I want to share my experiens that it is been three to 4 month that i have quit smoking and my lungs and skin feels fresh.

it feels like your are gonna die. The lung feell too pressure.

My mom only has 20% of her breathing capacity left and will not get on oxygen. She is at the point where she can't get out and stays in the bed mostly. She quit smoking the day the doctor told her she had emphysema, 12 years ago and is very strong willed, EXCEPT for the oxygen.  I know her body is suffering. Any advice please?  Thank you, Tonya

Hi

I'm in the UK, but sadly it seems we don't have a great site like this.

Last week I was diagnosed with emphysema. I'm only 39 years old and haven't smoked for some years now.

I complained to my doctor about a persistent cough years ago, but it was ignored due to the fact I was a smoker. It was then ignored as I was an ex smoker. Finally, a new doctor took the trouble to send me for an xray and ......I have emphysema.

I guess, like everyone, I googled it straightaway and frightened myself beyond belief. My appointment with the doctor isn't for a few days, so I was hoping you guys would point me in the directions of questions you suggest I should ask.

I swim every day 50-120 lengths of the pool and don't even get out of breath, so it was a complete shock to me. The doctor did say briefly over the phone that it was only at the top of my lungs. He also said it wouldn't get any worse as I don't smoke any more. Interestingly, last year a doctor sent me for spirometry tests, which had great results, so good in fact, Iwas told it was better results than someone who had never smoked. But then I read that spirometry test is the usual for diagnosing emphysema, so how could this be??

I'd b e very grateful for any help/suggestions. Thankyou

Smoking is not good for health. Smoking have lots of disadvantages. Lots of diseases affected to your body. That may make major problems. lungs problem and cancer is the main diseases attract towards you.

Thanks for sharing this information. I like the information. It's really helpful.

hi no i'm not feeling sorry for myself.. i am probably too laid back about the whole situation, i have another lung function test coming up. the last one was 46% retention and i have been told that if it goes down to 30% i will have to look at a transplant and then my weight could cause me problems as i am quite frail and i am a bit worried that an operation like that could be too much for my body to take but i will cross that bridge when i come to it..i was told the other day that there might be a new laser treatment for bullous lung disease which has come too late for me but hopefully will benefit others with the same condition in the future..yes i am fortunate to be able to do some gardening!! however i do push myself too much sometimes and suffer for it but i am aware that exercise is something we need to do to try and help our breathing.. i am sorry to hear how ill you are and sincerely wish you all the best and thanks for your reply

You are quite fortunate.  I could never do 1/2 hr in the garden, due to some extent to being overweight.  Your lack of weighe is a big plus.  My father who died of emphysema was much smaller than I, and did not have the problems I have. 

I hope you will not feel sorry for yourself because there is no one communicating with you. 

My symptoms were most manageable two years ago when I was able to exercise every day, using treadmill, a leg machine called NUSTEP, and some light weight-lifting.  Foolishly, I took a job that prevented me from exercising regularly and gained most of the weight back.  That resulted in being back on oxygen 24/7 whereas I had been off it almost completely.  Keep up the exercising but don't overdo it.  The supplements should help.  I know they helped me recover when I was in the hospital.

i posted 2 questions which have been read over 700 times without any replies i thought this might be a good site with people actually comunicating and gving each other advice but obviously i was wrong!! does anybody actually know how to post a topic or reply to one?? 

i wish this board had more people on it period! i have emphysema and i thought this would be a good place to go for info and support from others with this condition. the website is great tho!!

I went to the you tube site and there were no videos available.

Burton

i asked if anyone could give me any advice but didnt get any response so i did what i should have in the first place and have researched it..its quite serious yet it doesnt phase me too much..the worst has been telling the kids.. i now know that i am going to have to change my diet quite alot and also have a little time every day to do some light exercise..i am worried about the diet bit as i am only 8st 10 or 59kg so i am drastically underweight already and have to drink fully nutritional milkshakes as well as trying to eat as many small meals as possible.my bullous lung disease and emphysema are irreversable and although i can help to slow the process down its not going to go away...i am at peace with that and accept that my aim is to help myself by not getting worse..my breathing isnt too bad at the moment in fact i was able to do about 1/2 hour in the garden weeding today which helped and made me feel positive about myself...i am not an invalid and i shall do everything in my power to make sure i get the most out of every day i am sure that there are many like me that are facing their illness rather than burying their heads in the sand but i would love to hear some stories and advice from anyone that wants to or needs to talk to someone i want to get as much input as i can...i will never lose my smile ..rich lewis

i was in hospital in march for a month with suspected teburculosis and was diagnosed with bullous lung disease.. i have since been diagnosed with upper left lobe bronchiectasis and severe emphysema..i was hoping that someone with more knowledge could give me an idea of firstly what to expect....secondly how best to combat it..... basically what it all entails!! many thanks rich lewis

Hello Mimi:

I am new to this too.  I am feeling some of the symptoms of emphysema: shortness of breath when doing some activities and sometimes my chest hurts when taking a breath. I know the symptoms vary and I wish people would respond to your question, giving us some kind of time line and what to expect down the road.  I hope your questions gets some information for us both.

I have a question I sent a donation to the foundation in memory of my sister in law. I thought the check had cleared.

I closed my account out. I opened a new account then found out the check had not cleared. My question is

how do I get the donation to you.

COPD is any combination of emphezyma, chronic bronchitis and/or asthma; I'm surprised your doctor didn't explain that to you better.   Sorry to hear about another member in our ranks.  There is a really good book called "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions" which I recommend you get; it will give you hope and help you cope and manage your COPD , rather than your COPD managing you.  Nancy lala

Hi. My name is Brenda and I am 49 years old, married and have 3 sons.  On March 4, 2010 I was diagnosed with

Copd.  I have been smoking 34 years.  I was really scared so I decided to quit.  I started out by not inhaling the

cigarettes then, started weaning and I set a quit date.  One morning before my quit date I slept till noon and when

I awoke I decided if I went all morning without smoking I might as well quit.  I was three days cold turkey and I

received lozenges in the mail.  Could not see putting the nicotine back in my body after getting it out.  so now I am

off smoking now for a week.  Is Copd, the same as emphysema?  thank you

Has anyone else seen this on the Bonnie Hunt show?  I am sure there are others with similar problems, but this man has insurance that will only cover a small part of a double lung transplant.  He was on the Bonnie Hunt show and what a wonderful family he has.  His wife has started a fund raiser which is also a raffle for a new car and condo in Florida.  Worth the $50 I think.  If not to help him, it's your way to win a car and condo.  Only 40,000 entrants.

I hope you join in to help!!

Hi,

As a volunteer from the American Lung Association, I would like to share with you an exciting new resource for patients with COPD, called Take Control of Your COPD: A Guide to Better Living. With grant underwriting, the video is now available free of charge on YouTube. 

The 12-chapter series covers the essentials of COPD management with an emphasis on what one might learn in a full pulmonary rehabilitation program.  The chapters and speakers are listed at the end of this email.  It was created by a collaboration of COPD organizations in California to teach patients ways to control COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in order to lead long, productive, and normal lives. It is aimed toward individuals with all severity levels and stages of progression and would be a valuable resource to any COPD patient, caregiver, or provider.

For webmasters/staff: We hope that you will consider linking your website to the videos as a resource for visitors to your site.

For patients and caregivers: We hope that you will take some time to view these new educational videos!

The videos can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/COPDGuide

Please email with any questions.

Thank you!

Emily

bayintern1_alac@alac.org

Hi,

As a volunteer from the American Lung Association, I would like to share with you an exciting new resource for patients with COPD, called Take Control of Your COPD: A Guide to Better Living. With grant underwriting, the video is now available free of charge on YouTube. 

The 12-chapter series covers the essentials of COPD management with an emphasis on what one might learn in a full pulmonary rehabilitation program.  The chapters and speakers are listed at the end of this email.  It was created by a collaboration of COPD organizations in California to teach patients ways to control COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in order to lead long, productive, and normal lives. It is aimed toward individuals with all severity levels and stages of progression and would be a valuable resource to any COPD patient, caregiver, or provider.

For webmasters/staff: We hope that you will consider linking your website to the videos as a resource for visitors to your site.

For patients and caregivers: We hope that you will take some time to view these new educational videos!

The videos can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/COPDGuide

Please email with any questions.

Thank you!

Emily

bayintern1_alac@alac.org