I was on a site yesterday buy only saw later the question was listed 8 years ago! Ian 58 stage 3 with 32% lung function.I can do nothing,every time I try my breath goes.Life has ended and I wonder his long I stay in stage 3,really I want to know is my life is going to go on like this for years.I could not stick it as it is no life like the one I had.To get washed and dressed is so hard,and I am full of fluidretention so look a sight.I am also very down and feel I would ruin anyone's day.There is no love in my life,that died a long time ago,oh I get fed but if he can be out of the house he is gone.Could the meds make me feel so based I was always a very happy person.My children don't know the new me.Do others feel like this.I was told 7 months ago how bad I was.Thank you'll for reAding this.
I am so sorry you are having such a rotten time. Of course all drugs have side effects, you are getting all the horrible ones. You forgot to list your drugs ? Maybe you will get more advice if you will do this? Waiting for your reply - - Jay
Hi Jay7196.Thank you for your reply.I am on Seretide,Spiriva'Ventolinand nebuliser.Really want to know the usual progression of copd,I know if I do all the right things I can help slow progression down.Others have said why bother as life gets worse withtime.Can't see hiw it can as it's so bad as it is.I am not looking for sympathy I just feel we are given one fact and another site gives the opposite,just want the truth,thanks again.
I know exactly how you feel, my lung function at best is 24% which puts me into the last stage. Had trouble coming to terms with mortality but had to accept it. I can walk on a good day about 10yds but the time it takes me to recover, it's really not worth it. Bathing, getting dressed even getting into a wheel chair is a struggle. The steroids have made me put on over 3 stones so now at 15st I look like Jabba the Hutt . I,m depressed most of the time but try not to show it. The only advice I can give is come to terms with your condition, get all the help you can and no matter how hard it is try and stay positive. Take each day as it comes and treasure every breath . Good luck stay positive
Its certainly very scarey, isn't it.
Not as bad yet but I have that yet to come, obviously.
For the while I have Grandkids that don't know what death is yet and the youngest has only just started to recognise me. (Serious, concentrating little face turns to warm smile).
There are many other folk out there who would benifit from your experiences FU. I do seem to notice a move towards more info on this subject, online, because there are a LOT of scared people living (and dying) in ignorance
hi fedup2,I was diagnosed this year with COPD,I have 37% ,I am depressed and can't believe I have this disease...I'm on Spiriva and Seretide.
I Don't even understand/know what stage I'm at with the above 37% lung function,I was wondering if any one could help me with that,(what stage am I )
Thinking of you fedup2,even though I don't know any of the answers,sending you a special (((hug))) hang on in there like we are all trying to do...
Do you have a good relationship with your doctor....can you ask him to answer your questions.....write them down so you don't forget anything.
try & stay strong it sounds as though you need a lot of back up from those around you.
Hi poppysockd1.we are in the same stage which is 3,but these are only numbers as there are other things whicare used to say what stage wd are in.I hope things are ok for you as you seem to be in a better place than me.If possible stay there and i hope you have people who are helping you.Thank you for your lovely hug,how kind.Take care of yourselg.
Hi Theodore30.Yes I do have a good relationship with my Doctor,but he said I wss asking him to be God as he can't tell me how long I could have,which I do understand as I have readof people having this for many mang years.The thing is I don't wat it if it's going to be like this as what I have now is awful,like kevin69896 by the time I am washed and dressed i am worn out.I will try as you say to stay strong and thank you for your kind reply.Take care of yourself.
Hikevin69896,wefeel the same but you are ahead of me but not by much.Like you I am worn out after I have washed and dressed.What steroids are you on is it tablets?It's hard not to show depression but I have found people ask but really do not want the answer.Thank you I will try and stay positive.You please take care of yourself.
hi there fedup......i think we all feel ur pain and fear and understand howu must be feeling u are brave in expressing ur true emotions and feelings to us all who share this awful condition.....i hope u can find some peace and comfort on this site knowing that we are all there for you and understand. good wishes to you..june
I am 54 my Fev1 was 29% then 39% after a beating treatment. I used to get wrote out getting dressed. Someone suggested something called Clear Lungs, it has really helped me I'm a week into that and 2 weeks into a diet change. No white bread no white nothing. Whole grain cereal for breakfast with fruit and hemp hearts on it. I am able to do alot of things, I took 2 tires off of my garden tractor had them fixed and I put them back on Fri. Have been doing Pulmonary Rehab, I highly suggest it if you can. I hope you feel better.
Hi june5141.Please believe ne I am so far from brave,I am expressing my emotions here as I have no other place to be truthful.I did feel,until I found this site that I was the only one who seems to cry and feel so scared,but I now know we are all the same.Thank you for your kind wishes and all I can say is right back at you.Take care of yourself.
Hi jubal foster.I am shocked as I have read and been told that the pulmonary sprimetre(excuse spelling) cannot be improved.You have gone from leval4 back to 3.Am I correct in this?.What is clear Lungs as if it is to actually clear them it would be great as I go through boxes of tissues every day.Yes I am trying to diet and agree no white stuff,but when I get down I give in!Will look into that.I am so glad to read you are doing well.Keep it up.Thank you and take care of yourself.
thankyou fedup...i will do my best.....sometimes its a help to know we arnt alone even tho its words on a site....but that there are real people on the other side writing them to us to give us abit of hope and understanding in managing this awful condition...wish the doctors were as helpful. june
Hi rizia01.I just noticed my reply to you did not show ,I must have done something wrong,Apologies.Yes it is very scarey as we don't know how or when we will change.I was told it is progressive so I wonder if doing all we should to slow it down is really the right thing if life is still as bad as it is,so worm out not ale to do anything.There are a lot of very positive people out there so maybe I am wrong.Take care of yourself .t there so maybe I am wrong.Take care. there so
Hi again poppysocks1.Just noticed you did say you were depressed and like ne can't believe we have this disease,my apologies I did not intendto overlook how you feel as believe me I understand.We are onthe same meds I wonder if these can make us more depressed.Day after day us the same,try to get downstairs onkyto be so out if breath it's time to sit and look at wall orhead up again and face more breathlessness.Take care and again apologies.
I can't bring up sputum fedup2...it comes up into bottom half of throat when I cough,then goes down again...!
But the tight chest,and pain between the shoulder blades is awful,even with my meds,is yours ?
I never eat white bread either,or white rice....infact I'm not eating so good anyway...nurse said I'm underweight ( course I knew that ! ),it hurts to eat to much,as the tightness in the chest feels worse..so she said eat little and often.
I personally have not come to terms with my condition,I just can't take it in.
I'm just taking every day as it comes,like I have always done.
Take care everyone.
Clear Lungs is a herbal product. I used to take mucinex twice daily but no more. Mucinex does work I suggest you get one or the other. I can go without my o2 now and go outside and do things. I still techie my portable tank incase, because I still get out of breath, but usually do the pursed lip Breathing technique works great.
Hi again,we seem to be the same,I cannot cough up sputum,I just asked jubal Foster about clear lungs which may help us.Yes I have the pains but mine are in my back from shoulder blade to shoulder blade,and sometimes dowm my sides and also in my arm.Wish I was underweight at least I would look better,I have put on about 2 and a half stone! Like you I have nit come to terms with all this and don't think I ever will.Take care of yourself.