Scared of future need answers
My COPD is getting worse I want to know "What Next" "Long will I Live" .. I have a great respiratory nurse but she won't answer any direct questions. My next step is oxygen and I have heard so many bad things about this. That the lungs get weak and rely on the oxygen doing the work. I have witnessed a COPD death and I don't want to die like that it took 45 minutes to die.
Hi
. My heart goes out to you. I can't even imagine witnessing that death and then being diagnosed with COPD.
COPD progression can be really scary and uncertainty is a big factor in that. Most likely, the nurse is not responding definitively to your questions because she doesn't have those answers. Some people progress quickly, but we also have members who have been in stage 4 for more than 20 years and are still living their lives as fully as possible.
The reality is that most people don't die of COPD. With today's treatments, many reach an age where other health conditions that can come with age are the eventual cause of death. Here is a wonderful article that explains that better than I can: https://copd.net/living/terminal.
You'll hear some people say that oxygen makes the lungs weaker, but there is no evidence to support that. Here is an article about the fear of oxygen dependence that might interest you: https://copd.net/living/oxygen-dependence. Have you ever talked with you doctor about the benefits of exercise? Exercise can help your cardiovascular system become more efficient, which can make breathing easier. That doesn't mean long, hard workouts at the gym. Simply pushing yourself to take a few extra steps each day can help.
I hope some of this information puts you at ease. Please know we're here for you whenever you need support or a safe place to vent. Thinking of you and sending the best of wishes your way. - Lori (Team Member)
