53 and have COPD

I am 75 have Copd caused by heavy smoking many years ago . Stopped smoking over 30 years ago , have lack of energy , but not depressed . Try to enjoy life as best as I can and do anything I can to try to  improve my condition .

HI there! Don't let yourself get depressed. Depression in itself can cause fatigue. I have tried to stay as active as possible. There is just so much to learn. I just started a COPD rehab programe that consists of education, excersize, and being with people in the same boat. You can't sit around. You need to keep moving to the best of your ability. I love this programe. Exercise is soooooo important to build your muscles so the oxygen does not have to to your muscles. I have learned how to do pursed lip breathing that brings your oxygen levels up. Onky gone twice but I can't wait to go again on Thursday. It teaches you all the things you need to know that our Doctors don't have the time to explain the benefits. Ask your Doctor about it. I find I have more energy after I have worked out to exercises designed to enhance COPD. Before I enrolled in this programe I would walk around our large back yard. Would stop and do pursed lip breathing and stop then continue on.

Hope this helps

Unfortunately, yes.  There are sooooo many unanswered questions, which I personally feel depressing.  We tell people what we have and they look at us as if I told you so, I told you so, don't you remember me telling you you were going to get something from smoking all those years.  Now what's it called?  COP ?.  Plus, prednisone seems to be the first prescribed medication and that can screw up everything, especially long term (I've been on them for over 20 years, anywhere from 10 mg/day to 60/day.  

 

As for as the lack of energy, they make some people sleepy but others hyperactive.  Just part of the steroid effects in my opinion.

morning  i  cant  say  i  suffer  from depression.    i  do  get  tired  easy.   just  wondering  if  youve  spoken  to your  doctor  about  this.      im  sure  there will  be  someone  out  there   with the  same  problem  as  you ,  and  hopefully   will  be  in touch  with  you  soon.    take   care  all  the  best  julie   xxxxxxxxxxxx

Copd does get you down just when you think you are getting somewhere it knocks you right back down but you just need to lern to live with it as it's not going anywhere like david says try to enjoy life & do everything you can do to try improve your condition as fighting it will give you the push you need to lift yourself up forget about letting the doc put you on pills positive thinking will work better then any pills can good luck 

I'm 55 years old and was diagnosed wit A1AD, inherited emphysema in November of last year I was a snowboarder going sometimes up to 50 times a year. now I can't even walk to the lift without losing my breath yes I am depressed.

Chat with your doctor gaharr, I doubt if the severe depression is the result of just lack of energy.

BLF helpline or the help line of the lung foundation in the country you are living can advise you further.  Ask them also about breathe easy groups (or better breathers groups) in your area.

Exhaustion and depression on initial diagnosis of COPD is quite common.  A PR course and contact with breathe easy groups or better breathers may be a good option for you.

Ask your doc for a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation course.  BLF or respective lung foundation will have more details on important information on what things help on their website.

Best wishes V

Hi I am 51, had bloods done dr said low oxygyn levels sent me for spiro with the nurse, I blew 78 1st time then 102 after my inhaler, Nurse said I am 78 and mild copd, dr today said i don't have copd but she was reading the after inhaler result. I told her nurse had said I had mild copd and was 78%, dr said she will see id nurse wrote it somewere else, now I don't know what to think.  Dr's get me depressed as well as my conditions and fatigue is horrendous for me, i am so baffled now how can one say i have it and another say i havent.