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467579 tn?1289402969

I'm tired of trying

After my last discussion with the Dr. for this site on the issue of research, I've decided that all my work ( quitting smoking, 3 yrs. ago 30 minutes on the treadmill a day,Eating all the right things and having no fun) is really not worth it .  The Dr. is right (reading between the lines)  For every 4 steps I think I'm taking forward, Im actually taking 1 step back.  Soooo, it seems this whole routine i've got myself into is useless  and the end will be just put off a little bit.  I'd rather exit more quickly (I already died once, wasn't bad at all) and my husband can go on.  I'm tired of being a burden and certainly don't want to become a total burden.  I am logging off for the last time.  So long to all.
7 Responses
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957421 tn?1247084596
You have a choice. Either keep smoking and get worse or quit and you will than not decline any faster than a normal person. Remember we with COPD when we quit start at a lower lung function so a little normal drop in function doesn't bother the average person but it means the world to us so you need to stop now. I smoked for 53 years and loved every cigarette but my life would be much fuller now if I didn't have COPD. You are still young enough to make a choice. I suggest you go on to some of the COPD forums on the web and hear what people who didn't quit will tell you. There are a lot of things we enjoy but sometimes we have to make a choice. If you keep smoking your prognosis is bleak. I guarantee it. You do need to be test for Alpha1 as the treatment is different. It is a simple blood test that he should have done immediately. Maybe find a pulmonologist that is an optimist.
Helpful - 0
467579 tn?1289402969
Did you all see the news last night on CBS?  They are doing the type of research I was told of by geneticists and was told by Dr.s here it didn't exist.  This was for a damaged heart but I googled research of the same type for other organs and it is taking place.  Even the lungs.  Already been done on mice.  Anyways this was done on a man with severe damage to his heart after an attack.  At Cedars Sanai they took stem cells from the mans own heart and grew new cells, this thing they grew actually had a beat in the petry dish!  They then injected this back into his heart.  They are waiting for results.  This has been done on animals successfully already.  Gave me goose bumps!!  
Helpful - 0
518117 tn?1429276273
Debbie58 is very right. You are very young to be in the severe stage of emphysema. Whether you smoked or not. I have COPD and was diagnosed in Oct. 07. I was 50 at the time and a smoker. But, the pulmonary specialist still did the alpha 1 deficiency test on me. Debbie58 is right once again. It is just a simple blood test, like any other blood test. I was checked for the alpha 1 deficiency myself. Due to much lung disease running in my family. My only sibling a brother has COPD. My mother passed away in Aug. 07 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A terrible terminal lung disease. And Debbie58 is once again correct. Your symptoms came on very suddenly. COPD is a chronic progressive lung disease. I can look back now before diagnosis with COPD and remember the years of gradual shortness of breath, coughing, etc. Wishing you the very best of luck. We are here for you, if you just ever need someone.
Helpful - 0
467579 tn?1289402969
I just read your profile (or original question) and I'm stymied.  You are so young!  I've never heard of someone with severe emphysema at 35, wether they smoked or not.  Have they checked you for Alpha 1Antitrypsin deficiency?  It would be a blood test.  Please keep in touch.  I have 3 boys,2 of which are your age or older.  Our 35 yr. old is the only smoker & we've ALL been trying to get him to quit.  Also this sounds like it came on very rapidly and from everything I know about this disease, it's a progressive chronic thing.  Good Luck  
Helpful - 0
467579 tn?1289402969
I didn't mean to scare anyone, but as dying2breath stated her Dr. scared the **** out of her!  Your prognosis is always bleak according to them, especially if you're still a smoker.  actually my Dr.s are not that bad.  You didn't say what stage you were in. Maybe he hasn't ascertained that yet, which makes his prognosis even more disturbing!!  But some Dr.s seem to think they have the right to use scare tactics if you are a smoker.. You really do need to quit immediately.  It is the most important thing you can do for your health in all areas.  Also you must exercise.  I walk 30 minutes at 2mph. a day on the treadmill and I try to do has much of my normal routine as possible.  I also have severe osteoporosis that I give myself daily injections for.  I've been doing that for almost the 2 years they will let you.  I only mention this because it caused several compression fractures in the thoracic area of my spine which can also affect breathing especially at night.  I have to use O2 at night because my O2 levels dropped into the upper 80's during REM.  I have moderate emphysema and besides theO2 at night, I only use Spiriva and albuterol inhaler.  I do use a scooter for all day outings, but I do get off and walk as much as I can.  I also have panic attacks, which seem to hinder my walking ability outside the house or in very unfamiliar places.  That's why my Pulmonologist thinks I can walk a straight 30 min. on the treadmill but have so much trouble otherwise.  I just tighten up,have a panic attack and that's it!  Don't know which causes which.  I became very depressed from what I've read and been told by experts on this line and the lifestyles of people that I know, who don't seem to be adversely affected by it.  Guess some of us are just lucky!!!  My last spirometry test was actually better than the one I had 6 months earlier.  Just had a ctscan and except for the emphysema , which I already knew, there were no spot or nodes and my diaphragm looked good.  I truly didn't mean to scare anyone, but I simply wanted to talk to an expert about research, and OMG you'd have thought I just blew up the Holy Grail!!! I will stay logged in.  Dying2breath, cheer up, keep in touch and quit the cigs. (when you do, you won't believe how bad they smell)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Uh? Hey, come back here and let us know what you are talking about? I too have emphysema and you just scared the blank out of me!
Helpful - 0
924459 tn?1244472090
I wish you werent logging off for the last time :(  I was diagnosed with emphysema about a month ago and it was confirmed last week with a pulmonary function test. When I got the confirmation my Dr said that I had to quit smoking "right now!!" he said my prognosis was 'bleak'....I see my Dr tomorrow for more information however my mind set right at this moment is "if my prognosis is bleak, then why should I quit smoking?" It is something I enjoy....I know that seems wrong maybe im just in denile.
Helpful - 0
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