1. Community
  2. Chest and lungs
  3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Newly diagnosed with COPD

Posted , 7 users are following.

eric_9556
eric_9556

Diagnosed with COPD last week, I'm 61 years old and haven't smoked for over 22 years.

I retired early after 42 years of working, due to unrelated health problems One of my biggest problems now is my weight at 23 1/2 stone, not due to overeating but lack of exercise,and

Waiting to go in to hospital and have an operation on my tyroid.

I was really poorly this year in May and June having pleurisy, Sent me for x-rays and CT scan came back showing this problem.

I have been suffering with shortness of breath fatigue for a number of years previously had x-rays and a scan but nothing has Come up can they miss the symptoms and diagnosis.

The other symptom I suffer with is terrible sweating which has been also going on for number years to the point of embarrassment when you go out, I was wondering if anybody else was suffering with this symptoms as well as me.

And if you are have you managed to sort this out.

The other big problem is mobility walking is painful and getting very breathless, does this improve with the medication being given.

Interested to hear from people in the same position as me, hopefully can improve my situation with the knowledge of others.

Thanks advance for any help.

Eric

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

Next
  • amanda1827h
    amanda1827h eric_9556

    Posted

    Hi Eric,Poor you.I am so sorry to hear.My Husband quit smoking 3 months ago & is now of 3 inhalers per day.Hes not mobile at all as he's got chronic on going Osteoarthritis of hips knees and spine, also deaf & severely sighted in both eyes. I am his registered carer.He is over weight for what he should be.But he can't cough or bring anything up.Our Gp s don't really seem that concerned.He has awful problems with swollen ankles.So I am making him keep his legs up as much as possible. I Also make him have olbas in steam each night.He tends to nod off each day .Mind you he's a night owl with his telly.A couple of months ago he pulled his ribs.So it hurts to breathe at times.Cracked ribs don't show on x Ray.Sorry to rant regards Amanda h

  • eric_9556
    eric_9556

    Posted

    . Yes life sucks sometimes, when we were younger they never told us that would feel like this
  • jessie92598
    jessie92598 eric_9556

    Posted

    Hi Eric. I live in Texas, U.S.A.

    I'm 71 and was diagnosed with moderate C.O.O.D. about 3 months ago. Never got out of breath though unti about 4 months ago I was walking for exercise. After 30 minutes , I could catch my breath. Scared me to death. A couple of days later started coughing up junk every day. My GP says exercise induced asthma. Gave me an inhaler along with an antibiotic. The antibiotic almost killed me , I think. Anyway , I think he's wrong. Didn't get any x-rays. But I wake up coughing up stuff every morning , so I use the inhaler. Helps me cough up everything. I quit smoking 33 years ago. Don't guess it helped. But I suppose it's time for me to pay for my past. Been walking 3 miles every morning for the last 10 years but that appears to be comming to an end. Now , I try to walk 1 mile every morning but it's getting harder to do , I think. I'm gonna keep an eye on these post to see if I can learn anything from you and others. Good luck hope you find more than I have at this point.

    • eric_9556
      eric_9556 jessie92598

      Posted

       Comes as such a shock to the system, i've  been  unable  to walk any distance without getting breathless for a long time trying to go to the swimming barfs  this seems the best exercise for me as not  so much pressure on the body.

       good luck 

      Eric

  • degb
    degb eric_9556

    Posted

    Hi Eric, sounds like you are overwhelmed with various symptoms that are concerning. I have 3rd stage cops and have none of your symptoms except tired all the time and very oxygen deficient, it surprises me that nothing showed up on x rays. I would advise being referred to a specialist in this are, I found out heaps after seeing specialist and went to support group especially for this problem. I think you need further investigations to at least help you understand what is going on. My thoughts are with you. 
    • eric_9556
      eric_9556 degb

      Posted

       Many thanks for your support, diagnosis has been confirmed with A scan but suffering for number of years and nothing  ever showed  before. Scans and x-rays before but never confirmed,  is it easy for to miss the signs

       I will  look outfor a local support group,  have an appointment with my support nurse  in four weeks time I will ask her  for as much information as possible.

       good luck to yourself 

      Eric

  • degb
    degb eric_9556

    Posted

    Hello again, was wondering if you had been prescribed oxygen. I am at the three quarter mark and am on oxygen for breathlessness. After having the tests found oxygen intake into blood was around 30% received oxygen week later. I will follow and see how you go, the more information you can get about what is happening to your body the more you can fight for some quality of life, even when under the weather.its a battle, but knowing others are in the same boat helps and supports you. Take care 

     

    • eric_9556
      eric_9556 degb

      Posted

       Early days for me not being prescribed any oxygen but as you say we can support one another and learn from each other. 

      Eric

  • john80670
    john80670 eric_9556

    Posted

    Growing old is a trap matem and i don't think doctors are that clever either.

    • jessie92598
      jessie92598 john80670

      Posted

      You're absolutely right john. They tell you all these things you can do to live longer. True enough. But they don't tell anyone how bad those extra years will be. Mine are terrible and I did everything I wastold.

    • john80670
      john80670 jessie92598

      Posted

      I don't listen to everything they tell me now, i would prefer to live a few years less than suffer a few years more.

    • jessie92598
      jessie92598 john80670

      Posted

      Exactly. I'm 71 and 3/4 ths of my problems were vaused by doctors , surgeons and meds. So I'm make do with what I have left. Was able to help a few flood victims today. Made me feel good to do something for people in trouble..just picked them up in my boat and brought them to high ground. Not much , I don't guess , but thats about all I can do anymore. I just wish , with all my heart , I could help someone on here. But I've been in an unhealthy condition myself and can't help me. Not the best for giving advice on health.

    • john80670
      john80670 jessie92598

      Posted

      It's nice to help people and it's great that you did. My doctors wanted me to take alsorts of tablets and inhaler but i stay away from them unless i really need to take them, I think meds had to or make more problems too.

    • jessie92598
      jessie92598 john80670

      Posted

      I do take one inhaler When I go to bed and when I get up. Kidnda ood though today. Didn't need my inhaler one time today . Never got breathless. And I actually pulled a boat through flood wates by hand. Can do something simple , like going to the kitchen and back and I grab the inhaler.

  • ricky2-
    ricky2- eric_9556

    Posted

    Hi eric,

    I am 63 and was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago with stage 3 moderate to severe COPD.  yes I have horrible shortness of breathe.  In fact I am on oxygen therapy now and am going to see a pulmonolgist next thursday for another lung function test and i dread it because i know over that many years since being diagnosed with stage 3, i will be stage 4, or end stage.  I am so depressed and wonder what the end is going to be like.  i feel it is near,

    Ricky

    • eric_9556
      eric_9556 ricky2-

      Posted

       S**t I don't know how to answer your post, as like you I don't know what the end-stage will bring.I wish you good luck for the future, let me know how you get on.

      eric

    • john80670
      john80670 ricky2-

      Posted

      Try now worry to much i know it's hard to do but none of us really no what the end is like with any illness. I always think that there is always someone worse off than me.

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.