COPD vs. Aging (Part 1)

By Janet Plank HU

2 min read

The other day I was talking to my husband about some ailment that was new. I think at the time I was looking in the mirror and was just so sad because of my appearance. He paused and said, “You know, we’re getting older. Some of this is because we are aging.”

Made perfect sense

Not all disease

That opened my eyes and made perfect sense. It’s crazy that so many symptoms of COPD also may appear due to aging. This is not to make light of COPD or any other chronic illness. It just helped me to realize that some part of my life might actually be normal. So often we associate just about every symptom to our various health issues such as COPD. Sometimes we think (often correctly) they result from our medications.

Getting older

However, some things might also be attributed to aging, because we are indeed getting older. I am anyway. Old. 66. Why is this important? For me, I would rather think - or better yet know - that some things are because of the normal course of aging instead of my COPD always being the culprit.

Not all good news

Not excited about aging

Or would I? Actually, I wasn’t too excited to hear it was aging either. It’s blown me away that no one told me about this - that some of this might be normal. A grumpy nurse told me about aging some time ago. I had called to ask for an explanation about a biopsy result. She asked about some of my symptoms and just kept saying it's possible that aging was causing some of the severe dryness I was experiencing.

Socked in the stomach

Mind you, I was sent to a rheumatologist because a doctor had done a biopsy on my lip. He was concerned about this other disease/syndrome. According to the nurse, some things that the specialist told me weren’t documented. She said it's possible that they weren't recorded because I’m just old. It felt like I was socked in the stomach.

Trying to understand

I was just trying to understand what was what. He said that I possibly had another disease/syndrome and that it wasn't being recorded because he would have to start me on some harsh medication. For now, he was leaving it out of the chart.

I've seen this before

I've seen this before. Can this nurse and I talk instead of her just telling me that I’m old? Can I ask about when to follow up on the concerning lump under my neck or throat, which is why I went to the doctor in the first place?

Aging gracefully

We often talk about how teens should be trained for life in the real world. How new parents should learn to care for their new baby and other children. Yes, they definitely should. I think that we should also learn how to age. It would be nice to be educated on how to age gracefully. That's something that I have heard quite often, "He/she is aging gracefully."

Age gracefully. How do they do that? Gee, now I have more reason to go kicking and screaming to the grave. What I mean is that there is more of me to care for, more of my husband and family to care for. More to love.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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wally2 Member
good morning janet, i agree with what you are saying, i also have r. a. and some of the symtons cross over each other, i have read that there is a very strong belief that r. a. can cause lung probs, and of course with age comes all the other illness, i have about 3 really close friends and each has some form of age related health probs heart arthritus sugar dibetus, so in one way maybe we are more aware of changes, and are good at keeping check on things,whatever it is dont let it control our lives make sure we controll it regardswally,
Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
Another great article, looking forward to part 2. Best, Jackie (moderator)
1. whirledpeas Member
 @Janet Plank Hi, Janet, Sometimes I see myself as this big lump of COPD, and it takes over. But most of the time I see myself as pretty healthy, with only this one issue. I like thinking of it that way, because it puts it in its proper perspective, and also makes me feel healthier. So when I had a zoom doctor's appointment, and the ARNP asked me if I were still taking THIS, for high blood pressure, and THIS for osteoporosis, I was forced to see all the aging parts at once. That was a (you should pardon the expression, and why we get called Boomers) Real Downer. Where do I go now?! But eventually I realized I was right to begin with: I am pretty healthy, with this one issue...and a couple of minor, controlled side deals which I can usually ignore, since they are controlled. I deal with them by taking the medications. Hardly worth noticing. Mentally, I'm back down to one. So, the aging
Blackbird Member
<inline-mention username="Jackie English" user-id="2415342"/> Janet Plank: That Doctor is wrong for not putting it in your chart. There is very little support or respect for the aging. Most times we are made to feel useless and in the way. And that doctor is a prime example of it. So, I'm hearing just because you are old, and I don't consider being 66 old that you are not worth treating so go sit in a corner or your rocking chair and die. That is so hurtful, painful and depressing. I can do that on my own much less have a professional tell me that.
kloker Member
I feel very lucky not to have RA along with my COPD, but I do have plaque psoriasis - I've had it since I was a kid - I grew up in the tropics (military brat). Yet none of my siblings had it. But as I age it is becoming more severe. And I have some arthritis issues as well, some related to the plaque psoriasis, some to other issues, such as a long hard working life and many, many broken bones and mangled joints, etc. Of course, my eyes are an ever-growing issue with the cataracts, and my prostate/urinary tract is an issue these days. But my biggest complaint is that I used to be so damn pretty! I am still the same person, but now I am stuck in this grossly problematic shell of a carcass! I fell like in the future it will be possible (if you have the scratch) to get a rejuvenation or refurb, but now? Nope. So disappointing. I don't know why, when I was younger, I planned all this fun when I retired, but it isn't like that, because I failed to take all this into consideration. Dang! I have to try to laugh at myself, but oftentimes it isn't really all that funny anymore. Taken all together, my body has given me good value for the way I used and abused it all these years, but I sorely miss its former prime condition in every way.
1. SamanthaSarube Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="kloker" user-id="4235094"/>, as always, I appreciate how open and honest you are when you share your experiences! It isn't easy to contend with the physical impacts of COPD and the emotional ones, like the disappointment of our life being different than we planned. Wishing you a peaceful weekend. All the best, Sam S. (<a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>, team member). 
2. kloker Member
 @Janet Plank (and Sam!) - Thanks for the support. Janet, I always enjoy the articles you write that make me find ways to be positive about things I am cranky about! I have somehow gotten, over the years, into a sort of pessimistic way of looking at many things about life, and I have begun, thanks to much of what I read here, as well as the other support I get these days, to realize that it is very energy-consuming and unnecessary. I need to, as my last girlfriend always said, "Quit it!" I need to break it like a bad habit and learn to have more gratitude and appreciation in my attitude. Especially since, in my recently more isolated lifestyle, the only one I'm poking in the eye is me. I am trying to learn how to be smoother. I can see I need practice!
whirledpeas Member
@Janet Plank So the aging part of my post apparently didn't post. And now it is lost to the ages. If I think of it again, I will post it. Sorry, senior moment. And it was probably profound!