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...
You know, sometimes I feel like I shouldn't even be in this group because I don't have any of the major problems most of you have experienced. I feel SOB when I get up and move around too quickly or try to do any housework, but I haven't had to go to the hospital, be put on steroids, don't have a nebulizer or any of the other stuff mentioned. I'm just on Spireva every morning and have a rescue inhaler for when I feel SOB. I'm told that I have "moderate" emphy. Shouldn't I be having more symptoms like everyone else when I'm considered "moderate"? Don't misunderstand; I'm not complaining, and I'm very happy that I haven't had many of the problems everyone here has experienced, but I'm only one step away from "severe", right? So shouldn't I be having more of the symptoms everyone else is experiencing? Thank God I don't, but I'm just trying to understand it.
When I read what some of you have gone through, it really scares me, and I wonder when it's going to happen to me (I'm 62). I'm having a hard time psychologically dealing with the thought of what's coming in the future. Emphysema and lung cancer have always been my greatest fears. Like the Bible says, "That which I have feared most has come upon me". I have so many other health problems that I'm surprised I'm doing so well with the emphysema. Sorry to ramble. I'm just trying to find a way to psychologically deal with this disease.
When I read what some of you have gone through, it really scares me, and I wonder when it's going to happen to me (I'm 62). I'm having a hard time psychologically dealing with the thought of what's coming in the future. Emphysema and lung cancer have always been my greatest fears. Like the Bible says, "That which I have feared most has come upon me". I have so many other health problems that I'm surprised I'm doing so well with the emphysema. Sorry to ramble. I'm just trying to find a way to psychologically deal with this disease.
you're lucky you found this group early.
i feel that if i had this group, or anyone that knew about this disease i wouldn't have had to go through what i have the past year.
live and learn!
until then, i plan on going, doing and enjoying every minute that i have with the people, places and things that are most important to me.
i also feel that i don't have it as bad as others on this board, but then i feel i have it worse than some....thank goodness this isn't a competition here, it's just a group of us sharing and supporting each other on how we get through this disease one day at a time.
and you know, i'd like to share this;
i was scrimping and saving every penny to make sure that i have enough money to keep a roof over my head and support myself for the 15 or more years my last dr said i had.
while i was so sick this year i thought; "i'm going to be angry if i scrimped and saved just to find out i have less time & i never did anything fun while i could."
so now i am spending some money on fun things with friends & family, but at the same time i'm not being "stupid" with the money.
if tomorrow is my last day, i sure don't want to think of all the things i never did because i was afraid to spend my money.
(my picture is my son & i looking out over "dead horse point" in september, the "arches" of utah were on both of our bucket lists :)