Been here since early 2010, right after I was DX'ed. Things have changed radically for me since then, but this group is soooo important. We have to remember that without the love, strength and experience we get here, many of us end up in situations that nobody around may understand - or often even cares much about. Tis a good thing you all are here for me...

Hugs,
Dennis

how long have i lived with it?
i'm not sure because i'm sure there were many years that i had it and didn't know.

i was diagnosed with it Sept. 2010 (i'll never forget that day)
diagnosed mild/moderate and on 02 24/7 after sleep test & 6 minute walk were done soon after the "PFT find".

My Asthma has been with me since a child. The Emphysema was DX in 2007, like everyone else I don't know how long it was brewing.

However, it seems like a lifetime.

Diagnosed March 2013.
PCP thought "mild" as good O2 reads are deceptive.
Pulmo delayed due to lack of ins.
Discovered Alpha1 Aug 2014.

Found this group and read a short while and joined in June 2013, though I didn't much participate til late summer that year.
Great friends have been made, and I am thankful for the support given.
It's a haven and a blessing for me.

Considered end stage, with deceptive high O2 reads like a few others in this stage. Tough tuning in the O2 to where Drs want it. Main DX Emphysema.

Diagnosed 2005, but like a lot of us I suspected I had it around 2000 or before when I would get out of breath with exercise.

Diagnosed 2009, likely had it sooner. Earlier breathing issues attributed to asthma and/or "regular" bronchitis.

Misdiagnosed in 08 n told it was my asthma acting up....5 hospital stays later n in 2010 my respiratory system shut down n I ended up 2 n a bit weeks intubated......it was only thru my own research I discovered that COPD existed...although I did hear about emphesema n iron lungs etc etc..in the past...

Had my first PFT in 2011 but I was already severe with a reading around 26%.....

Fun times lol...

I was diagnosed in 1991 at age 52. I had mentioned shortness of breath after climbing stairs, and my doc decided to do tests to rule out heart problems (Dad and 4 grandparents all died of cardio problems). My heart was shown to be normal, but she detected early stage emphysema. It is now in the severe stage. It has been a gradual decline in lung ability but biggest changes have been in the last 5 years.
This group has been so important to me. thank you all, Ann

Dx'ed in 2000, but I was asymtomtic. Woke up one November morning in 2010 and could not breathe. The rest, as they say, is history! Went on O2, inhalers, steroids, the whole 9. Applied for disability and was approved the first try.
This place and these wonderful people have helped me through some dark days and I love you all for that.

I was diagnosed in 2012 with emphysema and 10 days later with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Weekly infusions of the protein for the rest of my life. I'm end stage (that phrase felt like a slap in the face). Do not like this disease. Grrr.

Diagnosed with emphysema about 2003 when I had a bout of pneumonia, but had suspected it for quite some time before that. Am now in the severe stage.

It's safe to say that many of us on this board had copd for decades, but didn't know it. The CDC states there are 12-13 million people who have been diagnosed with copd and another 12-13 million who have it but don't know it yet. Often times, by the time we have symptoms, we've already lost half or more of our lung function.

I was diagnosed with severe emphysema in January, 2010. A couple of months ago I had a spirometer test. (I had already had my medications that morning.) I was very pleased (and surprised) that my post FEV1% was the same as my post FEV1% in 2010.

Susan

I have been living with this disease since about 2001. I remember well the first day I was SOB. I was camping and all of sudden I couldn't catch my breath for about 2 hours. Thought I was going to die right then. I didn't do anything about it except go buy an over-the-counter asthma inhaler. Didn't really have a regular doctor at that point. I was a smoker and I didn't slow down any. AS I have mentioned before, my mother died from COPD. She had quit smoking and it didn't do much good in her case. I got to where I depended on the store bought asthma inhalers. When I couldn't find one I would panic and would check with a friend that had them. Finally about 2002 I had to go to the hospital and they kept me a few days and I was definitely diagnosed with COPD/Emphysema. I was put on several real inhalers then. I was in and out of the hospital for years until I quit smoking about 4-5 years ago. I have cheated some since then but I haven't had to call 911 or drive straight the hospital since. One of my trips to the hospital about 2002 they wouldn't let me leave the hospital without oxygen. I have had it ever since. I applied for disability in 2002 and received it first try. So then it took 2 years to get Medicare. I had to use Medicaid, as well as, the Free Clnic until then . Nowadays I am on oxygen part time. Every time I cheated on smoking I would be back on it. I was on it 24/7 for a while when I was still smoking regularly. That is me!!!!!!

Diagnosed with bronchitis in 1999, and promptly ignored it, or forgot it, until 2009 when I became so out of breath at work I could not do my job. Dr. said copd with both, but more emphysema. Of course I continued to smoke from 1999 until 2009, then off and on until 2011 when I finally quit for good. I do not like the term end stage because it sounds like I am going out any moment, which I may do, but still.....I just say I have very lousy lungs...

BJ

Officially diagnosed March of this year.

Probably in denial a good 5 years as the sob progressed and the
bouts of respiratory infections and all the goodies we do thru in
this mess.

Quit smoking now going on 9 years.....so at least I did know where
that was leading me.