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...
First, hello all. I'm Ken from Canada and I'm just diagnosed 2 days ago and am very worried. I know the post is long but if you have the time please read and give your thoughts on it.
I was just diagnosed yesterday and I'm horrified and terrified. At work about 2 weeks ago I got a pain in my chest up around where the heart is. I didn't think it was the heart or angina but considering where it was went to hospital to get checked anyways. After an electrocardiogram, chest xray, and blood test got to see the doc. When I saw the doc, since I've worked with asbestos in the past and am a smoker I asked if my lungs were clear, he said yes. He figured I had a strain of some type as the pain mainly happened when I bent over turned the steering wheel or picked something heavy up. Said if it persists a few weeks or gets worse to come back. It did subside mostly but I called my doc a week or so later to look deeper, when I told the secretary my name she said they'd been trying to get ahold of me. Anyways, the upshot was the radiologist spotted signs of copd in the xray and I've been freaking out ever since, 2 days now. Next to no sleep, every gurgle and twinge from my midsection makes me shudder with fear and I'm obsessed and generally miserable.
Now I'm aware that every ones disease takes it's own course in it's own time but there are generalities. I'm not asking for prognosis but just opinions until more testing is done.
I had no idea I had this illness, it was found looking for something else. I just thought I had a bit of asthma and unless I tried to jog for a few minutes, like half a block or more never really got out of breath and my work is quite physical. I am 48 started smoking at 27 (crazy I know) and smoke 1 1/2 packs a day. I am physically muscular and stronger than average. I've always had allergies, hay fever, and childhood asthma and this is along with smoking is what I assumed was causing smokers cough, and a bit of morning phlegm. I do, now that I'm looking for symptoms notice a feeling like a slight pressure in my chest and the occasional feeling like there is something I'd like to cough up but there isn't much there. I'm about normal in cold and flue I get about 1 a year, last one about a year ago,a ripper of a chest cold but it didn't last longer than anyone else who had it. I'm pretty active at work, as a warehouse hand and walk several miles a day on the job and sling boxes of 30 lbs or so quite regularly, never noticably out of breath. Only new thing may be this minor chest pain.
So please help me. Does this sound like stage 1 or early copd? I have cut the smoking just about off and will have done with it in another day or two. Is there any chance for some years of a mainly normal life?
Thanks so much for your help.
I was just diagnosed yesterday and I'm horrified and terrified. At work about 2 weeks ago I got a pain in my chest up around where the heart is. I didn't think it was the heart or angina but considering where it was went to hospital to get checked anyways. After an electrocardiogram, chest xray, and blood test got to see the doc. When I saw the doc, since I've worked with asbestos in the past and am a smoker I asked if my lungs were clear, he said yes. He figured I had a strain of some type as the pain mainly happened when I bent over turned the steering wheel or picked something heavy up. Said if it persists a few weeks or gets worse to come back. It did subside mostly but I called my doc a week or so later to look deeper, when I told the secretary my name she said they'd been trying to get ahold of me. Anyways, the upshot was the radiologist spotted signs of copd in the xray and I've been freaking out ever since, 2 days now. Next to no sleep, every gurgle and twinge from my midsection makes me shudder with fear and I'm obsessed and generally miserable.
Now I'm aware that every ones disease takes it's own course in it's own time but there are generalities. I'm not asking for prognosis but just opinions until more testing is done.
I had no idea I had this illness, it was found looking for something else. I just thought I had a bit of asthma and unless I tried to jog for a few minutes, like half a block or more never really got out of breath and my work is quite physical. I am 48 started smoking at 27 (crazy I know) and smoke 1 1/2 packs a day. I am physically muscular and stronger than average. I've always had allergies, hay fever, and childhood asthma and this is along with smoking is what I assumed was causing smokers cough, and a bit of morning phlegm. I do, now that I'm looking for symptoms notice a feeling like a slight pressure in my chest and the occasional feeling like there is something I'd like to cough up but there isn't much there. I'm about normal in cold and flue I get about 1 a year, last one about a year ago,a ripper of a chest cold but it didn't last longer than anyone else who had it. I'm pretty active at work, as a warehouse hand and walk several miles a day on the job and sling boxes of 30 lbs or so quite regularly, never noticably out of breath. Only new thing may be this minor chest pain.
So please help me. Does this sound like stage 1 or early copd? I have cut the smoking just about off and will have done with it in another day or two. Is there any chance for some years of a mainly normal life?
Thanks so much for your help.
I second, all of the wonderful and truthful advice, that my other family members here, have given you. And, you will find that this IS a family support group, we have all gotten so close, sharing our lives, our ups and downs , with one another.
I am 51, going on 52 in May, so right around your age...I was diagnosed last year, with COPD/Emphysema.
I am on O2 , just at night with a bi pap machine for my sleep apnea. That means, I need the oxygen to sleep, because I was observed in a sleep study , and my O2 levels went way down, when I was sleeping. (just in case, you're not familiar with this).
Well, I recently went to my Pulmonologist, and I also have lost 70 pounds in the last 3 months, *(I had Gastric Bypass Surgery in Dec 2013)....
So, now my levels have gotten better with my oxygen. I am set up for another sleep study on March 11th, and hoping that I can get rid of the machine, for the sleep apnea, AND the oxygen!
This disease is scary, and just hearing that you have it, is frightening yes...But, if you do all the things you should, like stopping the smoking, and eating healthy, and getting your rest, you will survive this, and live a happy life.
I can't promise your future, wish I could, but I think positive thinking, and prayers, and support, are also great things to have !!
We're here for you, and glad you posted and let us know what's going on. Please post often, and never be afraid to ask any questions!
Hugs,
Boo
I went for a 45 minute brisk walk this evening and only found myself puffing a little toward the top of a hill, so the lungs seem to be working pretty good right now anyways. I was on the phone the whole while too which requires air modulation to speak in proper sentences. Pretty good I think. It cheers me and gives me hope that it's early going in the disease.
Only trouble was that mild bit of burn the air, which is a few degrees above freezing caused as I inhaled. Anyone familiar with this feeling, should it subside some as the smoking gets further behind me.
Just a bit of something I picked up online......
Supermodel Christy Turlington diagnosed with early emphysema at 31.....Now at 45 years of age is returning to modeling, is happy with her looks (she's still gorgeous btw, hubba hubba) and is looking forward to her 50's.
Just a thought here, I hope I'm not being a pain in the backside here. Being the new guy and all panicky and needy and such when you all have your own troubles and I know from reading your other posts that some are in a more tenuous position than myself. Unfortunately I have absolutely no direct family whatsoever. Never married, no kids, no siblings, buried dad about 10 years ago and mom 3 years ago and really was just recovering mentally from moms long drawn out ovarian cancer death (she had copd too btw) in which while caring for her and in my sadness at that time pushed my friends aside to do my duty. Thus I sort of ended up with no friends or family which sucks now I could use some. I do have some aunts and uncles and cousins who I keep in some semblance of contact with but they have kids and family of their own though there is definately some love back and forth between us.
Well cheers and goodnight.......oh yeah, can anyone answer or relate at least to my earlier smoking question? Will some of the rawness subside? Mind you, maybe none of you smoked a pack and a half a day either so you may not. Got to ask though.
Ken
I started smoking at 18 years of age, loved it, and quickly starting smoking 2 packs a day, every day, for 15 years. Then I switched to lights, and smoked twice as much to get the same amount of nicotine in my system. Yep, the last 10 years of smoking was 4 packs a day.
I had Bronchitis every year and when I was 42, my doctor showed me my chest x-rays and said if I didn't stop smoking, I would have Emphysema in 5 years. I've always been afraid of two things.....Emphysema and lung cancer. So I quit by going on Nicoderm patches, which was sooooo easy! No withdrawal symptoms, and I haven't had a cigarette since 1992.
Then, about 3 years ago, my Primary Care sent me to a Pulmonologist after a particularly bad case of Bronchitis. After a breathing test, she rocked my world by announcing, "You've got Emphysema". I cried, I had many sleepless nights, and I couldn't get it off my mind for about 6 weeks. Then I found this group, discovered I wasn't alone, and that I could still lead a fairly normal life. I'm not on oxygen, and only use Spireva once a day. I can't do anything strenuous; but other than that, things are good. I'm still working a 40 hour a week job and plan on retiring in 1-2 years, depending on my health. The rawness that you feel in your throat left me about a month after I quit. I'm convinced that if I hadn't quit smoking when I did, I would have had symptoms much sooner and much more severe than I have now. It was definitely worth quitting!
I hope this helps. Please remember that COPD does NOT define who you are and what you're all about. YOU do that. Knowledge is definitely power, and the more you learn, the quicker the fear will take a back seat. I even went to 3 one hour counseling sessions, which helped tremendously. We're all here for you, and there's a great deal of knowledge here. Welcome to our group!
COPD is the umbrella term that covers several lung diseases. It is for life because it is not curable, but it is treatable, and it works on people differently. Bronchitis is part of copd, so is emphysema.
It is a progressive disease, and proper exercise, diet, meds, and such can slow it down. Have you been to lung specialist? Please let us know a bit more what is going on and maybe we can give you better advice. We care about each other here....Hugs to you
BJ
Hugs to you
Brenda
I am in the process of doing as much research as I can, and I was lurking on this discussion group, and joined so I could offer a suggestion to Ken.
I succeeded in smoking cessation because I switched to vaping. I also did a lot of research on nicotine vaporizers before I bought an eGo kit and joined a vapers club here in Tennessee.
I quit the cigarettes within a week. After two months without a cigarette, I felt wonderful! I could breathe! I could taste food and smell things again! I had a wonderful ten month period of increased activity and feeling really healthy until January 2014.
I caught a nasty respiratory infection, and I ended up hospitalized. That is when I received the copd diagnosis. I was quite distressed and really I still freak out occasionally.
I have a wonderful pulmunologist now, and she knows of and approves of my vaping. My internist also approves of it.
I know I will catch a lot of negative comments for this post, simply because so many people consider nicotine addiction, or any kind of addiction, as a terrible thing.
I am also addicted to caffeine. I am also addicted to oxygen. So what?
I will do anything to improve the quality of my life, and I credit vaping with successfully quitting cigarettes.
I wish you well.
Suzanne