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My treatment of choice!

I have been diagnosed with severe COPD for 4 years or so, and probably have suffered from emphysema for much longer. I smoked for about 40 years before quitting in 2000. I quit because my husband had severe COPD and several hospitalizations and crisis . After my second spirometry test two years ago I went to Respiratory rehab classes that included about 50 minutes of exercise. I felt so much better after regularly working out for that amount of time on a regular basis that I chose not to take medication. I joined a health club near my home and am struggling to keep myself going regularly. However, I suffer when I do not go. I am still choosing to avoid medication. I am still able to complete household chores, volunteer as a cat foster mom and cage cleaner at our adoption display site, tow days a week and taking my dog on walks when weather permits. I do yoga breathing exercises on a regular basis, do pursed lip breathing when walking or working out and also do regular yoga meditation. Is there anyone else out there who is choosing to go without medication for as long as possible, and choosing lifestyle modifications instead? I am very fortunate in having a pulmonologist who supports my choice, even when others were and are urging medication use. I am trained as a research psychologist individual organism designs and see no reason to medicate when lifestyle changes that improve my function are working.

  1. Lynn - I applaud your success! Not everyone is able to do what you've obviously been very successful at. I would also like to hear other stories of people who have been able to improve with similar lifestyle adjustments. I'm so glad you mentioned Pulmonary Rehab. I have personally seen the benefit to patients who have completed a program and then stuck with it on their own. There's no question it's a huge boost toward feeling better. Thank you for your story.

    1. Lyn, Thanks for the praise! i have a question: Are there others with Stage 4 COPD who are not taking any medication or on oxygen? I hope I can go to the end with this "end stage" without medications, since I am very sensitive to the side effects of many if not most of them.

      1. Hi Lyn and thanks for checking back in with us. You may want to post your question to the entire community on our COPD.net page on Facebook. I'm quite certain there are others in our community who can benefit from hearing your story and will probably be more than happy to share their experiences as well.
        You can find the page here: https://www.facebook.com/copddotnet/
        Warm regards, Leon (site moderator)

        1. I have been diagnosed with the COPD (just first stage) last month. Smoked 41 year/package and quit at 2011 and started to sport. Nowadays, using medicine and everything is fine except that I remove phlegm.

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