some advice. The assistant in the shop who made no claims whatsoever and even played down the use of herbal remedies as a cure, sold me a small bottle of "Tincture of Myrrh" for about four pounds which I took home and tried. Five drops in a small quantity of orange squash. I was in the middle of a rather noisy and unpleasant bout of bronchitis so you can imagine my surprise when within ten minutes I had stopped coughing or should I say barking. That dose lasted me until the next day and over the next week I took three more doses. That was three years ago now and I have not had a cough since. Also although I was previously prone to catching colds on a regular basis, I have not had a single cold. I have also recomended it to several other people, all with similar results, so as far as I am concerned, THREE CHEERS FOR TINCTURE OF MYRRH. Larry
Kurt | 19/04/2007 17:08:00
My mother has smoked for almost fifty years and has suffered with bad boughts of bronchitis since i can remember. about 10 years ago she was informed it was cpod and advised to give up smoking. this has been very difficult trying to change a lifetime habit but she has almost got there with support from both family and her doctor. the cpod is not as bad now she has cut right down on smoking. I too suffer from bronchitis so am very aware of what can happen after a lifetime of smoking.
Kate | 19/04/2007 18:32:00
My mum now suffers with COPD. It became more of an issue after a recent bout of chest infections that were persistent and refusing to clear. Even with antibiotic treatment and steriods, the doctors changed her inhalers to help her breathe more easily - Mum said it wasn't doing her any good. She ended up in hospital for a few days until they could sort her out and get her stable again. Mum has never smoked, my grandfather suffered with asthma and I suffer with asthma too. My asthma is very bad. I have a low peak flow and it practically kills me each time I get a cold or the flu because it always goes straight onto my chest and I can't breathe. My asthma is being managed by steriods (Seretide) and ventolin, along with the use of anti mucolytic medicine (Montelukast Sodium{Singulair}). Sometimes even these don't work. I enlisted the help of a power breathe - a plastic contraption which you breathe into and out of. By creating resistance to breathing in and out it is supposed to increase strength of your muscles etc. So far it is working. My Mum has also benefited from this therapy too. So far, so good!!
billy | 19/04/2007 19:12:00
i was diagnosed with copd 8years ago i have only 30%of my lungs working i still smoke i have try everthing to stop i keep my self busy with helping other people who are diagnosed with copd
Donna | 20/04/2007 11:07:00
Hi I am now an ex smoker and feel a lot better after fifteen years. Also my nan was miss diagnosed when she was 62 and died too early as a result of miss diagnosis she had lung desease not a bad cough!!
Donna Bell | 20/04/2007 11:08:00
If anyone would like some idea of stopping smoking please ask I can only tell you from my own personal experience.
Ming | 20/04/2007 11:23:00
I gave up smoking after over 30 years. It was not nearly as hard as I thought despite having the willpower of a cockroach. If anyone wants help stopping this habit which will kill you, get in touch.
Gail | 20/04/2007 11:37:00
My dad, after suffering numerous problems with his lungs (deflated lung several times, chronic asthma, severe bronchitis/pleurisy to name a few) was diagnosed as having copd. He smoked years ago in his youth and feels that this has had an affect on his condition. The COPD has placed additional strain on his heart - he's suffered 2 heart attacks, and as his heart/lungs aren't working properly can't rid his body of the excess water so suffers from severe fluid retention. His problems have made me re-evaluate my life and although I still smoke - I've cut down from 40 a day to 10 (15 on a very bad day!) with the intention of giving it up completely. I did stop smoking for several months but bizarrely started again!
DEbbie Porter | 20/04/2007 11:38:00
I gave up smoking 5 months ago and i must admit i dont feel any different, i was told by my doctor to give up as my cholestral level was high,and he informed me if i didnt i run the risk of a stroke or heart attack, the only thing i dont like about giving up is the weight you put on which i will have to know get of.
dawn | 20/04/2007 11:39:00
my uncle recently passed away due to copd and my mum has emphseyma, she is 67 and smokes and cannot give up, she is housebound and suffers with depression so struggles to even try and stop. she says that if she stops now her quality of life will not improve enough to make much difference, i find it difficult to argue this point with her as the doctors have told her pretty much the same ! this is one of the most disabilitating diseases and is awful to watch someone loose their independence and suffer so much. she recieves mobility benefit but has applied many many times to get the care component to be able to afford to buy in help but she keeps getting turned down ? this is so frustrating as she cannot bath herself, do her own washing and struggles to make a meal for herself, how poorly must you get before you are offered any help ????
anon | 20/04/2007 11:44:00
although i do not have any problems at the moment it is something that i worry about getting in the future as i have smoked for about half of my life!
Gillian Hawley | 20/04/2007 11:55:00
During my chldhood I always got Acute Bronchitis and double pneumonia, this happened every year sometimes twice a year, now at 52 I get chest infections but thankfully not pneumonia etc, it was about 5 years ago one christmas that i woke up unable to breath, it felt as if my throat had closed and i was turning blue, I managed to cough up blood which cleared my throat, when i saw my dr she sent me for a bronchosopy, it was then that i was told that i had COPD and another shadow on my lung, and a lot of scaring from old infections, I was given inhalers and had to do a lot of tests with breathing machines and a radioactive test, it was then i was told i had 30% lung function. I then moved from scotland to the south of england, I find the support here very bad, I am monitored about every 6 months by the dr, I do see the respirotary dr yearly, but he just says stop smoking and thats it, he leaves it to his nurses to do any tests necessary, I have tried to stop smoking, but my will power is very very weak, it just seems easier to smoke than to go thru withdrawel, I am restricted in any smoking aids. I can not walk far, have to stop several times on the stairs in the house, do not go out on my own, get light headed with lack of oxygen etc. I have been told i am beyond the point of no return, whatever that means, so I just do what i am capeable of and make sure I enjoy it, but excerise is out as i also have osteo-arthritis, my lack of lung function also caused a heart scare not long ago, not enough oxygen was reaching my heart so the heart muscles had to work overtime, and the pain was something else. by the way i only smoke 10 a day now
MaryM | 20/04/2007 11:57:00
I had asthma as a child but then "grew out of it", but it came back about 10 years ago, around the time I was diagnosed with hypothyroidsm. I put on a lot of weight, around 6 stone, and have only just started to shed the weight. I had an operation for reflux oesophagitis a year ago (fundoplication operation) and since then I have been able to exercise regularly (because I am no longer sick or have severe reflux when I exercise) and I can breath more easily. It was felt that the acid relux was probably exacerbating my asthma and I think that that was true. I still have bouts of severe asthma (usually brought on by cold and damp weather and household dust, cats and dogs), but getting rid of the relux and shedding weight has certainly helped. I did smoke about 10 a day from the age of 19 - 22 yrs, but hopefully my lungs have recovered from that period of madness. My father died from emphysema when he was only 64 yrs of age, he had been a very heavy smoker. I am lucky that the consultant in respiratory memdicine whom I see regularly has taken a holistic approach to my health and ensured that I saw the appropriate medical personnel for each of my conditions.
sharon | 20/04/2007 12:03:00
I have tried so many times to give up smoking but cant i always used to be very fit and very trim but since becoming ill after an accident and having to take steroids for over 5 yrars i have gained nearly 4 stone each time i have tried tio give up the ciggies i gain another stone or so i am told i have to stop dieting as i dont eat enough its because i cant walk there fore not excercising to loose waight i have problems breething just tying up my shoes or walking upstairs i am worried this will lead to lung and heart problems later i am only 48
Kay Harris | 20/04/2007 12:35:00
My husband was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Hystiocsis. After chemo and major surgery to rebuild his face, (tumour in his jaw) he was told the disease was in his lungs, he gave up smoking immediately (3 years ago) as this was the main cause of the disease spreading to his lungs. I continue to smoke and daily intake is approx. 30 per day (more at weekends)
sandra | 20/04/2007 12:38:00
my husband has just recently been diagnoised with copd until last summer he was healthy and never had any problems with his breathing he took ill during the night last july and couldnt breath and was rushed into hospital where once he was stable they did test and told him he had copd he has never smoked but worked in smokey inviroments he has since learnt to cope with his illness taking his inhalers and takeing things slowly he is also my main carer as i am disabled witha degenerative disease he still manages to hoist me in and out of bed wash and dress me and see to all my needs even though he is not so good himself he just takes his time it all takes a little longer to do things but we get there in the end my husband is only 44
katharina | 20/04/2007 12:54:00
i suffer with broncitis and astma doctors have done breathing tests i was asmoker but ive been stopped for nearly three week now but ime stillhaving to use my inhalers has much has i did before its something ive learnt to live with it does restict what i can do and not do my family are reay supportive and do things for me but all yu ever get out of docters his its becouse yu smoke if yu go to see them when yu cant breath
Elizabeth Barrett | 20/04/2007 13:03:00
I had a funny time in hospital, the doctors could not decide if I hasd COPD or just severe Asthma. So every time they came round, different doctors had different ideas. I now have to take 4 different tablets, and 3 different nebuls.
Diane | 20/04/2007 13:18:00
My father was diagnosed with emphysema just after he retired at 65, he was a smoker all his life but all of his working life was spent cutting leather which caused tremendous amounts of dust. He used two inhalers and a nebuliser eventually resorting to oxygen nearer the latter stages of his life, he died aged 83 from a heart attack, although the last two years of his life were difficult he still had quite a good quality of life.
Maria | 20/04/2007 13:32:00
I'm 41, been smoking for 28 years, and feel great. Stoped twice, when I found out that I was pregnant. I'm going on a programe to quit smoking (paid by my employer), and I hope it works. My motivation is the money I would save pays for an amazing holiday, and a new wardrobe...
tina | 20/04/2007 13:37:00
I'm confused. my doctor said I had chronic bronchitis which is copd then I had a breathing test and he said I had chronic bronchitis but not copd. now I dont know what to believe.
denpom | 20/04/2007 13:41:00
I gave up smoking about 5 yrs ago now ,I must admit that I have the occassional cigar at christmas but only small ones. The other month my wife was rushed into hospital and I had a cigarette but yuck!!It tasted awful and I new why I did not need them plus why risk making my heart condition any worse than it already is.It was a severe attack of angina that first made me stop and found I started to lose weight as my taste buds returned to normal and enjoyed eating healthier food.
Derdru | 20/04/2007 14:00:00
My uncle , on my mothers' side of the family, smoked and was very active up till he was about 65...he then stopped smoking and shortly after was diagnosed with emphseyma...he also had alzhiemers... His brother...who never smoked was diagnosed wiith alzhiemers when he was in his 40's...no one in my immediate family has any problems with breathing except myself.I have been diagnosed with chronic asthma since I was in my30's...I have never been checked for copd... I have had chest problems since I was born...every winter I had bronchitis and would cough until I was sick and breathless...I am 55 now... The treatment then was 'vicks' on brown paper put on my chest and back every night..my grandmother used to get medicine called 'Angiers Emulsion' from the chemist and it was really good.. I have the brown and the blue inhalers but I tend not to use them unless I really have to...I keep in close contact with my GP...he is very good...also the practise nurse...and my pharmacist... I found that milk and cheese and milk chocolate affected me a lot so I do not take milk...2 squares of milk chocolate is my limit although I have no problem with dark chocolate .. I have been a smoker since I was 8 years old...I gave up a couple of times...once in my 30's...this resulted in me having terrible throat infections for a year...it was at this time that my GP noticed that my tonsils had actually withered away over the years!... I have never been a sporty person.. I love to dance...I would do this on a regular basis...even took up Belly dance...fantastic workout...but at the moment family commitments mean I do not get as much as I would like... I walk most days...uphill is a bit tiring but I push myself on and feel better after it... I also suffer from osteo arthritis and fibromyalgia.. I am not on any medication for either... I tried everything for fibromyalgia but nothing helped.. so I find that if I stick to my bodys' limits I can cope ok.. Because I basically live as normal as I can..my family tend to forget that I have any problems.. Mornings are worse for me with everything especially breathing..but I take some good deep breaths to help me , and a cup of black coffee is good for opening the airways..By the way...I still smoke...
J | 20/04/2007 16:38:00
My dear late mother suffered bronchitis all of her life, as she got older she found it difficult to do normal household tasks, even putting both arms up at the same time to hang out a little washing would make her breathless, she was on medication all of her life. I think she worried when I was born that It would be passed on, I have been lucky but as I am getting older (nearly 50) I seem to have the odd chest problem and recently had to have anti-biotics and steroids. I'm fine now and much better than I was a few weeks ago but I do sometimes get breathless but not like my dear Mum.
jackie beckett | 20/04/2007 17:32:00
i have smoked since i was 15 yrs old and i am now smoking 30 a day i have tried to give up but i enjoy it however i look after an elderly man with copd and each time i go there it scares me .i think that i may end up on an oxygen machine but the first thing that he says when i go there is have you got a cigarette he only smokes a few a day now saying the damage is done ,but the sad thing is no matter how many times i leave there thinking i dont want to be like that , as soon as im out trough the door i lite up
lorna | 20/04/2007 18:02:00
i had bronchitis when i was a lot younger, i have been a smoker for about 15 years on and off, have notices though when i do stop smoking i get a lot more infections offten wonder why that is :-).
wendy | 20/04/2007 19:48:00
i often suffer with chesty coughs and it is bronchitis i get boughts of it on and of idid stop smoking for about three months but hit a quiet stressful period and i started to smoke again i did not really feel any better and i smoke between 5 and 10 a day i try to cut down, but i enjoy them i do worry about my chest but i have tried numerous ways to quit but have not succeeded my husband suffers from asthma and his breathing is terrible at times especially at night he does not smoke and has to us three inhalers a day .have never smoked in the house i always go outside i try my best.
baz | 20/04/2007 20:47:00
I have almost stopped smoking I just wish that all tobacco could be destroyed so that nobody, including me, could get hold of it. However with the amount of tax that the gov. gets from it this is unlikely to happen. The trouble is that I really enjoy smoking.......so what am I to do?
Mary | 21/04/2007 00:08:00
I was diagnosed with COPD about 18 months ago, I knew I was a bit short of breath but didn't realise how bad it actually was (as I have rheumatoid arthritis and am not able to do a lot of things because of that), until I tried to run to catch a plane, I wheezed and wheezed and I went to the doctor a couple of months after that. I am on spiriva and ventolin and that helped a lot, but the biggest difference was when I managed to stop smoking. I have more or less lost my smokers cough, but still get breathless in cold air and if I exert myself too much
D.Antao | 21/04/2007 02:22:00
Been smoking since i was a teenager Had Pneumoniia in 2004 was hospitalised for a week am fine now still smoking one of the few pleasures i have at this age since i have been diagnosed with with acute rheumatoid artritis (hereditary) Age61 been able to to halve no. of cigarettes smoked. have never tried to give up.honestly feel it has helped my body to build resistance to disease along with motor bike riding for many years in all weather would probably still be riding were it not for the arthritis. realise my views are out of the ordinary, & woulld not be an appropiate candidate for these discussions.
helen | 21/04/2007 10:27:00
I have found all these comments very interesting reading and my heart goes out to all those sufferers.I am a smoker and have suffered from different cancers over the past few years but thankfully I am all clear now.I am very interested in stopping smoking and would be interested in the different ways that people have succeeded
T.KELLAWAY | 21/04/2007 12:08:00
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KICK THE SMOKING HABIT I HAVENT SMOKED NOW FOR TEN WEEKS BUT LAST NIGHT I HAD THREE THIS MORNING I AM KICKING MYSELF NO MORE NO WAY
Glen | 21/04/2007 13:12:00
I was never any good at school in the PE/PT department as I was always out of breath...I was diagnosed as an asthmatic in my mid twenties, I am 57 now. I am on Serevent morning and night and Ventolin and Atrovent in the day. If I miss out on a daily 'puff' I am very wheezy at night when I lay down. I still smoke but I know I shouldn't do, patches I tried but they didn't work for me. A half mile walk to the bus stop is done in 3 or 4 stages to enable me to get my breath.
yvonne | 21/04/2007 14:11:00
this all makes very interesting reading it shows that alot of people out there suffer the same as yourself and there is hope of getting the right treatment to help make your suffering less.I to wood love to give up smoking but need to get get rid of some wight first
Mike | 21/04/2007 16:18:00
I am still smoking, but am down to less than 15 a day. I have tried many times in the past to give up but always start again! Luckily it has not affected me to any significant degree yet but I am concerned that it will in the future. I am in my late 40s. Hopefully the smoking ban in England from July will help me since I always seem to start smoking again when I meet friends in the pub!
Dawn | 21/04/2007 16:21:00
I used to smoke but have since stopped, this lst new year because my 17yr old daughter gave me to much hassle and told me it was bad for her and her brother. My sister in law had one of her lungs removed because of smoking, she had cancer but she still smokes just as much as she ever did, you just can not help some people.
martin | 21/04/2007 17:53:00
i am a smoker and i am suffering from it"s effects i am only 33 and have been smoking at least 20 of those years my sense of smell has gone completley and i am short of breath everytime i go to the shop if only those damn patches were free i would be able to enjoy the rest of my smoke free days with my children
Colin | 21/04/2007 18:36:00
I was diagnosed with emphysema in 2002. What led to this diagnosis follows: I went to my GP as I suffer from ankylosing spondylitis which was diagnosed in 1988, but in 2002 I lost 2 stone in 2 months. I'm no heavyweight, quite the opposite, I was an average 11 stone before it dropped off. I went through every test they could think of, CAT scans, blood tests,internal cameras and so on. The emphysema was picked up on one of the first CAT scans, but in my favour was my extremely good lung capacity. This was probably due to learning to breathe differently because of the restrictions that ankylosing spondylitis has on the rib cage. Although I was a smoker, I gave up 3 years ago, I battled hard to regain my weight and even now am only just over 10 stone. Although the emphysema was confirmed by aconsultant I take no medication for it and at present don't have too many problems, apart from the a/s. As for quitting smoking, just decide to stop and spend as much time as you can in the company of a non smoker, hey it worked for me and ws easier than I expected, so good luck to you all.
Jane | 22/04/2007 07:28:00
I only use and inhaler when needed and I haven't really been fully diagnosed ? Got a shock y'daythough - went for a walk and then had to climb quite a few steps and nearly passed out through lack of oxgen at the top - I didn't realise how bad my chest was - probably at bit stupid of me. So now the smoking has to stop - no more excuses because it will only get worse if I carry on.
Gill Atkinson | 22/04/2007 11:46:00
I do smoke and I have no intentions of giving up, I enjoy it,however if I was diagnosed with an illness caused by or made worse by I would stop but at present I do not.
Michael Stanbury | 22/04/2007 13:05:00
I am a smoker who has ruhmatiod artharitis now and i am 60years of age. I have tried to give up over the years but but all stuff i have tried makes me ill. I wish i could give up under my power my body says yes but my brain says no, if only there was a drug for the brain without side effects.
nicky | 22/04/2007 20:40:00
i smoke, and have just had yet another failed attempt to quit. the big problem i have, is that when i quit i gain weight. that in itself isnt a problem, but it is when you gain about 3 stone each time, and then cannot shift it. i am now 22 stone and am terrified of gaining another 3 stone. ok i can hear you say stop eating the junk, well i dont, i eat a healthy diet maybe too much at times but plenty of fruit and veg and not too much meat. and when i quit i dont eat lots of sweets and i eat no more than i would normally do. i find it so frustrating. i think that as i started smoking before i went through puberty my body is so used to it, it does not know how to work normally. i have been smoking since i was 12 i am now almost 42.
Mo | 22/04/2007 23:20:00
I have smoked for 42 years and did not start until after my children were born (so it's their fault!!) I have a smoker's cough which I think may be a symptom of COPD, but have not asked for a diagnosis. I've tried to give up, using patches and then lozenges, but the patches made me terminally crabby, and the lozenges made me nauseous. A friend recently told me that she uses an inhalator as a substitute, and it seems to be working for her. Has anyone out there tried this method, and has it worked for you? I do enjoy smoking, but this being treated like a social outcast is really getting me down
Jackie | 23/04/2007 00:18:00
I smoked for 47 years,I am now 62 but have never had any chronic chest complaints.I gave up smoking about 12 weeks ago and although I have not noticed any huge improvement in my health I believe I will benefit from it.I have found it a lot easier than I ever thought and have used an inhalator as I needed to occupy my hands.I found this great for me but of course everyone is different. My mother,who is now 87 smoked for over 60 years without any visible problems until she was in hospital for another illness and during a routine chest xray was found to have a small tumour on her lung.She had a biopsy then had a third of her lung removed and I am pleased to say she made a full recovery.This was about 13 years ago but obviously if it had not been for the xray it could have been a very different story and she would probably not be here today.This still did not make me stop smoking so I think it has to be the right time for you to stop if any sort of aid is going to work.I still wouldn't like to say I am a non-smoker as I think any sort of crisis could start me off again but I would like to think I have stopped for good.
kevin | 23/04/2007 10:24:00
could writers maybe append either uk/usa/canada after their comments as the names of all the different are confujsing
kevin, | 23/04/2007 10:30:00
re the smoking problem, i feel that the first thing one must ask what is it that drives you to smoke? stress?family poblems, work problems lets get to the root of the matter
colin hughes | 23/04/2007 10:42:00
i am a smoker but only smoke about ten a day. I find that as long as i keep in shape that it is not limiting. I intend to give up in the next month as i feel it would give me a few years in later life
Gillian Connellan | 23/04/2007 13:19:00
I am 41 and smoked for approx 26 years. I gave up sept 06, the best thing i ever did. The year leading upto me giving up smoking i had suffered with Bronchitus and asthmatic bronchitus on two separate occasions. My doctor told me that bronchitus can get worse and smoking would enhance this. I am glad i have given up, i am hoping this will prevent me from getting chronic bronchitus in the future. I also had support from my doctors surgery when giving up. That helped alot. There is support out there in the UK, not sure what support they have in other countries, but here it was fantastic and my husband and i have our 12 week certificates stuck to our fridge to remind us what we have done. I agree with Kevin, find out why you smoke and believe me if you really really want to give up you can do it. Just get support if you can.
julie miller | 23/04/2007 18:29:00
althgough an occasional smoker i have not suffered as yet from lung problems
zoey | 24/04/2007 08:53:00
i smoke about ten cigarettes per day and do suffer from a bad chest, cough etc regularly
julie cunnington | 24/04/2007 11:37:00
i have been a smoker or many years, but do not suffer with any lung disease, my dad packed up smoking 20 years ago and now suffers from copd, shich i know will kill him sooner or later, i should pack up smoking because of this but it is not so easy, so if anyone has any tips i would love to hear them.
jayne | 24/04/2007 14:54:00
i dint smoke untill i was in my 20s .i havnt go any lung deseas but when i get a cold i allway get very chesty.
Helen Flanagan | 24/04/2007 18:17:00
My Mother has copd and still smokes, She has been in and out of hospital on oxygen but still wont stop.I and my Husband still smoke and have had serveral attempts to stop but its not easy.
Helen | 24/04/2007 21:12:00
My mum was diagnosed with copd but never had any tests, it was just what the nurses thought she had. Last year after doctors thought it was getting worse she was diagnosed with fluid on the lung which when drained showed she had lung cancer. Sadly mum died in January this year. I do not want to frighten anyone but please be aware that sometimes symptoms can mask much more serious illness.
David | 25/04/2007 00:53:00
I have smoked for about 35 years and have no problems yet. I gave up smoking for 9 months but it got no easier and when my girlfriends dad said he packed in 19 years ago but still craved for a smoke I thought I might as well smoke and just knock a few years off my life but be happy till then. No doubt I'll change my mind too late.
Steph | 25/04/2007 22:54:00
I've been a smoker for 25 years. I don't have lung disease yet, but always get a bad chest infection when I get a cold. I wish i could give up the dreaded weed but I enjoy a smoke too much! I know I'm slowly killing myself so any help would be much appreciated. I've tried the patches , chewing gum, the lot, but nothing seems to work.
M Lee | 26/04/2007 11:57:00
I have smoked for many years but have no chest/ lung/heart disease as a result. I smoke a lot more when under unnatural stress eg no job no money no prospects no home and depression. This stress causes more in the way of ill health than the smoking. When my life has been good, I didn't smoke. Prssure to give up had the opposite effect. I've only had one cold and one bout of flu in the last 15 years. Congestion may have lasted an extra day with me, but the non-smokers around here all seem to catch more in the way of flu etc, and certainly take any excuse for days off and bedrest. Go figure!
samanths tyler | 28/04/2007 19:12:00
i have smoked for the last 18 years and not as yet had any health problems i.e.lung chest or heart disease i should say i havent yet suffered from any of the above.i tried to give up a few years ago with the help of zyban but stuoidly stop taking because of all the bad press.i dont think that people should try giving up because of pressure from other people to do so .you have to do it because you personally really want to and like many i enjoy smoking.since the ban has been in in wales ive actually spoke more to people i dont even know just because we have to stand outside places to smoke so it is a social addiction.ive known many people who have smoked for 30 40 years who have suddenly given up and have suffered terribly with their health after giving up my uncle is one of these people has had 3 heart attacks and been in and out of hosipital because of breathing difficulties all in the last 2 yaers of giving up.we can all draw our own conclusions on whether it was caused from the many years of smoking or whether its because of him giving up .
Trudy Coughlin | 30/04/2007 12:25:00
Unfortunately, still smoke, have recently been for a full medical re a work permit for Australia - all seemed clear - except for interrupted sleep and slight lethargy (could be the heat here in Oz) feel 100% -
lorraine 1/05/07 | 01/05/2007 20:48:00
i have smocked for a long time and have stopped but i slill have cronic asthmai have been tested for copd but iv been ok so far they said if i carry on smocking i shall get emphasemia but so far iam ok
Jax | 02/05/2007 13:12:00
I do suffer from Bronchitus in the winter months. I have never smoked one cigarette in my life, but I did grow up in a pub!!!! But I cannot understand why people with chest problems still smoke.
Jez | 06/05/2007 16:59:00
My experience is probably at odds with a good many people. I come from a long line of smokers, on the male side of both families, and have smoked for over 37 years. None of have had breathing, heart or bronchial problems though I've had pleurisy twice (a little scar tissue remains). I used to be very physically active, swimming, rugby, weightlifting and running but damaged my back and lost a goodly part of my motor nervous system in 1979 - I assign my relative lack of problems to both the level of sports (especially swimming, for lung capacity and efficiency) I used to do and to the lack of any "trigger" genes in my family lines. [For the record, I'm about 5'10" and weigh 10st 7lbs so have not succumbed to the sedentary lifestyle yet.] The only thing that I do suffer from is poor circulation in my legs and feet, but that is as much a result of the nerve damage as anything else.
barrie | 27/05/2007 07:00:00
have had COPD since the early 90s and i will die of it.smoked all my life and i cannot understand COPD sufferers not giving up the cigs,when i fancied a ciggie i just said do it and you will die sooner,i will never smoke again because i have things to live for.lot's of things that come before a cigarrette.
dolores | 14/06/2007 00:23:00
i have suffered frm asthma since i was very young ( taken after bad bouts of whooping cough when i was about 9yrs old) i am allergic to loads eg. pollen , grass, mould etc etc but my doctor also thinks my asthma attacks are mostly stress related ( his words actually were "hysterical asthma" ) which is quite how i do have my attacks ..i use ventolin blue really every day in life and past 2 yrs i have also taken serotin purple (with face spacer mask...wonderful item ,i think ) i had an awful scare bout two years ago ...i thought i was just starting a wee chest infection ..so i got to docs pronto ..was waiting for a fill in ( as i had no appointment) and the wee nurse came out to speak to me ..see how i was doing.. well i thought i was speaking sorta normal! but apparently no...everything seemed to be happening very slowly but i was injected ..on a nebuliser ..ambulance on its way ..and truthfully ..i felt no hurry at all ...i was slipping into a coma !!! ended up in hospital on a drip of predisolone,,on oxygen mask,,nebulisers , so much stuff ! (forgive spelling) and loads of fluids and dye pumped into my chest ,,then x rays etc ..hubby was sent for from work truly i wasnt sure what was happening ..i just felt awful bad.. the docs inthe hosp got it under control quickly enough though..but i couldnt understand how iwas so ill ...so quickly..?? eventually after bout 5 days they came to talk about it with me ..they said i had had a silent athsma attack !! ( oh there was no wheezing at all by the way ) thats why i didnt think i was so sick !! in all the years i have had my asthma i have NEVER heard of a silent attack !! i am 53 and had me asthma since bout 14 and have been bad !! but had never heard of it at all..it scared me very much indeed ..to think i could just go asleep and slip into a coma ..i was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this awful experience ( i hope i havent frightened anyone ..im sorry ..it was not my intention to put fear in anyone ) i was just wondering... anyhow all of you ..take good care now xx
kim | 11/08/2007 20:11:00
My grandma has COPD, was diagnosed 5 yrs ago, I'm 31 been smoking since I was 12, over half my life. How sad now that I think of it. I am scared to death wondering just how long it will be until I am diagnosed with it also, as I have no immune system or willpower to kick this awful habit. Everytime I think about quitting I smoke more. How pathitic is that!!!
exsmoker | 01/10/2007 05:34:00
Hello All, I was reading around some of the posts here and I found interesting things that you guys talk about, I just made a blog about quitting smoking resources and ideas that you might want to check out. If someone is interested in this topic just go to; http://endthehabitnow.blogspot.com and let me know what you think. Your honest feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Alison | 07/01/2008 12:26:00
Hi My name is Alison i have just been diagnosed as having copd which i thought was asthma im 41 yrs old married with 4 young adult children i have been prescribed spiriva but confused as no one has explained anything to me
James | 12/06/2008 18:32:00
Hi there, I was diagnosed with bronchectisis ( however its spelt lol ) in the year 2000, although I had suffered from the same symptoms for years. Recently however, I have been coughing up alot of blood, even to the point of comming out my nose, feeling very breathless and tired with alot of pain. I have been to the doctors on countless occasions, only to be told to take more steroids, more painkillers and more anti-biotics. Which do not do anygood whatsover. Also taking my nebs like they are going out of fashion. I was wondering if anybody has any other suggestions as to what I can do. Thanks for your time. Oh and copd is not always due to smoking, I have never smoked.
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