Diagnosed via ct scan last week with extensive emphysema

Shannlou,
Being diagnosed with extensive pulmonary emphysema can be definitely scary. You are under a physician's care, and the testing he/she is doing is what should be done. Once the test results are in, then a plan for your treatment can start. No one can predict how the disease will progress in your situation. All that can be done is treating it to the best of their ability. There are some things you can do though, to help yourself. Quitting smoking would be a really good step to start with. Not an east step to accomplish. Your medical team should be able to help you with that. Research and read all you can find on COPD & emphysema and how to treat it. Learn and daily do breathing exercises. Such as pursed lip breathing, diaphragm breathing, usage of an acapella and spirometer devices to strengthen the chest muscles, and once the pneumonia is gone, pulmonary rehab would be helpful. Write down any questions you have for your doctor and take them with you to your appointment. I have had mycobacterial pneumonia with bleeding lungs. I thought I was going to die. My wife thought the same when I was in ICU for a week. But I have a great medical team, I followed their plan for recovery, and now have daily routines for keeping my COPD at bay. Eventually the COPD will progress and get worse. But I am doing all I can to prevent it. Worrying about it is normal, but it is also a waste of energy. I do my best to keep a positive attitude and outlook for my health. I know from experience it is easier said than done, but one must try. Once you get over the shock of the diagnosis, you have to be able to work towards your own health. Please let the forum know how things go. Take care and God Bless!

Thank you so much for your reply,,, I am trying really hard to stop the smoking as this makes me feel worse mentally and physically… I am using a vape atm and nicotine patches to help with quitting…. My dr is not very helpful in advice and can’t tell me what extensive means for me…. It feels like I’m breathing thru a sponge and generally feel so so tired all of the time 🙁 my chest is on fire also, is that normal? I’m trying to learn all I can about the disease but I’m scaring myself silly in the process

again thank you for your reply, the mind is a horrible place at the moment… atm it feels like my world has ended and I’m out of control… all I want to do is cry… i feel very alone and scared (sorry to repeat myself) your advice is greatly appreciated so thank you 😀

Hi , and welcome! I see you are a new member here having joined today, earlier this morning. We are glad to see you have already engaged with the community through your post and conversation with our good community member, .
You have certainly come to the right place as here, at COPD.net, we are all about all things COPD and COPD related.
I have caught up with the exchange between you and Dminor. He does provide sound, practical suggestions all based on his extensive experience managing this disease, as well as what he has learned about the disease over the years. Sometimes, in my experience, the best suggestions and information can be had by speaking with folks like Dminor.
Naturally, if there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me or any other moderator / team member know. We are here to provide you with support, scientific information, and helpful conversation. You will get through this, Shannlou, and we will do whatever we can to help, too!
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)