COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
I met a lady yesterday who had been out biking, and she casually mentioned that she has had COPD for almost 20 years. I was shocked! I would not be able to ride a bike at all right now; in fact, I'm sometimes SOB just walking a block or so. I was only diagnosed about 3 years ago (even though I know I've had it longer than that), and cannot imagine riding a bike after having COPD for 20 years.
I was depressed the whole day after I met this lady. Happy for her that she was doing so well, but sad for myself that I seem to be worse off physically than she is after having been diagnosed relatively recently. I know this disease progresses differently for all of us, but the short time I spent with this woman made my disease seem so much worse, and my time left so much shorter. I wonder if I have been fooling myself on the severity of my disease. I'm not on steroids, antibiotics, or O2. I only take Spireva every morning and have a rescue inhaler (which I use seldom). I know without a doubt that I would do better if I lost some weight, and I can't tell you the number of diets I've been on all my life. I might lose 50 pounds, but then it all comes back. It's up and down like a roller coaster.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that comparison with someone else is a scary thing. It brings my mortality into greater focus, which is something I really don't want to do.
I was depressed the whole day after I met this lady. Happy for her that she was doing so well, but sad for myself that I seem to be worse off physically than she is after having been diagnosed relatively recently. I know this disease progresses differently for all of us, but the short time I spent with this woman made my disease seem so much worse, and my time left so much shorter. I wonder if I have been fooling myself on the severity of my disease. I'm not on steroids, antibiotics, or O2. I only take Spireva every morning and have a rescue inhaler (which I use seldom). I know without a doubt that I would do better if I lost some weight, and I can't tell you the number of diets I've been on all my life. I might lose 50 pounds, but then it all comes back. It's up and down like a roller coaster.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that comparison with someone else is a scary thing. It brings my mortality into greater focus, which is something I really don't want to do.
Higgins...we all are only who we are, those if's and should's are only the self talk that does one no good. Seems maybe your meds. might need some tweeking, I benefit greatly from nebulizer treatments. Life really is a roller coaster no matter what isn't it? I love all the ways people have learned to cope and how we can share those ideas, along with our ups and downs.