Welcome carenb53

[Deleted]

Hi, this is CarenB. I'm new on here, so I have a few questions.For one how long have you had COPD?

[John]

[John]

Caren b53 ; To annswer your ? I was dxed in 2006 but I'm sure I had copd @ least 5 years, before that except no one told me .

[sandy07]

Hi Caren. Welcome. I was diagnosed in 2003. I'm going to guess that you are asking because you'd like to know how long some of us have been around. We've been around a long time and plan to be around for a long time yet. The same day I was diagnosed I got on a plane with my daughter and flew to Vancouver. I had tickets to an event and wasn't going to miss it. The puffers the doc prescribed worked good and I walked the hilly downtown streets of Vancouver with no problems.

Don't quit doing what you like. As long as you are physically able just carry on. It's important to get lots of exercise. BTW...they say housework doesn't count. humph !! Housework can be very physical so I don't know why they say it doesn't count. I know you are worried how long you are going to live. Even healthy people don't have that answer so neither do we. COPD is different for everybody. Some get exacerbations and some don't. Most have the Chronic Bronchitis part and some don't. Some will eventually lose weight and some won't.

Hang around here and you'll get some good tips on how to live with this disease on a daily basis. Remember tho that what works for one may not work for all.

Hope to see you post again with more questions.

[rvtoni]

Welcome to the group Caren. I was diagnosed in 1988 and am sure I had Emphysema long before diagnosis. Still kicking, though a lot slower these days. If you do what it takes (exercise, use your meds correctly, and have a positive attitude) you can hang around a long time. I know from experience. And I plan to hang around a lot longer, too.

[John]

Tony ; I do like your thinking

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I know that I came to the right place to feel close to others with the disease. It always helps talking to others that are going through what I am or will be going through.I was dgnd May 19th of this year, but had the symptoms last Oct., so I know I had it back then. I knew I was sick and thought it to be lung cancer. At least with this I will live longer as long as I stop smoking. I find it very hard this time, as I started to smoke at the age of sixteen. I then smoked until appr. age of 30, then quit for 23 years. I think it has been in the last three to five years that I've slowly got back in to it. I have a son that lives with me that smokes which makes it harder for me to quit. I do know that the disease will progress much faster if I don't quit, and I'll do it somehow. Is there anyone out there that get dizzy a lot of the time,and is there something that my GP can give me that would help?

[sandy07]

Caren....I would get dizzy if I hadn't had a smoke for a while. Some drugs will make me a bit dizzy but COPD wouldn't make you dizzy....unless your oxygen is low. If you think it might be this then you might want to buy an oximeter....just to check. There's a link on COPD canada main website for a discount. Low blood sugar, blood pressure, heart rate...those might make you dizzy...or a problem with your ears....new glasses etc. If it's bothersome then better ask your doc.

[Deleted]

Yes my blood is loud and yes my oxygen is low also as my lips are a bit blueish. Had been at docs and he didn't think it was too bad I guess as he didn't say anything about it. He is a doctor totally against smoking.

[Deleted]

Sorry for the mistakes that I make as I'm on my fourth coffee and still haven't woke up.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys for the info and how do I respond to your messages, is it through my profile or threaded thing that I'm on now?

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Wecome Caren to what we hope will be another family for you. The folks here are pretty loving, caring and knowledgeable in many ways and they'll help in any way they can. They're good people.

I can't tell from your profile where you're from (even what country). We have folks from all over here and becasue meds and treatments etc can vary from country to country, thus the terms etc are different, it can be helpful to know where some is from should you wish to add that to your profile.

You were recently diagnosed. Does that mean you're perhaps in the mild stage or.... you've had it for a bit just not been "officially" diagnosed? Would you happen to know your lung function (I.e. FEV 1 number?)

[Deleted]

Hi Jackie,I live in Belleville, Ont.,Canada and all I know is my breathing test was at I think she said was 77%,whatever that means.I'm in Stage 2 of COPD. I have an appt. with my GP tomorrow so I'll ask him. I guess when he told me what I had it put me in a bit of shock at first and I didn't ask enough questions.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Hi Caren.... I saw your post.... just briefly for now before bed.

I could go into a bunch of things right now; but.... the bottom line... you're barely into Stage II (GOLD sets the universal standard) and you've got a LOT of good, long life left believe me! That's the important thing. But; you've gotta look after yourself. You shouldn't be feeling too much restriction at this point unless you're terribly out of shape and/or overweight. However; you'll also be more prone to infections, and colds etc will take a bit longer to get over.

There's a lot we could cover but as you said... you've an appointment tomorrow and; for now, I need to shut down.

So; please let us know how you make out tomorrow and we can chat a bit more thereafter if you want....

Good night and good luck......

[rvtoni]

Thank you, John. I could say the same right back at ya!

[sandy07]

Caren...if you're at 77% your oxygen level should be good. You shouldn't be getting blue from a lack of oxygen. If you're dizzy and blue I'd certainly get the doctor on it right away. Sounds like something else is going on. Not likely anything to do with COPD.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Caren.... didn't see the bluish in one of your posts. I hate to say it but..... have they ever checked your heart or anything?

[susanny]

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Hi Caren! Nice to meet, but sorry the circumstances. I just wanted to say I was dx'd in '06, too, like John, and my FEV1 was in the 70's like yours. I did not quit smoking however and the numbers dropped like flies for the next couple of years until I'm now in the 30's. Please, find a way to quit so that doesn't happen to you. I know it's one of the hardest things to do, quit a drug habit. There are a lot of things out there now to help you. Chantix works for many many, but can cause problems for some. But it's worth trying. In the end, it comes down to will power. You can do it and you can count on us here to encourage (without berating you). There are so many loving people here waiting to help you if you'll let us.

I have to agree with Blossom that you might want to have your heart checked if you haven't yet. That bluish color isn't something to ignore. What about your fingernails? Are you that color all the time, or just after moving around a lot? I don't know how things are run in Canada; do you have to have a referral to go see a cardiologist and have it checked out?

Glad that you joined up with us. Would love to know more about you yourself. Why not join us "At the Fence" sometime and jump into the conversation? We're a friendly bunch, that's for sure!

Sue

[aero63]

Hi and welcome Caren. Yes, plz get heart checked.

[Deleted]

All My New Friends, boy that sounds so good. I saw my GP today and found out my FV1 is 77%. I got my pneumonia shot today as my son has been around someone that has the flu and has symtoms of the flu and I didn't want to take the chance of getting sicker than I would.I mentioned about the bueish lips and dizzyness to him,he was very busy and hadn't had lunch yet,he wanted me to wait until 2:00 and have another breathing test done. Since I was there an hour before my appt. and had an hour untill I got in I didn't feel like waiting any longer. It was 1:50 then. I guess I should have stayed but had a bit of breathing problems a bit earlier and didn't want to wait for it to get to hot out, it was hot enough.I guess I'm going to have to make another appt. to get a refferal for a specialist for my heart. I also went to the health unit to get some nicorettes and join a program that I talk to a counselor every week. I'm sorry to hear about your plunge in fv1, since you didn't quit smoking Sue. I've had a half of a cigarette this morning and have been chewing nicorettes ever since. It helps not having the money for cigarettes.Well I've talked you're hears off and I'd better get off here, how do I get to the Fence that you are talking about, I'd like to get on when you all are on. When do you all get on in the morning or at night? Bye for now.

[susanny]

Yeah! Glad you were able to get free help in quitting. What a great help that is! Good luck and I've said a prayer to help.

the Fence: on the home page, scroll down to General heading and it's the first thread. Over the Back Fence-Daily Meet and Greet. It's not a chat room, we don't have one of those. It's just a thread where everyone meets throughout the day and says hi and tells what's happening for the day, or expresses a problem that they're dealing with. Great place for support and especially get to know everyone individually that comes there. On Fridays we tell jokes all day mainly. Taking a break from our daily woes, so to speak. You can post anything, of course, but we mainly laugh the day away. Feel free to post a joke yourself. The more the merrier!

I just noticed you asked up above how to answer posts and you are doing it perfectly right.

Too bad you didn't stay for the breathing test. Can't he just make the appt for you for the heart specialist? I don't see why you have to go in to see him to do that. I guess that's the difference in our countries. Although perhaps he wants to be sure there's nothing sudden happening to your lungs. When was your last PFT anyway? It doesn't fall all that fast that it would cause the blue tint. Unless you've been really sick and then you could expect things to go back to 'normal' usually. Especially as mild of COPD as you have.

Well, gotta go now. Talk later.....at the Fence!

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Caren; the area is called.... "Over the Back Fence - Daily Meet & Greet" There's a daily thread started (whoever logs on or opens it first) dates it. It's a place to mingle and share your day, get to know others etc., basically it's neighbours getting together for a coffee and chat if a person wants to. The only difference is that it's not "in the flesh" though sometimes it sure sounds like it is .

Here's the link to "today's thread" philns.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=fence&action=display&thread=7411

I hope to see you there!