How my COPD journey started

I was 55 years old when I was diagnosed with Emphysema (COPD). I had asthma for many years. I started my own business working with a resin-like product. Nowhere on the company's website, which supplied me with the product data sheets, did it state that the product can cause respiratory problems.

The first exacerbation

One evening during a very busy period, I felt short of breath but did not worry about it because I have asthma. I showered and got into bed. I woke up at 4 in the morning, and it felt like something was blocking my nose. I jumped out of bed and used my inhaler, but it did not help. My husband woke up and saw I was already turning blue in the face. My daughter called for an ambulance because we live 45km from the nearest hospital. I was rushed into the ER, and I did not think I was going to be alive once the ambulance got to us. I was very scared. They started me on oxygen the minute the ambulance reached me. This was unknown and scary for my family and me.

Many scary hospital trips

So here started my journey with COPD, steroids, a nebulizer, anxiety, and visits to the ER. I stopped smoking immediately, I prayed about it, and God helped me to overcome it. In 5 years, I have been admitted to the hospital 5 times. Last year, June was the worst ever. I was fine, I felt really good that day. I baked biscuits, cooked meals, and went to shower and got into bed. Yes, I was tired but not short of breath. At 11, I woke up feeling kinda weird, dizzy with blurry vision. I felt a panic attack build up in side of me. I tried to calm myself down and work through it in my head, thinking it was another exacerbation. My daughter is on my wellness team so I rang her. She immediately knew something was not right. Thankfully she lives in a flat on our property. She came running into my room and said "mommy lift your tongue," and popped in a calming tab. After that I don't recall anything. I woke up in ER with a medical team around me and a doctor screaming in my ear to breath. I lost conciseness for over 45 minutes and my poor husband and daughters thought I died. For the 3 of them it was hell. The next day when I woke up in the hospital they were all there. I was told that I'm a C02 retainer and it made it so that I could not get oxygen in my lungs because it was full of C02.

Managing my COPD now

That was June 2025 and since then by the Grace of God I have been well. I did however discover that the Dulion nebs cause my heart to race, so I stopped using the nebulizer. I almost want to tell you it feels like God has healed me. I'm due for a doctor visit soon.

Question for the community

My question is: Has anyone stopped using their nebulizer?