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...
Im curious as to how you were told that you had COPD?....I was told by a female Dr.and her nurse in !991...I was coughing and went to this new Dr.after blowing into a tube the nurse said matter of fact you have emphysema..I thougt yea right..DR. comes in the room and says you really do have it.just like that...no breaking this bad news with a little compassion.they both acted like they just diagnosed a hangnail...I was in denial for alot of years because of the way they told me ..I didnt believe them.....no bedside manner at all...
After all that, the next day, I was shown how to use puffers, told I had COPD, couldn't even remember what those letters stood for.
Then for 2 weeks after that I went to a day center, where I had intravenous and oxygen daily, at night I went home with taxi tickets, which they gave me. They took good care of me. I thought I was dying, I mean really my days were numbered.
When I got home, my whole life had changed, I felt like I was on speed with the prednisone. I couldn't eat any more.
I found this site, so many wonderful people helped me understand
what prednisone was, and COPD was, I will never forget how kind you were to me, Some are still here, some have passed. That was 8 years ago. I'm still here, and now also have emphysema, and a bunch of other things.
In hindsight, I would also change a few things, but glad I'm still here. Hugs to All.
Terry