Oh...I forgot!!! Have you ever had a sleep study done? Sleep apnea and COPD, many times, go hand in hand. My want to talk with your doctor about this, too.
Hi Mike,
I was told by a lung specialist that some forms of lung issues are hereditary.
Do you have anyone in your family with the same issues?
What type of work do you do? Being a drywall finisher is not good for your lungs...a face mask should always be worn. Working with certain wood...treated lumber once had arsenic, but I believe that has been removed. But the saw dust can also be an irritant.
I have issues with diesel exhaust fumes...difficulty breathing, swallowing, etc... I was exposed to raw asbestos from birth to 11 years old...I'm 51 now and I have problems, but no doctor will take me seriously, so I just try and do things at a slow, easy pace and I avoid humidity as much as possible (very difficult to do where I live).
COPD is not curable...but sometimes steroids will help breathing. Do you have a nebulizer in your home, so you can administer breathing treatments when symptoms arise?
Humidity is a HUGE contributor to difficulty with breathing, especially with COPD.
If you don't have a nebulizer for home, see if your doctor/insurance will supply you with one.
I wish you the best in better breathing, Mike.