One thing to consider - if and when emphy gets worse, you already have your second and third most important resources available. Knowledge on how to live with this disease. Friends that care.
Why God choooses to work the way He does is definitely a mystery. I choose not to worry about the future. I do what I can to prepare for whatever happens and the rest is in His hands. So I go about my business today and try very hard not to worry about those things I cannot control. Often this helps me: http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html

Hugs,
Dennis

You are blessed! Accept GOD's grace and mercy. We are not happy about anyones decline, nor envious of anyones continued health. I suppose I should speak for myself. Sound like you kinda have a version of Survivors guilt. Despite the severity of our health issues, we are all in the same boat. SURVIVORS! What you said about that which I have feared most has come upon me is oh so true. That's why I'm constantly casting out my fears. His mercy and grace are from glory-to-glory. Renewed daily and sufficient. Don't be afraid to Praise The Lord for your health. The Bible also cautions us about comparing ourselves to others. You either feel better, worse or caught somewhere in the middle. Nevertheless my Sister, I celebrate your health. What GOD has done, and is doing for others, he can do for ME. Continued Blessings. P.S. Didn't mean to go all John 3:16 on ya. People get offended. Too bad and so what because I can't help lifting him up because HE'S WORTHY! Glory! Glory! Glory! The only reason I'm able to face today. Take that devil!

This disease works differently on each person. I know people that are sicker than me and still going dancing, playing golf, ect. while I do good to walk to the bathroom.
If you are blessed enough to be one of those that the disease is moving slow, then you should rejoice and thank God for that.
It will keep progressing, and your lung function will keep declining, but it seems at a slower pace, which is wonderful.
To keep it that way, keep up the exercises, good nutrition, and use your inhaler. I hope you have a good lung specialist, if not now, maybe at a future date you could get a checkup, to keep an eye on things.
Also, remember, after moderiate, is severe, then very severe...that is where I am...

BJ
God Bless you
BJ

Stay as healthy as you can:):) Be thankful.........and never feel bad about posting and learning:):):)

It hasn't occurred to me to feel guilty about having fewer health concerns than others - there's always someone out there who is in a worse state or better state than you. I'm hoping that my gratitude can lift someone up who's not feeling so great today; and your gratitude can lift me up when I'm not feeling so great today.

What's out there in the future can weigh us all down - it's a fruitless burden; fruitless because we know nothing about tomorrow, burden because it's a heavy load that interferes with our appreciation of today.

I believe things happen for a reason...so just enjoy each day as it comes.

I am considered to be in the "moderate" stage, too. Most of the time I don't notice it, but my dr has pointed out that sometimes I take short quick breaths to compensate. I use Spiriva 1X daily, Flovent 2X daily, and have a rescue inhaler.

I just hope I can stay in this stage as long as I can, and not have to "go on oxygen." Mentioned this to my dr, and she says, "it's just a question of WHEN." But, well she's kind of jerk anyway.

Hi,
Hope my response is not negative. I went 4-5 years with even softer problems than you. Used Advair 250 and had a rescue inhaler. Had stopped smoking 5 years prior to this. I was assured that, at my level, my Chronic Bron. was controllable. Did everything Dr. asked. Starting March of this year, I have been on a sliding board with some stops along the way. Am now at level 4 and 24/7ox. Things under control, but just to show that COPD can change quickly.DO NOT LET THIS SCARE YOU!! IT IS NOT MEANT TO. The man has a plan for all of us. My doctors still tell me My lungs look like I never smoked. Just trying to say, you may never get any worse than you are today. Even if you are like my case.....I was 62 when I stopped smoking and 66 when I started medicines and 71 when it got worse this year
Even if you do get a little worse, keep the good attitude, Be happy you do not have worse problems, stay active, stay on top of it and at your age you should see 80 go by in your rear view mirror.
Major advice is to make sure you have a good Pulmonary doctor. Personally, I have always enjoyed a good fight [don't mean physical] and you sound like someone that does not give up easily.
Good Luck!!!
Larry

Larry, you didn't scare me. I'm terrified. Not by anything that you've said because you have only confirmed what I already know is: I'm dying. Yeah, from the time we are born we all are dying, but for me, this is different. Don't ask me how. I have no answers. Tonight Larry, I'm hurt. Yeah, I know that I brought this on myself by smoking, the wages of sin is death, but I don't want to go out like this. I don't want to go into what like this is. It's real. GOD Bless With reluctance, I press this key. Whatever

higginsp, I only wish I had found this group years ago, before I became so severe. I think if I had, I might be in better shape than I am now because I would have known better how to take care of myself. But as the saying goes, "Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out". So for now, I can still turn to this wonderful group for moral support, ideas and information, as well as more hugs than I've received in a long, long time. Trust that you're exactly where you're supposed to be in life, right here and right now.

Thank you to everyone who responded! I'm so lucky to have found this group, and I thank God for your knowledge and your concern for others.

One more thing I would like to add. I started smoking at 18, and when I quit at 42, I was up to 4 packs a day (yes, I was a chain smoker). I was diagnosed about 2 years ago (at 60), so I consider myself fortunate to have gone this long without oxygen, steroids, or hospital visits. When I went to the doctor for my annual physical last week, he shook his head and said I sure have a lot of health problems. The two things I don't have are the very things I thought I would have had at this point...heart disease (or stroke) and cancer. My Dad died from a major heart attack at 74 (he had a previous heart attack at 39), and my brother died from a major heart attack at 47 (he also had his first heart attack at 39 and also had COPD). My Mom died from oral cancer, after having had a quadruple bypass and a stroke, as well as colon cancer 25 years prior to her death.

I guess what I'm getting around to is that I'm terrified of dying; but, even more than that, I'm terrified of dying in pain or gasping for breath. I'm having a tough time dealing with my mortality, as I'm sure everyone here is. I just pray that God gives me the strength to face whatever comes with grace and dignity.

Again, thank you everyone for your kind responses. It's nice to know there are people who still care about others.

Don't know if this will help, but maybe. When a dear friend of mine had colon cancer she expressed to her Dr. her great fear of dying in pain. So when her end was nearing, she had a button she could press for morphine when she felt she needed it. She died free of pain.

All great answers & I am moderate too. Haven't been to a dr in almost 2 yrs so don't know if it is still at that. I take advair, spireva, & have a rescue. Quit smoking 12 days ago @ 2 pks a day for 48 yrs.

you are right where I was when first dx'd. I had mild symptoms (according to the dr) although they felt very serious to me. I could barely stand and shower and by the time I got done, I was so exhausted I had to sit on the toilet for a good ten minutes before drying off.

That was in 07. Fast forward to today, I'm well below 70% and have exacerbations at least 4 times a year. I continue to smoke off and on. Like an idiot. Smoking has been the single hardest thing I've ever tried to quit doing.

I now am able to stand and shower without giving out of breath. It's taken a long time but I am doing good with it.

What I am trying to say, is that no matter where your lung function is, it will get worse over time and your best defense is to never give up. Use your inhaler as directed and no more than necessary. I believe in my heart that had it not been for my nebulizer and inhaler I would have died by now from passing out and banging my head on something hard or breaking my neck.

Yes, the dumbest thing in the world is that I continue to smoke. My dad died from lung cancer. I can't give you any promises that it will get better but I can tell you that eating properly and being as positive as possible can greatly influence your health. I'm living proof of that.

I pray that you learn to accept this disease for what it is. A roadblock. You have to learn for yourself what can get you over that roadblock and continue on your path as well as possible. Good luck and God bless.

I'm kind of where you are, also a decade older, I think you will be glad you found this site even tho it can scare the be geezers out of you sometimes.
I'm at least glad for an explanation for the strange tiredness and occasional sob (are those swear words.?). Yours may progress very slowly.
May I suggest taking up bridge? We have people at the studio on oxygen who do great...at least at cards.