42, just found out I have COPD
I have gotten pneumonia at least 2 times a year for the last 3 years. Had a chest x-ray in March, and then my Dr. quit. Was feeling Exhausted, sick and tired last week, was getting short of breath so found a new Dr. in same practice. She pulled up my chest x-ray, and confirmed the COPD my old Dr. didn't tell me about. Was tested for the Covid 2 times in 3 days, and the Flu. All came back Negative. She said my lungs exacerbated, and caused an infection and that once I feel 100% or close to it to come back for breathing tests. She prescribed an inhaler, and antibiotics.
I need to stop smoking, change diet, exercise.. I don't know where to start! I work home health full time. I leave home before 8 am, get home after 5 pm. Online searches led me here. What can I expect? What do I do? I've been tired for months, and had no clue why till this.
I had thought it was all because of 3 funeral 2 weeks apart since Sept. The last was my 93 yo grandmother in October. Advice would be welcome. My husband doesn't understand the tired. He just keeps telling me to stop smoking, and to go to bed earlier. Like that helps! It actually makes me want to smoke more.... which is BAD. I feel lost, and now a lot of things my body has been feeling for a while make sense. Just don't know what to do or where to start. Can't go back to Dr. till January, at the earliest.. and that's if I feel better. Also need to ask if she can pull up the EKG results I should have had from my old Dr. in March, but again, he did not share anything with me. And after being told about the COPD, I didn't ask her that day.
What the heck are the breathing tests? What is considered good or bad on those? So confused.
Hi Haven, and thanks so much for you post and, for sharing your history and present medical condition here with the community. You have certainly come to the right place as we are all about all things COPD and COPD related.
I thought you might want to begin by learning a bit more about this condition. You may want to look over this article which focuses on the basics of COPD: https://copd.net/basics/. When are able to return to the physician, the doctor should be able to answer all your questions / concerns about this pulmonary disease.
There are various diagnostic procedures that are utilized to assess the extent of one's COPD. These can include pulmonary function testing (PFT's), which you mentioned in your post. I thought this article might provide you with some additional insight for your concern: https://copd.net/answers/expert-answers-what-is-spirometry/. I do hope you find it is helpful to read in a practical way.
Please know we are here to help in any way that we can. Should you need any assistance, please reach out to me or any other moderator / team member.
You are always welcome here!
All the best,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)Start vaping. I quit a 40 yr smoking habit in one day. That was about 8 years ago and now I rarely vape, but it's fun once in a blue moon. I had tried the patches and gum and even the Chantix whose side effect is suicide. Nothing worked. (I suppose suicide would have.)
I'm serious. All the arrogant non-smokers also demonize vaping (they don't want you enjoying anything!) so be careful not to ask for their bad advice because they'd really rather you not quit smoking. (Who would they be 'better than' if you did?)
Smoking is combusting, burning tobacco with lots of poisons. But vaping is not. The PG in the vape is used in a lot of inhalers and hospitals/drugs. You can vape with PG or PG and VG. And you can vape with or without nicotine, your choice.
Vaping made quitting smoking so easy I almost fainted. I helped others quit in a day just buying them some vaping supplies. Seriously, just do it, you'll enjoy it and your health will improve.
Totally agree with the above poster. Your first step is to quit cigarettes. The only thing that worked for me was vaping. You still get your nicotine fix but without the harmful burning chemicals. This is the single biggest first step to take. Don't listen to the 'tobacco puritans" who don't like vaping because it looks too much like smoking. It's probably the most effective way to kick cigarettes.
You will start to feel better almost immediately and hopefully have more energy. Then take baby steps learning about COPD. You didn't get here in a day and you won't learn everything in a day.
Learning you have COPD will also entail a lot of emotions. There will be grief, fear, guilt and anger. Emotions aren't good or bad, they just are what they are. When you get to the 'self anger' and guilt for smoking, let it go as quickly as possible. It's in the past, there is nothing you can do to change it but you're now on a new journey to make the best of what you have.
Best of luck, you are not alone.
Eileen
eileen is right. There are a lot of emotions involved in COPD.
But looking back, you might be better off just relaxing and taking one day at a time, because it takes forever for COPD to do you in. Years and years. So do your best to vape instead of smoking and you should do fine for a very long time indeed.
