Downgraded from Moderate to Mild COPD

[stoker55]

Here I had been worrying about the results of my breathing tests; chest X-ray and MRI and there was no reason to.  My pulmonary specialist told me that I went up 10 points which surprised him too as most people he sees do not move up the scale but down. I looked at my chest X-ray with him and could see that the mass in the right lung was way smaller and the bottoms of my lungs weren't as scrunched up as before. I attribute it to positive attitude, exercise; proper breathing, trying to eat right (), losing weight, health supplements, physio and massage therapy. I am trying this new thing where they release your diaphragm so it doesn't stay stuck. Here it link that will explain it better than I can: www.massagetherapycanada.com/content/view/2395/132/

I know that I will never lose this disease but I am truly trying to learn to live with it and not let it dominate my life and keep me from living. Early diagnosis is so important. I spent a year getting my head wrapped around what I had done to myself and decided that I can't fix the damage but I can try to keep it from getting worse. I am fortunate that I do not get the flu often as so many folk do. I don't get the flu shot because when I have I end up in the hospital and that was even before my diagnosis for COPD. I have had my pneumonia shot and shingles though. I understand that there is a newer pneumonia shot out and I will speak with my regular doctor about this when I see him next. It has really been a struggle to get my breathing under control as I suffer from chronic neck pain due to a car accident years ago. Another MRI coming in September for that. It is something that I have to consciously think about everyday so that I don't breath shallow which in turn contributes to my migraine headaches and chronic neck pain. It is truly amazing how everything connects to each other in the body. Trying to work on my reaction to stress is another whole separate battle. Don't know if I will ever win the war there. Just thought I would share these happy thoughts with you all.

[mary57]

First off let me congratulate you on the positive results of all your hard work. It shows in the numbers, and while yes they don't usually go up, it does happen.

In my case my numbers went up from severe to moderate after I left work, and stopped getting colds/bronchitis/flus numerous times in the school year. They went up again after I lost 80 lbs, unfortunately I have gained a lot of that weight back. I will have to work on that again and hope for keeping my numbers steady.

Keep up the good work, and celebrate your success.

[David]

That is great news Stoker55. I agree it is best to get an early diagnosis so you can be conscious of the problem and start working on it.

[judi]

I tried the technique for releasing diaphragm. Wow, that really feels good and it helped my breathing even though I probably didn't do a very good job of doing it. Kind of made me a little sick but I am going to continue trying to get it right. Thanks for sharing.

[jim]

That's great news Stoker, keep up the good work and thanks for sharing the diaphragm information. thumbsupde1

[hugahusky]

Great news Stoker! thumbsupde1  You have a right to be very proud of yourself. Keep up the good work.

[stoker55]

Thanks everyone. Yes Judi it can make you a little ill and nauseous but it is so worth it and after a while it doesn't do that anymore.

[susan]

Thank you so very much stoker55. This could be life changing information. I really have to try this.

I lost 15 pounds when I was in the hospital but, I found it again when I got home. It was hiding in that box of ice cream in the freezer.

[gerald]

Great news.

Well done on the efforts and the attitude.