Newly diagnosed with COPD
Posted , 7 users are following.
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
Vee2 eric_9556
Posted
Hi Eric a lot of your symptoms could be related just to your weight gain. If the doctors haven't already addressed that with you perhaps you can bring it up with them, some sort of pulmonary rehabilitation programme may be of great help and perhaps referral to a diatician. The inhaler medication will help open up the airways but being over weight is not helpful to lung health or any other health really so it makes sense to try and address that problem in order to help all the symptoms you are experiencing.
Good luck with it all, it takes time but with perseverance long term you will find symptoms improve.
eric_9556 Vee2
Posted
Eric
degb eric_9556
Posted
Walking is painful, I can understand the breathlessness, but pain, do you know why..? I started just small at first and worked my way to longer distances, but all flat,cannot do uphill without oxygen, and on the flat at a snails pace, more like ambelling, but still enjoy the bush walks, birds and nature etc. walking is hard on breathing at first, I take the ventolin and oxygen incar just in case. I do get very tired, it takes a lot of energy to breathe. Take care, hope you have lots of help, it is good to have a supportive network around you, dr, physio, chemist etc. take care, happy thoughts
eric_9556 degb
Posted
degb eric_9556
Posted
hello there Eric, Oh yes, it is really scary, particularly in the earlier phase when you don't know what is going on, your body is doing one thing, your brain the other. The more I found out about it, the easier it was to come to terms with the fact it is eventually terminal, but so are a lot of other diseases, I have started preparing, will, I don't want to be resuscitated, don't want palliative care in hospice, so it all starts preparing me for the future, fear it your worst enemy, the unknown also, it can be crippling, talking to others who are in the same boat or similar situations, every person is different and responds differently to medications, so much fun, wandering around a minefield, sometimes feels like. Look after yourself, kindest thoughts.