Oh Blah Blah Blah
The articles I have read so far here are so generic. Nothing I couldn't read googling COPD. Like Stop smoking blah blah blah clean clean clean blah blah blah . So programmed. God forbid any one should have an original thought. Or problems that don't always fit within the normal program.
I came here for genuine help. I don't see it here.
Hi.
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback. I completely understand how frustrating it can be to come across information that feels repetitive or doesn’t address the unique challenges of living with COPD. As one of the writers/contributors here, I’m genuinely interested in hearing your thoughts. Is there something specific you’d like to see in an article? Your input can help shape the content we create to make it more meaningful for the community. Some of the best ideas come from conversations like this, and I’d love to hear yours. All the best. John. community moderator. You do a good job of articulating your situation and your thoughts. I can’t imagine the intensity of what you’ve described, but growing up with severe asthma has given me a glimpse of that feeling of helplessness when your lungs just won’t cooperate. I am sorry you have to go through all of this. I do think you did the right thing by quitting, despite how difficult it is for you. Quitting can allow your lungs some time to heal, and can even improve the quality of your life. You mentioned feeling like doctors only focus on the 'nuts and bolts' and don’t provide the kind of help you’re seeking. Have you had a chance to explore a pulmonary rehabilitation program? They seem to do a good job of helping people adjust to life with COPD. John. Community moderator. I am alone in the world now. I am an older widow. I don't own transportation . I am lucky to live 🙏 n government housing
I am ill so often . What ever I can do is a victory for me. I have no idea how I would even get to a place like that.
As I bitterly mentioned before - with the vast amount of taxes this government collects on tobacco products you would think that more resources would be ready Available not just online advice which is always so generic. Example -
Ok it's a bit hard to exercise when you are tied to an oxygen machine 24 / 7. Even my ( paid for by medicare ) portable oxygen machine - which sounds like a vacuum cleaner - gives me just an hour and a half of oxygen .
We are sick and
we need help. Yet people act as if we were not ill at all and could help our selves if we only wanted to . Which is cruel . So far an advocate seems the only pathway . And I am not sure about that yet.
I know there is surgery that can help . But for every day honest hard working people who paid taxes I doubt it. I hope that I am wrong . Please prove me wrong
Another misconception that non smokers have about those of us who have to quit smoking is in the shallow generic advice they do casually dish out. Like have you tried meditation ? First of all most smokers have tried just about Everything starts one time or the other.
Just like alcoholics many non smokers will always be smokers who choose not to smoke each day . In fact I have known smokers who supposedly quit then two years later started smoking again . That is sad .
I mention this because the approach to quitting smoking is all wrong. And seldom lasts .I totally understand what you are saying. I have been dealing with similar stuff myself for years - first with arthritis and then with cancer - two illnesses which people seem to always have heard of the "cure" and it's always something I'm not doing. It's like do they think we haven't tried or heard of these things? Smoking is a lifelong demon, as are most addictions, like you said. You have to get up every single day and choose not to smoke. It is quite an achievement! Let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Keep on keepin' on, DPM
Its hard. Medical professionals go on generics. On wide spread averages. No one seems to listen to our individual symptoms and concerns. But you are not alone. Most of what I know, I have learned myself. Deep research. Not into temporary relief but actual facts from other sufferers. We all uave different triggers, different reactions and different severity. But we also share common ground. We know how COPD feels. The anxiety, the depression. The pain of a flare up. Thats why forums like this are important so we can ask for help and offer advice. I will always do my best to help. I am currently using my personal facebook page as a tool to raise awareness. All related posts are public. We need to use our voices to educate people.
The push for all in on generics is definitely something concerning. They did it to me last month on something that worked well and when I called up to ask why they said they don't even make the original one any more. I said to myself I feel like I would have heard about that but still, I'm sure it has something to do with money when it comes down to it! Does the generic work as well? Not really, but it's the same as buying off-brand laundry detergent, it's mostly the same stuff but watered down with cheaper ingredients. You are right in that we have to educate people as much as possible and we try to do that as best we can here on this site. Glad to hear that you are pursuing the same ends! Remember, though, you also can always come here to be around people who really understand if it gets too overwhelming now and again! Keep on keepin' on, DPM
You want answers. Or do you? You can go on line and find them. Cold hard facts, AI interpretations of massed information. Or is it something else you look for here?
I went in to the ER 2 years ago. I do not remember much except being loaded in to the ambulance and waking up a half day later with a mask on. I could not breath either. I still can't. Not like I used too, or would like too. But there we are. It is part of what we have become. But it is not what defines us. It is a limiting factor, and it sucks, yeah. I get that too. There is no magic new info out there, or in here. What there is in here are people like yourself that can share what they know. Ask questions form those that may have something untried. And sympathy. If you seek any of these, then pull up a chair. I have seen folks show up here and rock the boat. I don't complain, as long as they are rocking it while bailing the water, and not just for fun or attention. Contribute what you know and help. You would be surprised at what you have to offer and folks in here like to talk about what everyone else on the planet fails to even recognized it seems. Other than anger or frustration. That is easy to see. We all have a ton of that.you know they have teh I have always been an obsessive researcher. Even before the internet I spent time in the Library . So Don't judge me please. If that online research was so effective then why are we still so angry ? I have found by researching that wealthy people do get the help that is out there. And they live years longer than so many of us. Gee maybe.I could get just a percentage of the taxes back that I paid for on a pack of cigarettes. That would still be a lot of money . Instead we made some people very wealthy and now we face the meat grinder ( metaphorically speaking ) .
If I can live long enough I will try to make a difference But that's a big IF
