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COPD....bronchitus

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nick00070
nick00070

Im a 32 yo male who was diagnosed with copd around 6 months ago. At the time my lung age was said to be 59 and lung function was 24% short of the predicted value. I have smoked since i was 15, ranging from 10-30 cigies a day and occasional canabis use. 

I had a chest infection which lingered on for months and a terrible cough and was severely short of breath, eventualy it got so bad I went to my GP who gave me antibiotics and steroids to clear up the infection and sent me to a respiritary nurse who did the nescessary tests and told me of my condition. Since then I have been severly depressed and continued to smoke more heavily than ever until a month ago when in desperation after daily coughing fits i finaly through away my tobacco. Since then my bronchitus seems to be far worse, I constantly want to clear my throat but cant and its afecting my voice quite a lot. When I was smoking I would occasionaly have to clear my throat and it would clear with satisfaction. Is this normal?!

Apologies for bad spelling and grammer, im very dyslexic! 

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • AmericanGirl
    AmericanGirl nick00070

    Posted

    Hi Nick, Im so sorry you are going through the COPD at such a young age too! my mom has COPD and never smoked, but her father smoked, as did my father, her 3 brothers and other family members. The doctor told me her lungs looked like a heavy smoker's lungs. My father had emphasema terribly, he started smoking at 10yrs old. In my experience, and from what Ive been told by my Dad's doc, is that the lungs start healing once you stop smoking and sometimes that can cause the conjestion. Your lungs have fluid in them that need to come out. The medicine should help. Are you on inhailers? Like Pro Air or Advair? Don't give up, they have so many meds out there that you can live a normal life once it's under control.

    Hang in there, it is managable on the right prescriptions. 

    • nick00070
      nick00070 AmericanGirl

      Posted

      That is so unfair to have COPD and not have ever smoked, I have heard a few stories about passive smoking causing it. My mum is 67, has smoked since her teens and never developed it yet i managed to get it after 18 years of smoking, luck of the draw i guess. I do feel for for both.

      Yes, im on a long lasting inhalor which I use in the morning, the drug is called glycopyrronium bromid, comes in small capsuals which you put in to an inhalor. I also have Ventolin which I can use during the day if required, this is helpful during excercise. 

      Im an electrician and many of my days are spent working in very dusty conditions which Im sure does me no favours. I wear a mask most of the time which I hope helps.

      Thank you for your reply, it  helps to find out other peoples experiances.

      Another problem I find is that nearly all my friends and even pearents haved no idea what COPD is and think im some kind of crazy hyopcondriact! I suppose because im so young to have the condition and look very well they dismiss it.

    • AmericanGirl
      AmericanGirl nick00070

      Posted

      HI Nick, fact is my mom doesn't say she has COPD, she says she has asthma! She doesn't understand COPD and she has it! I think it is very complicated since it covers so many lung issues. You are an Electrician so that, plus the smoking is a double wammy, which explains the young age of developing the disease. Sort of like Coal Miners. You are not a hypochondriac. But I can understand your frustration. I have asthma (under control now), since I was 2yrs old. My friends growing up didn't understand and thought I was faking to get attention. It is unfair to be sick. I get that! I hope you find the right lifestyle (exercise, meds) that will keep it under control for you. Hugs!
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