I am 59 (next month) and am in stage 4 according to the stats on the limited testing that was done last year. (I don't have insurance so they just did the blow test). Actually I get around so well that I don't think this assessment in correct. I think I'm probably stage 3 also. vicki

I am 67 and at the beginning stage...maybe called stage 1? Diagnosed over 2 years ago and so far it has remained pretty much the same.

One thing I learned on DS is that you never know how fast it will progress, etc.

Love the folks on here and their posts....keep me informed and smiling often.

Just turned 58 and got diagnosed when 51 with stage 4 + .

I'm 63 and was diagnosed 2 years ago at stage 3.

I'm nearly 21 and was diagnosed with early stage 3 when I was 16. Not sure what stage I'm at now though, nobody's said anything to me about stages since I was first diagnosed.

I was diagnosed about one year ago. I have had three pulmonary function tests. They have all showed my Fev1 being in the mid thirtys. I would like to know what caused my COPD to come on so quickly that I noticed a difference over a year span of time.

i am 74 and my doc goed by percent of lung power i am at 50 percent but cannot kick the habitit

I am 61 will be 62 in June and I am at stage 4 and have been for many years now.

Holly

46 and stage3 bordering stage 4.
no O2 yet.

I'm 62 diagnosed in 2005 stage 4, still work part time no 02 yet.

Ladybug, I have read in medical reportings that our lungs start gaining damage soon after birth. We are exposed to environmental contaminants as we breathe, we have lots of colds, pneumonia, etc, all the things that affect the lungs. Cigarettes being high on the list but not necessarily the sole cause.

For those of us that have emphysema (of which I speak of specifically) the damgage was slow but has been there for years before we start noticing the symptoms.

Climibing hills, stairs, vacuuming, etc caused me to get a little winded. Of course resting for a moment , I was able to regain my normal breathing pattern. This went on for years and I was smoking and thinking that I was just getting older and that yes, it was probably the cigarettes helping the breathless feeling.

Then one day I was feeling fine when everything went haywire and I could not breathe at all. I managed to get to the ER and stayed in the hospital a week and came out a respiratory patient.

It is not a sudden onset disease but a quiet one that travels along with you until your lungs need help to function.

I am 75 , in the severe stage according to the doctor, and pretty sure that I have been the host for this disease for many years.

I was fortunate that it did travel slow as I had some really wonderful years and still more to come.

AND this reply is way too long....... Have a beautiful upcoming week all.

Its a very good reply LilEllie...

I would agree with that Ellie, (your reply 11) thanks for sharing that information with us here, there are many things over the years that I know will have added to my lung damage.

I'm like Jess - never been given a stage, I think it does vary from country to country, county to county or State to State, who knows it may even vary from one doc to another.

However looking at the GOLD page on stages of COPD I'm guessing I am at Stage 3. I'm 58 going on 59, diagnosed 7 years ago.


What is your understanding of the Stages of COPD ladybug?

LilEllie, I appreciate your post. I can identify. The one day of feeling fine then everything went haywire is how I feel. Looking back I can see the "slow damage". Because I had a huge physical change over about a year's time, it seems sudden. Went from hiking to not being able to climb stairs. Lost a lot of weight. Panic attacks with shortness of breath and so on.

You have given me a bit of an Ah Ha moment. A lot of it seems like common sense. The puzzle pieces don't make sense until you have the whole picture! Thanks again for sharing!

Peta here is one of the websites for the stages. I have been going with Gold and their descriptions and measurements.

http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/tc/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd-symptoms

Hi ladybug.

Gold is what I based my first reply on, that stage is the nearest to what I experience.

I don't think COPD / emphysema is a cut and dried as far as symptoms go tho and many people do experience things others may not, I guess other health issues come into play which may or may not be connected, this being the individuals that we are.

Wishing all an easy breathing evening.