C.O.P.D.

I started my second session of Pulmonary Rehab yesterday and met up with a lady who had gone through the course with me several years ago. She's in a poor way, but she's still smoking. I've fallen off the wagon myself a couple of times. It certainly doesn't take more than a few weeks to feel the awful physical effects of smoke on the lungs again. We're all addicts, so don't beat yourself up!

It is hard mate, I found out I have moderate copd at 32 years of age last week, come out of the docs and lit a fag, crazy!

Many thanks Christine.

Hi Warren, at 32 you have time and fitness on your side, give that little weed up.

Good luck to both of you on your journey, keep in touch.

Regards.......Stewart.

I have to say I swear by the prescription drug Champix. Weird dreams, but that was the worst side-effect I had although I can't watch a Timothy Spall film without cringing these days!

straight back to the dog that bit us, it's a natural reaction. It took me years of false starts to stop smoking - result I am now in a wheelchair and on an oxygen machine. 6 years ago I was in hospital and my son gave up his London life and came back to Cumbria to look after me. He lives next door to me. He's a wonder. does my cooking, shopping, washing, without him i would be dead. He makes me go out with my oxygen bottle which he carries while he pushes me around. Bought me a computer to keep my mind active, and boy did it work.

If you all have someone like this, willing to give up their life to look after you go ahead and smoke give somebody something to do with their time, or most of it.

Seriously I wish you all well, you know what you have to do, and then you can keep up to the status quo for years. the damage that has been done is done but I think the young folk have a chance of getting a lot more lung function than they have now. PS I'm 77 so it's a bit late for me. June

Many thanks for your stories, you are a great bunch of people, its nice to know you are not alone.

May the future bring you health, wealth and happiness.

Sorry to hear it June, Glad you have a great son to look after you!

It's a beltin site Stewart, it's not a great diagnosis but most of us know why we're in this situation, you're not meant to smoke at least 24hrs before the spirometry, and no alcohol at least 4 hours before, I didn't know this, I had several pints and a curry the night before and had a fag on the way to the docs, oops, oh well, only myself to blame, I've made my bed, I have the lungs of a 62 year old!

Cheers Warren, I have several beers each night and a cig or 30 to go along with it.

I live life to the full, at 58 I still go to festivals.

I live in not so sunny Wakefield heading to Cardiff in the morning, so I'm off in a puff to pack me bags.

Speak soon.

Same here Stewart, I'm havin a beer now, no wonder I'm on blood pressure tablets, least you know you're not on your own on here, enjoy Cardiff!

No-one ever said I couldn't swap from smoking to drinking!

Avoid both!!

Hope you all had a brill Christmas with your family and friends.

All the very best for 2014.

I've been on house arrest since Boxing Day. I had my first dealings with the specialist respiratory unit based at my local (15 miles away) hospital. It's called admittance avoidance and I was visited daily or phoned. A very reassuring service, and welcome as it was over the holiday period when it's almost impossible to access any services. I've been signed off now and am looking forward to a pudding party on Saturday. Take care, Cris.

Hi guys I'm new this forum

I just wanted to ask how you cope with the condition? And what sort of symptoms do you all have?

All the best :-)