was just diagnosed with COPD

I am kind of confused.  I was just diagnosed with moderately severe COPD and nothing much was said to me beyond that. I am not sure how worried I should be as nothing has been done, have not been referred to any specialist or even given much of an idea of what I should do or expect.  I have shortness of breath on exertion, walking any length, etc.  But rather confused as I said before, as no one in I deal with in VA system, seems to clue me in; not any information to speak of except that I have the COPD.

Problems include still smoking and knowing despertly that I need to quit but finding motivation seems still out of reach. as most of smokiing is due to stress or pain levels I have from fibromyalgia.   I made an appointment with VA for help in quitting smoking but have to wait another five weeks to get in.

am I suppose to be really worried and need to be more aggressive in getting referred to specialist or get a vaccine for the new (swine flu) flue that is out there?

Lynda

[allmymarbles]

You should go to see a specialist. If you had moderately severe COPD you could not manage without medication. I have moderate COPD so I know that to be true. You might have mild COPD or asthma. Are you seriously overweight? That alone could cause shortness of breath. Go to see somebody competent and ask all the right questions.

[Nicknameless46]

You need to ask questions and demand answers from the person who diagnosed you with moderately severe COPD - even if it is the VA.  I think you'll find, though, that you'll get a lot more attention if you're at least seriously TRYING to quit smoking; a lot of doctors don't see much point in trying to treat a progressive disease of the lungs while it's only being made worse by smoking.  I'm sorry to say that - I had to quit smoking too and it was really, really hard; what did it for me was being told that there was a shadow in my right lung that could very possibly be lung cancer and it would take a follow-up x-ray in a couple of months to see if there was any change before they could really do anything about it.  I went home and took a look at my granddaughter and threw out my cigarettes and all the ashtrays. Then I went to the store and bought a box of patches - even though I couldn't afford them. The first ones I used made me nauseous and I knew that wouldn't work at all, so even though the box said not to cut the patches or use damaged ones, I tried cutting one in half. Nothing leaked out - there's nothing TO leak out inside of them - and I just put on the half patch. It worked perfectly. I still had to "talk myself down" and use some willpower, but it wasn't bad at all. Because I was using half patches, they lasted twice as long, and by the time I finished that first box, I was finished smoking - after 30+ years at 2 packs a day.  I'll honestly tell you that quitting smoking did not stop my COPD, but it definitely slowed it down and I can tell you that I felt 100% better after a few months.  I also have Parkinson's Disease and my doctor says that most of my lung problems now are related to the inability to clear secretions from the Parkinson's - and from asthma, which I've fought for years and years.  

You need to push as hard as you possibly can to get an accurate diagnosis and find out exactly where you're at right now and start the mildest form of treatment you can that will stop the progression of the disease right where it is. If you're short of breath with walking, you certainly need to have your oxygen saturation checked at rest and with exertion and pulmonary function tests.  

Don't let them ignore you - and you're going to have to stop smoking now or later - just bite the bullet and do it now - for good.

I wish you the very best.

[martin744]

It's very simple  if you want to live longer and with a quality of life you must stop smoking NOW!. There is no negociating this issue. Let me give you the condensed none sugar coated version of your situation.( By the way, I have moderate Emphesima also)  First moderate emphesima is stage 2 of 5 stage, the first one being stage 0, the last one beng stage 4...so we are in the middle. What this means is that your lung capacity is between 50% to 80%.  There is no cure for this condition and it can not be reversed, but the good news is that it can be improved upon. First thing you need to do is stop smoking immediately...if you need a good reason...well!look at your family, children , husband...i'm sure you can find the reasons that have the most value to you. Second, start a exercise program...little by little walking , swimmig, cycling  anything aerobic. If you are overweight...lose the weight. It will make the exercise easier and make you feel better. How long do you have to live?  Well if I had the answer to that I would probably charge you for it but I don't.  I've had emphesima diagnosed now two years ago, moderate emphesima, had stoped smoking about two years before I ever even noticed I was short of breath. Life expectancy 15 to 20 and more if you have an attitude, but ever you do stop smoking now.
My best wishes
Martin

[skypeople]

finally took the plunge and quit smoking on April 12, 2010 at 10:30pm and taking it a day at a time; but so far, successful with help of nicotine gum!!!  YEH!!!

[julieben]

Wanted to see how your doing with your stop smoking and nicotine gum....Are you still a non smoker - if so congratulations!!!

I was diagnosed with moderate emphysema last year when I had a CT done for other reasons.  I had been short of breath for sometime but never ever did i think it was from smoking!  I was in total denial.  Got my test results and within a week I was completely off the cigarettes thanks to nicotine gum.  I just had my third CT scan yesterday - no changes in the last year - still have moderate emphysema - but it hasn't gotten worse!

I have not tried an inhaler - probably if I was more athletic I would try it, but the pulmonary doctor told me today to get the prescription filled and try it when I am bike riding - it will give me more endurance - I am thinking about trying the inhaler.  I am thankful that I did quit smoking before my emphysema got worse - and I could kick myself for starting smoking again at 52 when I had given up the habit at 39.  I smoked 4 1/2 years again before I gave up the cigarette.

Have you talked to a specialist yet?

Julie