I am new here.

[Darcy]

everyone!

I have numerous health problems but the worsening COPD bothers the most, but that might change after my echocaridogram in a couple of weeks.

I also suffer from osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, sleep apnea, arthritis, seizure disorder, depression and mild psychosis. Awaiting hernia surgery as well.

I sure feel a lot older than 52!

I'm very glad I found these forums and hope to be around for a while.

[barb7330]

Ripose and welcome. Lots of knowledgeable people here., that are here to help you. When you feel comfortable jump in anywhere.

[Deborah]

Welcome! Like Barb said, feel free to jump in. You might want to visit the Fence,where folks post daily activities, thoughts, and so on. Other sections are really good too and you can find an array of topics that have been discussed.

Sorry for the reason that brought you here but welcome!

Deborah

[peter]

Welcome ripose, My name is Peter and on behave of copd in Canada. I want to extend to you a warm welcome . You will find a lot of information here. So look around and when your ready please join us @ the fence.

[susanny]

to the Forum, Ripose! So glad to have you join in with us. There's tons of information to be found here, just spend some time looking through the various threads. I'm sure you'll find some thing on almost every diagnosis you have, not all, but most. If you have any follow up questions just post and someone will answer. In fact if you have ANY questions, just post them. We seem to be pretty good at getting back to someone within 24 hrs or less. I found this forum while looking up COPD and have stuck with it ever since, so it feels like home to me. Lovely people who like to fool around as well as live seriously with this disease...you know the saying: " Laughter is the best medicine". So true. On Fridays we tell jokes all day and call it Funny Friday.

You're right about feeling older than your age. I remember when I felt younger than my age and it wasn't that long ago. Thinks happen to make other things change. We'll try to help you get back some of that youthful part of your life. Come to think of it, my brother just turned 53 and he has COPD and a list of other things. He's on SS Disability for severe arthritis for the past 3 years and we all know that's permanent. Arthritis doesn't go away. Of course you know it, you have it too. I think depression, if it is new with disease, comes from being sick and for you I would have to wonder if that isn't true. You must have been much younger for these illnesses to have started showing up and that's a crusher for a 'young' man. I was in my early 30's when first got ill and I know depression followed shortly. You lose your job, your co-workers, your friends, your money, heck, your life as you knew it. I hope that coming here will cheer you up and give you help with the depression.

Well, talk again and like everyone has said, come by the Fence and join us daily. You can type in when you feel you're ready.

Sue

[John]

[Darcy]

Thank you for the warm welcome all!

I'm sure I will like it here.