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I am 56 with lung age of 75 diagnosed with COPD

Posted , 5 users are following.

kathy70567
kathy70567

I have never smoked a day in my life but took a job where my team mate smoked I became gravely ill could not eat or drink for 5 days I got away from him and went to my daughters to get well I than hooked up with a cigar smoker who only smoked outside the truck again after two weeks I got sick I am home now and just got my breathing test I am between Stage one and Stage two of COPD my dad died from this I had asthma up till I was 18 but than it stopped I am now 56 and have had COPD for a few years but it is getting worse I had an attack in September one in November and again in December what does this mean?

1 like, 47 replies

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  • miracle_man
    miracle_man kathy70567

    Posted

    Hi Kathy. Sorry to hear about your problem. I used to be very poorly with copd and on 24/7 o2 therapy. I was eventually given a drug called Azithromycin 500 mg 3 times per week. I could hardly make a cup of tea at the time or hardly walk. After a few short weeks on this drug my health improved dramatically and the one side effect of the drug is that i am looking for work. This drug does not work for everybody but it did for me. It reduces the number of chest infections dramatically. I have not been to hospital or had an chest infection for 18 months now. I am also on; Seretide 500 mgs (high dose but 250 may be ok) Tiotropiun (stopped all my coughing). Ventolin..which i do not find any help at all. I do not have any side effects. EXERCISE is very very important. I have just been booked on a rehab course at the gym at the hospital. Good exerxise should increase lung function by up to 30%. Hope this helps a little Kathy. Take care and good luck Yours John 
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 miracle_man

      Posted

      Wow I wish I knew about this when my dad was alive I could have tried these meds maybe he would still be here but I didnt know enough about copd in 2006  thanks for the info it may help
    • jude65855
      jude65855 kathy70567

      Posted

      Eight years is quite a long time in terms of medical/pharmaceutical advances:  I recently saw a locum gp who was back at work after 2 years off with her kids and I was on drugs which she had to look up because they were totally new to her.

      It should've been your dad's doctors who knew about all available treatments, not you - get that heavy world off your shoulders, Kathy, you'll cope with your own condition better if part of your management of it is learning to take care of yourself!   I'm speaking from experience here

    • jude65855
      jude65855 miracle_man

      Posted

      I'm so glad to finally see someone on here emphasise EXERCISE because I've been meaning to do so myself.  It's so easy with COPD to just slow down your life without even realising you're doing it:  an acquaintance of mine with emphysema told me last year that it was "better" because she doesn't walk up hills any more!   I've tried to get her to go to a rehab group for 2 years, but have given up, you  just can't help some people.

      She has it from living with heavy smokers for years and last time I visited her (I don't any more) her husband was still smoking in the house - can you believe it?   

      That 30% seems fairly amazing to me?  Where did you get that figure from?  My lung capacity is 75% which would mean I could get it back to 100% with exercise?  I wish, but I don't think so!

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee miracle_man

      Posted

      Hi miracleman,

      So the antibiotic is administered to you three times a week for how long?

      I wholly agree with you about exercise. My experts told me that in my case, having lost 70 % of my lung capacity between the ages of 23 and 32, that while exercise will not reverse my permanent lung damage, it will condition my body to get used to doing exercise with less oxygen. Plus I still receive all of the wonderful benefits exercise naturally brings.

      Over the last year I have rarely exercised due to a failed hip joint replacement and I miss it sorely.

      Regards,

      Dawn

    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 jude65855

      Posted

      This is where things went wrong shortly after my dad died there was something on the news a man in what is called Lansing island those homes are million dollar homes and lots of celebs live there well this man ran to a neighbor saying someone broke into his home and killed his wife well she was beat up almost to being dead but once police talk to her it was the husband who beat her nearly to death she confronted him about an affair he was having with his secretary and he went crazy on her they put him in jail he made bail and got a room in a hotel where they found he commited suicide yes this was my dad's doctor so I guess we got the short end of the stick do you think.
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 DawnDedee

      Posted

      I would say that exercise is good because in 1998 I started running races started with 5 k than 10k than I did two Marathons during training I could feel my lungs struggle to open I only got partial air flow even with the running I could tell that the damage was permanent and later on I stuggled with air flow so had to stop running but man do I miss it....because it was my time just for me...
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee kathy70567

      Posted

      Oh Kathy, I bet you do miss it! I was not a runner but I enjoyed aerobics and when my lungs worsened I had to stop going to exercise classes because when I get out of breath in front of people causes them alarm and I don't want the attention. For a long time I exercised in the privacy of my home and enjoy walks outside....on better breathing days.
    • jude65855
      jude65855 DawnDedee

      Posted

      The most important thing I learned at Pulmonary Rehab was to STOP BEFORE I GET BREATHLESS ...  what's the point?  It just takes longer to recover than if you learn to observe your own capacity and stop in time. Having always been a "soldier on" type of person I did find it difficult, but worth it. 

      For example, I was heartbroken that I couldn't dance any more until I discovered that I could if I did it 70's hippy style and didn't move my feet, only my body, and held on to a classy walking stick.   OK, I used to be able to dance all night and never will again, but I also focus on what I can do and let go of what I can't - we all have to do that as we get older anyway, whether or not we have COPD.

      I don't like it much, but what's the point in wasting energy either trying to do things I just can't do in the same way or agonising over it?

      My post on my other discovery about dancing was taken down, so I can't share that one ......

    • miracle_man
      miracle_man DawnDedee

      Posted

      Hello DawnDedee. Sorry for late reply.I have been on 500mg Azithromycin for 4 years. It still seems to be working. If I do get a 'flareup' I am told to stop Azithromycin until new antibiotic course has finished. Usually one week.Hope all gets better for you. Lots  John 
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 miracle_man

      Posted

      Let me ask everyone something when your in the best of health with copd how do your lungs feel can you feel them only opening a certain amount do they feel like there is something kind of heavy on your chest can you feel them getting worse as time goes on.
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee kathy70567

      Posted

      You become used to it. My body has adapted to less oxygen and panic less.
    • kathy70567
      kathy70567 DawnDedee

      Posted

      guess I am going through some of the question part I struggled for years with the lung expansion but never had answers
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee kathy70567

      Posted

      I went to more than one expert to get the total picture of what I was dealing with. Baylor University at Dallas, Texas, US, answered all my questions. I like to have more than one source's opinion. Keep asking questions Kathy.

      Finding the right combination of medications is key. I am with you in spirit and all of us are here to comfort and cheer you on.

      💛💙💜💚❤

      Dawn

  • kathy70567
    kathy70567

    Posted

    UPDATE!!!!   My COPD is in the moderate stage and doctor says my Alpha 1 test came back negative this means I do not have the genetics that any family member passed this on to me my dad would be happy about that even though he died from COPD. it seems it is Occupational related so seems my Lungs are damaged permanently by my old job at Waste Management now I have to go through test from a lung specialist. Will let you all know what is going on with that as soon as I know anything.
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