My husband and I both diagnosed last year
We're both mild but different. He is out of breath with things . I have sputum and cough . What's the best advice you have to slowing the progression?
I think it's exercise, both cardio and breathing. My husband is going more to drugs.
Hi CM3986, and thanks for your post. As you may be aware, COPD affects everyone differently. The symptoms associated with COPD can also vary considerably from patient to patient.
We actually have several articles, published right here on COPD.net, which address some of your concerns, which I thought might be of interest to you.
First, this article, which speaks to tips for managing mild/early stages of COPD: https://copd.net/living/tips-for-staying-healthy-early-stage.
Next, is this article which focuses on what to know about the early stages of COPD: https://copd.net/clinical/early-stages-what-to-know.
And finally, this article, which addresses treatment for the early stages: https://copd.net/living/early-stage-treatment.
I do hope you find this information is helpful in a practical way.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)You are both lucky to be diagnosed so early. You have the potential to dramatically slow the progression of your COPD. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 last year. I’m a 62 year old male. I had Covid and three bouts of pneumonia in two years time. I spent a week in the hospital with my second pneumonia. I had to have the fluid drained from both sides of my chest. I still had remaining pleural effusion and partially collapsed lungs as recently as March of this year. Like you, I had a chronic wet cough. Wet coughs are the devil’s workshop! Viruses and bacteria love wet lungs.
My pulmonologist, Dr. Doolittle, didn’t have much to offer me in the way of therapy. I decided to look elsewhere. I found a respiratory muscular therapy device and a flutter device online. The former is called The Breather, the latter Aerobika. The Breather strengthens the respiratory muscles and helps open up lungs. The fluttering of the Aerobika vibrates the mucus loose so it can be coughed up and out!
Both devices have had nothing less than a miraculous effect on my chest. My lungs are clean and clear now and the cough is gone. I use these devices twice a day, six day a week, and will do so for the rest of my life. I tested positive for covid in June and had ZERO complications with my lungs. I was very relieved! I had a PFT last month that confirmed my Stage 2 COPD, but showed a slight improvement in my lung function from a year before.
Potions and pills cover symptoms and can be very beneficial at times, but they’re not going so slow the progression of your COPD. Exercise and respiratory muscular therapy can help you achieve STABILITY. Stability is the Gold Standard for you now. Stay stable, don’t get worse.
Think of yourselves as athletes now. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!
This approach works. I stay very active. I play Pickleball twice a week and teach a fitness class also.
Good luck to both of you!
