Sometimes it is so difficult for someone who doesn't have a disability to understand what someone who does is going through especially If it is a disability that can't be seen. I would encourage you to get into a rehab. They help you so much with not only an exercise program (easy but very effective) and tailored just for you. They also cover nutrition, medications, mental health, all kinds of classes. They will cover and help you learn different ways to be more independent without having to rely on others. You probably could even explain to rehab the difficulty you are having with your family and have a family consult with some family members to help them understand. Dennis gave you some great links.

Welcome aboard a site chock full of wonderful supportive folks all of whom are walking their own mile in your shoes at all different levels of this disease. I too at times gasp for air - I'm on 6 lpm continuous so I can and do relate. My doctor has advised exercise. He would like at least 1/2 hour daily of sustained movement but at a level I can tolerate. This is to keep the muscles from disappearing completely.
We are all different on this site though - you may not be able to manage that and should always rely on your pulmo dr for advice on these things. I think we all try to do as much as we can just to feel that our lives are still under our own control; i.e. I sometimes vacuum sitting in a wheeled desk chair - but some days I just don't have enough energy for even that. One day at a time seems to be our motto. Hope to see you out here on the site when we feel the need for support - BIG HUGS to you and hoping you can break through the denial thing with your family - Ruthie (aka dollaraudit)

Welcome to the family of the nicest and greatest people ever - your in good hands with all understanding people - your bio says you are from Adrian, MI - well I lived in New Baltimore, MI before I left in 1979-80. I guess it's OK to say 'Howdy Neighbor." /best hank/

Welcome Chelle. I am sorry that your family treats you this way. It is because they are not informed. They may mean well; but have no understanding of your disease and how hard it makes daily activities.
I have empathy for you; as my younger brother told me that running would strengthen my lungs. He is a marathon runner. I am on oxygen 24/7; and can not imagine how I could run with the backpack oxygen tank beating me with each step? Walking briskly totally winds me; so I do not think I will be running any marathons. Hopefully, members of this group will be able to relate to your situation and give you advice and information.

Welcome Chelle, As you can see already, you've got more support on this site than you can shake a stick at! The family? Most of them will "come around" to "see your point of view". Question: How many of them are smokers? I hope you realize that you can't be around second hand smoke!

Welcome to our family, which is now your extended family!

Warm Hugs, from all of us! Jim

Chelle,
I know that feeling. My family is like that too. It is tough but like Denny said get them to learn about copd and its effects.
Best of luck to you and welcome to the group.

I am going through this same thing with my husband. He thinks he knows everything about what is wrong with me and all I need to do is get over myself and get back into life. I'm lazy cause as soon as I get home from work I crawl into bed 6 days a week. He will not acknowledge I have a disease...let alone a terminal disease. If I wimper or let on I'm not feeling well I'm laughed at so I try to be strong but sometimes I just think I can't do this another day. Also he doesn't believe in pharmaceutical drugs so he critizes my meds.
I know the problem is that I've let him down by getting so sick but being mean and hateful to me won't fix anything. We don't even speak anymore. If I had anywhere else to go to the rest of my life I'd go but this is the only place I have. My customers at work are my only friends. Life just ain't much fun anymore. Sorry if I'm crying into my soup but this life is pure hell anymore.

I must admit that it was my husband who insisted that I tell my GP about my severe allergies and that was the reason the GP referee me to the allergist who started me on the allergy shots that have improved my life greatly so maybe he is seeing more of my disease than I am.
Its all so confusing. I am very thankful that I have the site where I can be honest about this disease or I'd loose my mind.

It seems that most "outsiders" have no clue or empathy for what we are going through. They need to be educated. Your family needs to go with you to the doctor (hopefully a pulmonologist) so they can hear for themselves the severity of this disease.
Welcome to our little family.

That's awful! I do remember it took us awhile to fully grasp my fathers diagnosis, but I have asthma so being out of breath was not a new idea to me. It sounds like they need to do some reading about the progression of the disease and its effects. My father ordered some white papers (that's what they call the research) from Johns Hopkins on COPD. Perhaps something like that?

I find it helps to explain that some scientists think that lung diseases in general are immune diseases. When I tell people that (largely when they don't feel that its a big deal to have a cold around me, when in reality I will be sick for months and my father could end up hospitalized for "just" a cold). When you explain the physiology of the disease with big but easy to understand words people seem to listen.

My father has a "set" amount of exertion he can do for a day...if he goes over that he will be out for the rest of the week. He needs to recuperate his energy.

That said the idea of lighte (emphasis here) exercise is a good one as long as your doctor knows. My dad likes chair yoga specifically for people with cop .

Last but not least you may want to tell them gently that this is irreversable. They may already know, and perhaps this is their way of being in denial. It is very difficult to accept that a loved one has an iirreversible disease and they hope for amiracle. Early on I remember a doctor mentioning (incorrectly) that the damage was reversible. I hung onto that statement for over a year despite all the reading I did. But eventually they will need to accept it and help you when you need it. You can even show them this forum if you are comfortable with it.

Lastly you are not alone! We are all here to give advice! And I remember one time someone told me my asthma as in my head and it would go away if Ijust exercised daily. Here you will need to be direct and tell them frankly, that iit is bullocks.

Take care and keep us posted.