Scary Parts of COPD
What are the scariest parts of living with COPD for you? How do you cope with the things that scare you?
The scariest part of coping with COPD was the inhalers. I was allergic to all of them. I had horrific side effects from the steroids with every one, so after 5 of them and a weight gain of 15 kilo , being unable to wear my clothes, having my neck swell up like the deceased Pope , and bloating that demolished my gastrointestinal tract...I quit all of them. I went on a complete detox with the help of my TCM Dr. .
using herbs and anti inflammatory diet it took 7 mo of no progress to finally be clean from the steroids. I began the Fast Metabolism Diet strictly and with committed discipline last Aug. and as of today i have lost 10 kilo and could wear my favorite skirt for the 1st time in 2 years. The most frightening thing was losing my body to the meds...being unrecognizable in the mirror... pissed me off. lolhey Izzy and everyone that replied...I just got a notice this morning about you!! So update ...I have been having fysio x2 a week and the difference it has made is crazy remarkable!! I can move up my steep 38 stairs now without collapsing at the top! and carry all my bags of groceries,average 15 kilos each easily with very little stress now! So I am super happy and the weight is also finally slowly coming off. At 73 it's not as easy as it was at 40 srsly! Thank God for muscle memory , my body remembers joyfully the satisfaction of a good work out! If any of you are still able I highly recommend weight training and a simple program of a couple of hours a week... and then walk as much as possible, set goals... the difference and quality of life is absolutely worth it!! Thanks to all who have sent me their encouragement and thoughts!! I saw you late but I feel you now and am grateful you are there!! all the best to each of you!! xoxo!
you are a true inspiration to me. I am 71 this month and most days feel 90. Each time I get pneumonia or have an exasperation it seems to last a long time. I can't walk 5' w/o getting SOB. I can't do much physically because I get out of breath so quickly. I'm not used to so much down time. What do you do to keep yourself active? I exercise but not enough I am sure. I hardly go out anymore because it's just too much.
For me, the scariest part of COPD is the thought of catching pneumonia again. After initially being in ICU for a week with mycobacterial pneumonia, and a year of antibiotics, I caught pneumonia again two years later. It wasn't mycobacterial this time, thank heavens. Another 3 days in the hospital. Every time I cough out mucus from my lungs, I have anxiety that it will contain blood and I will end up back in the hospital yet again. I just had CT Scan, PFT test, Bloodwork, EKG, and urine analysis done. The CT Scan showed areas of inflammation and possible infection. Yech! I gave a sputum sample to my doctor this past Monday and so far tests are negative. It will be a little while longer for petri dish growth to show up or not. It gets real old getting sick with COPD. If not caught right away and treated, it could end your life, and I am not ready to go yet! That is my biggest fear. Take care all and God Bless!
oh my gosh you have been through a lot and yet you have a great attitude and just reading your message helped me to stop being so hard on myself. Like you, I have been through many times of pneumonia, not to the extent you have but enough that I too am so afraid of getting sick. Currently recovering from an extended exasperation that seems to be taking its sweet time going away.Its so hard to stay positive when you don't feel good for extended periods of time.
Thank you for sharing your story and experience.🙏We second this! Thank you both for sharing and being a part of this community. So many of our community members here come to feel less alone and every single story and addition helps. Keep on keepin' on, DPM
Trying to have a positive outlook. Have too much going on with the ole body. Heart attack last year. 4 stents along with stage 3. 8 Meds a day plus all the Nebs and O2..
Got the results back last week on the CT scan.Significant coronary artery disease. No Mass. Thank God staying active as possible. I miss working. Was self employeed for 35 years in the truck and automotive repair business.. Constantly looking online for any form of employment. Talked to several people and agree, Companies just don't want to take the risk hiring people like me. We shall see what happens. Just miss working.Thank you so much for sharing these, judie! I read this when you wrote it and thought I responded, sorry about that. Everyone here on the site seems to LOVE the terry cloth robes. I would almost say that it's a must-have in a COPD care kit. 😀 I have never used them but would love to try, if only to experience the quick drying factor. And the fan on the sink is a great tip, too. The vent fan, if you have one, can only do so much. I'm so happy to hear you have been making the most of life with COPD for many years, and wish you more ahead. -Melissa, team member I had a Pacemaker fitted 18 months ago, then I got diagnosed with mild COPD, and also pre type 2 diabetes I get days were I wonder where my future is headed but we have to keep on trucking. x
I was diagnosed 4 years ago and at first was petrified. I started reading up because I believe it's the unknown that we fear. I tried to get as much information as possible about COPD. Reading sometimes caught me of guard. I just kept going. I hate the fact that COPD is so sneaky, if I may call it that. One minute you are all fine minding your own business and the next moment you wake up in hospital 🙁 THAT is very scary for me. My poor husband and daughters though that's it I'm gone. Apparently I'm a CO2 retainer. So as the Dr explained it, I can go unconscious at anytime. I do not want my family to always worry about me. My daughters are my rocks and my poor hubby falls to pieces evertime. How do you cope with that of the unknown?
I sadly can't answer how I cope because most days I really can't wrap my head around it, but I do support you and I find comfort in knowing I am not alone x
