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Well I finally told my immediate family I have copd.

Posted , 6 users are following.

pam34048
pam34048

i gave in and told them I had to, my husband was reving his motorcycle in the garage with the door to the house open and I flipped.  I said you know I have been sick for months and I have copd.  I told my children and it was strange all of there reaction were the same.  They did not say much not how I was doing nothing.  How did your families react when you told them?

0 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

  • john80670
    john80670 pam34048

    Posted

    Does reving his motorcycle bother ? i rev mine and work it most days. If it's the fumes you will breath worse than that in everyday.

  • pam34048
    pam34048

    Posted

    Your not supposed to rev it in the house I don't live in a garage. and I don't live in a big city with lots of smog and my house is not next to the street.  If I can't smoke I prefer to take walks in the park and I pretty much now keep my house dust free.  

    • john80670
      john80670 pam34048

      Posted

      in the house ? why does he have his bike in the house. and even if he did he should start it
  • aitarg35939
    aitarg35939 pam34048

    Posted

    Hi Pam

    Those fumes in a concentrated are are SO much worse even than what you get on a daily basis around traffic, barring strolling for an hour or so alongside a 10-lane freeway, all vehicles stopped in both directions! With the door open into the house, I'm sure that all those fumes funneled straight into the house. Yucky!

    My immediate family was already familiar with the disease back when I was diagnosed. But now I'm dependent upon a friend, I took her to a pulmo appointment recently. I've been sick for 6 months, bronchiectasis now in addition to the COPD. It was the only way to get her to understand the gravity of my health.

    I suggest taking some family to the doctor with you. Prepare by writing out questions you'd like your family to hear:

    • aitarg35939
      aitarg35939

      Posted

      Sorry ,,,

      Questions such as: Will my lungs everimprove? Will they get worse? What aggravates my condition? OOkay for me to be around perfumes, after-shaves & exhaust fumes?

      You already know the answers; the point is to have them hear the answers from the doctor. You could also take them to an in-person support group but you run the risk of someone in your family dismissing the group as a bunch of whiners.

      Good luck.

    • pam34048
      pam34048 aitarg35939

      Posted

      So sorry you have been so sick, I am kinda in the same boat I have been sick for nine months on antibiotic one after the other today they have me on levafloxin a scary antibiotic.  My new dr x rayed my sunuses and said they are cloudy when they should be clear like the sky.  So I have been gettin post nasal drip in my lungs.  He referred me to an ent and hopefully I can get my life back to normal.  

      I think ink your idea is great but my family are thick headed and don't want to know what copd is.  I wish I had a girlfriend like you do she sounds wonderful.  I am grateful that my copd is mild and I hope to keep it that way.  I just have to remind my family no  harsh chemicals in the house and   To be respectful.  I do have my dog that I love dearly that gets three walks a day now.

    • aitarg35939
      aitarg35939 pam34048

      Posted

      I can't take the levafloxacin. There's something about that drug that causes problems in some folks over age 60, so of course I have to be special in that aspect also.

      Here's the funny thing about that friend: she must-read the doctor. When pushed, he specifically said that I wouldn't get better & that I wouldn't ever again be taking my dog on 1 or 2 mile walks. She heard that as, "you're going to get better, the doctor said you I'll get better." But at least she got a little idea of my circumstances. For years, no matter where I am if I feel a cough coming on, I dash outside. That turns out to have been a mistake: If folks had heard the progression of my coughs, they'd have a better idea.of how sick I am.

    • pam34048
      pam34048 aitarg35939

      Posted

      How long have you had it if you don't mind me asking what stage are you at?

  • ellen68007
    ellen68007 pam34048

    Posted

    HI Pam! I was diagnosed a year ago. I have found this forum very helpful. I am a low key person so when I told my family finally I has COPD. They as well as myself were relieved to finally have a firm diagnoses after a year of testing to where my complete blood count indicated far to many red blood cells. My Doctor referred me to a Hemotologist. After a year it was confirmed as secondary Polycythaemia caused from a secondary problem which was COPD. In my particular case I was happy and my family to finally know what I was dealing with. I was referred to a Respirologist Specialist. He is great and I will now see him every 3 months. I am doing great as he said. I just do and take what he suggests. So far so good. 

    Ellen

    • pam34048
      pam34048 ellen68007

      Posted

      Sounds like you have a very supportive family, and a great dr.  I am hoping  with this new dr and the few changes that he has made for me and the additional tests, my chest won't be as sore and I won't think about the copd as much.  I have changed my diet take certain suppliments keep my house spotless, exercise 60 min of cardio a day.  I can't think of anything else I could be doing.

    • ellen68007
      ellen68007 pam34048

      Posted

      Sounds like your Doctor is on top of this. I as well keep my home very clean. We have air purifiers in most rooms. I am waking about 4 times a week. I have registered for the copd clinic. I go for my evaluation in a few days. They start with 2 tests which is a breathing test ans a walk test. Then I go twice a week for excersize. After the 3 month programe they will evaluate me and the end. I am looking forward to it and like you just want to do what my Doctor advises. One step at a time.

      Ellen

    • john80670
      john80670 ellen68007

      Posted

      my house is always dusty from dogs and just life. and my office has that much sutff on it's like a magnet for dust and i am in there 18 hours a day working.

    • ellen68007
      ellen68007 john80670

      Posted

      John how bad is your COPD? I am relatively new to this diagnoses. Anything  I have read on this forum and my Doctor suggests dust is one if the things to avoid. It's next to impossible to maintain a dust free home but I do my best to keep the air I breath as clean as possible. We all have our own lifestyles. For me I was a neat freak way before my diagnoses so it's easy for me to keep it this way. I just do what I am told by my respirologist to assure me that there is no cure but if you follow a routine plan that it won't progress as fast. 

      Ellen

      🇨🇦

    • pam34048
      pam34048 john80670

      Posted

      Go to the store and get some masks,  and give your workspace a good cleaning.  Way your dogs at least once a month, your lungs will thank you.  Also take all the crap you don't use to the dump.

    • john80670
      john80670 ellen68007

      Posted

      Hi have a look at the last thread i made about my results. i was just told i had emphysema changes and passed the lung function test 6 months ago and my last one 2 weeks ago was improved the nurse could not believe how much i had improved them.
    • john80670
      john80670 pam34048

      Posted

      i do clean it but still get's dusty everyday. what do you mean way your dogs ?

    • pam34048
      pam34048 john80670

      Posted

      Lol typo wash you dogs and brush them with a mask on.  I dust every day it's also good exercize.  I took 8 carful of junk to the dump and just keep what I need or put it in storage.  I had my ducts cleaned, bought a hepa filter for 100 that I take to the rooms I hangout in.   There are tons of things you can do to help your lungs first is get rid of chemical cleaners especially bleach.

    • ellen68007
      ellen68007 john80670

      Posted

      What have you done to improve your diagnosis? I have an appointment week after next to join a COPD rehab clinic to learn breathing techniques, excersize, and an orientation. I am looking forward to learning just what I can do to improve. In the meantime I go for a walk almost every day but I do get sob. I have to stop to get my breath back. Other then excertion I am doing fine. 96 while resting but we know I can't just sit to have a 96 oxygen reading. Have to move which I do. 

      Ellen

    • john80670
      john80670 ellen68007

      Posted

      My results below not huge but better. Smoking was the main one which i think helped i also do breathing excercise, can't say i exercise much because i don't. I don't have any symptoms just yet.

      06/09/17 FEV1 3.01  FVC 4.53

      27/03/17 FEV1 3.24  FVC 4.68

    • john80670
      john80670

      Posted

      sorry first date was meant to be 16 not 17
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