COPD

I have several questions.   How long does a person have that has been told of COPD?

[National Jewish]

I assume the question is, how long does a person have to live, following the diagnosis of COPD.  It depends upon how much of the lung has been damaged by COPD.  If you are smoking, continuing to smoke can cause more lung damage.

[starion]

Dear Friends,
So much depends on the person.  We are all individuals and all different.  So much depends on how early or late the disease is caught in the individual, what other factors are affecting the individual's health, whether the individual has stopped smoking & is no longer exposed to any lung irritants & a host of other factors which should be discussed between the doctor & patient.  You can get lots of good info at www.NationalJewish.org, particularly their MedFacts about COPD.  Good luck!
Many of us with COPD can live very full and active lives as long as we are active participants with our doctors in maximizing our health.
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI

[tinyhuey]

Dear friend;                                                                  I'm new at this computer stuff so bear with me.                                                                  I was told at least fifteen years ago. No I haven"t stopped smoking. I work in a shop of smokers. I just can't stop! I know it's an excuse. My doctor dosen't seem concerned. I have lost almost thirty percent of my weight. Am down below 100lbs,Iasked him if he was concerned ,he said yes but I'm just going to keep getting smaller.I use the inhalers, and the machine,to heip me breathe. Yes I know , get another dotor,but they cost money for testsand things . The one I have now lets me charge. I just want my family to be prepared and to know I'm not alone with the way I feel about this diease. WHY can't I stop smoking and how much time would it add if I did.                                                                           Thanks tinyhuey

[Victoryia]

hmmmmmm, I read on my medical records I just received that I have COPD. I thought COPD was a combination of different respiratory issues like asthma, bronchitis, etc.

Guess I will have to go check it out online. I would have thought that the doctor who dx'd it would have at least told me about it had it been anything serious. When I read the info on the rcords I thought it was something that came and went with the underlying breathing issue.

I sure hope that I am not in any way going to have a much shorter life span. That medical record was from about 6 years ago. I do not take any breathing meds.

Off to go search online about COPD.

[tinyhuey]

Dear friend                                                                  Yes you should check it out online. I found out a lot of things . But my Doctor didn't help. I just wish there was a group around where Iam to help me deal with this. Sure its easy to say ,"oh we will help".but to come right out and help learn about this COPD< I guess is something else.                                                                                                                                                                 Let me know if you find more about it please.                                                                                                      thanks tinyhuey

[starion]

Dear Friends,
COPD--Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a progressive, chronic condition.  It does not "go away."  There is lots of good info to learn about it.  One of the best sources is the National Jewish website, particularly the MedFacts and LungFacts at:
www.nationaljewish.org

You can get on-line support at this forum for those of us with chronic lung conditions:
www.cheshire-med.com/programs/pulrehab/forum/cldforum.html

Best of luck!
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI

[Victoryia]

Thank you both for the info. I did check it out online and now am appauld that the doctor dx'd such a thing and never mentioned it to me. That was in 1995, for almost 7 years I have been walking about with this and not even knowing it. 7 years going untreated with numerous respiratory issues and infections, etc that all have been fluffed off by my doctors. Of course, they were not aware I had COPD either.

I will be making an appointment with a Pulmonologist this week to get all this dealt with.

Thank you again.

By the way, the only reason I had thought it went away was that I was never told about any of it. I thought it was something minor due to it not being told to me by that ER doctor.

[starion]

Dear Friends,
Please talk to your pulmonologist and have a pulmonary function test to help confirm or reject the diagnosis for COPD.  People ARE mistakenly diagnosed with COPD and other conditions.  It is important to be sure what conditions you have so you can work with your doctor(s) accordingly.
For anyone & everyone with a lung condition, the best thing any of us can do for ourselves is to minimize our exposure to lung irritants, especially cigarette smoke & other pollutants.  All the medications & other treatments can help, but not nearly as much as our minimizing our exposure to lung irritants.  It's also important to discuss with our docs what an appropriate exercise level is for our lung function & any limitations we should be aware of.
Best of luck!
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI