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COPD diagnosis today 😢

Posted , 5 users are following.

shazzaGal
shazzaGal

I am so anxious and scared. Am 51 and had spirometer test today as short of breath whilst walking. Have COPD, Dr did not tell me level. X ray clear. Smoked cigarettes for nearly 30 Years and gave up 4 years ago and switched to e cigarette. Dr told me today to give up e cig or would be on oxygen tank in 10 Years!!! Gave me Nicolette inhaler and spiriva inhaler. Have 3 daughters aged 13, 12 and 10. Feel so anxious that breathing is worse since diagnosed and feel wil die suffocated and feel it’s advanced though dr didn’t say it was severe. Can’t function and feel heart beating - will this scared feeling end. Have not touched e cig since got home and miss that too. Someone help please!!!!!!

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • davidjk22
    davidjk22 shazzaGal

    Posted

    Try not to worry, worry wont help, stopping e cig will. Give your husband the full facts he can support you and help with you giving up the e cig, it's not easy but is really worth doing. You have only been diagnosed a few days, there are many treatments which really do help it may take a few attempts to find the right ones, but you will get there. Reading articles on google is not a good idea for someone who worries, you can tend to pay more attention to the wrong answers. 

    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal davidjk22

      Posted

      Hi David, thank you for your positive reply. Once I get my head totally around it I will explain fully to hubby and family etc. Have not touched e cigarette since diagnosis and usually it is attached to me. Have Nicolette Inhaler that doc prescribed. Every time I draw breath I worry is it deep enough, am I getting worse so quickly and I know this isn’t helping as I didn’t feel like this before I knew what I had, I just functioned as normal albeit a bit breathless at times.  I am hoping to hear lots of encouragement here and thank you again for taking some of the worry away x
    • davidjk22
      davidjk22 shazzaGal

      Posted

      I'm sure if it was serious your doctor would have told you, and sent you for more tests.  You say every time you draw breath you are worrying if it is deep enough, that is making you feel worse. Please try to relax,  you said you feel worse since you have been diagnosed it's your anxiety making you imagine your condition is getting worse. It really won't have got worse in the few days since your diagnosis. Try some gentle pulmonary rehab exercises, I'm sure it will help it did for me and I'm 25 years older than you. Your doctor doesn't want to see you for a year, so that should help put your mind at ease. I had my yearly review a few weeks ago, and the results were considerably better than the previous ones. Also the fact that your doctor told you that you would be on oxygen in 10 years if you didn't quit the e cig is a good indication that it is no where nearly as serious as you imagine. Giving up e cig and using correct medication plus some exercise and you will probably get no worse, in fact you will feel better.

    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal davidjk22

      Posted

      David, you are so positive thank you. Your words are making me feel better and am determined to try all I can to control this. I think I have prob wallowed long enough and let it take over, not eating or sleeping good. Great news that your results were better must feel proud of the work you are putting in. If I can be strong too I will. Thanks x
  • Vee2
    Vee2 shazzaGal

    Posted

    The best thing anyone newly diagnosed can do aside from stopping the smokes is request a referral to pulmonary rehabilitation programme.  This will address a lot of the worry and anxiety you are experiencing, through learning about the illness, the dos and don't, learning what enhances breathing and lung function and slows down the progress of the disease.

    Check out details of pulmonary rehabilitation on line for the county / state in the country you reside.

    here is information pages on patient UK  

    https://patient.info/doctor/pulmonary-rehabilitation

    If you are in the UK check out the British Lung Foundation website also.

    I am sure you will find in time you will learn to manage your symptoms and your outlook will not be so fearful.  Meant time apart from asking your doctor for a referral to pulmonary rehabilitation you may wish to discuss with him or her your anxiety and other symptoms of rapid heart beat etc.

    Congratulations on stopping the e cigs they were never meant to replace cigarettes long term.

    Best wishes to your greater understanding of COPD and how to manage it still enjoy a relatively good quality of life.

    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal Vee2

      Posted

      Thank you Vee, I live in Ireland and will check out program as determined to try to control this.  Found it hard to do without e cigarette but am on 6th day and fighting the urges, have not used it at all.  I suppose any long term illness takes us by surprise and it's just the learning to deal with it.  Have so far got good advice, help and support here and am grateful to all that have responded.  

    • davidjk22
      davidjk22 Vee2

      Posted

      I agree with everything you say. Pulmonary rehab certainly helped me understand the disease and the best ways of dealing with the condition. I was on a pulmonary rehab exercise programme for 6 weeks, which as well as exercise included talks and discussions about copd. After that I joined the gym on a referral programme which reduced the cost , I try to go 5 times a week and it really helps. Another thing for anyone newly diagnosed is to try not to worry. You have not been given a death sentence, you have been given a way to improve your life.
    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal davidjk22

      Posted

      Thank you David. Your words of encouragement mean so much.
    • aitarg35939
      aitarg35939 shazzaGal

      Posted

      Stanza, if you need support in a desperate moment of urge about any kind of cig, we are here for you. Just think of the millions of COPDs around the world who smoked/are quitting as lifting you up and cheering you on. If you slip, we're still here for you. They sat this is the hardest addiction to quit and 75% of us know that; 25% never smoked at any level but I suspect they'll still cheer you on.

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