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Post by sonnygirl on Aug 25, 2018 16:38:34 GMT -5
Hi.. my name is Sonny. I'm a 65 year old female in the united states who was diagnosed with stage 4 copd 2 weeks ago. I am scared and was trying to find people to talk with me about this disease. In time I hope to learn enough to help others but in the mean time I'll cyber hold your hand or offer a hug. Nice meeting all of you and thanks for allowing me to join.
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Post by joany on Aug 25, 2018 18:28:18 GMT -5
Welcome! Sonny -
There are plenty of contributions here from a wide range of people living with or related to COPD. We tend to be a bit unique with this disease i.e. no two are alike, but when you have a question we will let you know our experience. You are so new with the diagnosis I just don't want you to get discouraged. There's also lots of history from over the years. And if something you read is confusing (this happens a lot when you're googling so tiptoe through the world-wide-web) do ask - someone will have an answer or point you to a source.
Again - welcome!
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Post by gerald on Aug 25, 2018 19:09:20 GMT -5
Welcome Sonny.
I am glad you joined us. There is lots of information here and lots of people with stories to share. Everyones journey is different which is one of the unique issues with our disease. I hope we hear from you often
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Post by David on Aug 25, 2018 20:57:45 GMT -5
Welcome Sonny,
My name is David and on behave of COPD in Canada & the World I want to extend to you a warm welcome.
You will find a lot of information here .
So look around and when you are ready please join us back at the fence".
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Post by jim on Aug 26, 2018 0:20:56 GMT -5
Hi Sonny, nice to meet you.
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Post by lavishgail on Aug 26, 2018 0:28:26 GMT -5
Sonny, I'm very happy to meet you. And we are all happy you're here. Any questions just ask, always one of us can help. Please come meet us one up from here for a cuppa coffee, or tea, and tell us about you! You can tell us about you're day anything you want. I'm Gail good to hear from you.
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Post by John on Aug 26, 2018 6:33:15 GMT -5
Welcome Sonny . 🌹
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Post by gnott on Aug 26, 2018 23:52:51 GMT -5
Welcome.
Don't worry about being scarred, it will pass. You at least have been diagnosis and have a treatment plan.
Everyone here has been in exactly the same situation.
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Post by jarca on Aug 27, 2018 19:55:02 GMT -5
Welcome to the board Sonnygirl! I'm so glad you found your way here! I was diagnosed in 2010 and I'll never forget the fear I had when I was told! I thought it was a death sentence. My youngest daughter was with me when I found out & she got so scared & upset that I had to calm her down. I told her "I may have COPD but I am not any sicker today than I was yesterday before I was told. Now that I know I can find out how to take care of myself, so I'm actually better off knowing." Telling my daughter that, I heard it myself & it actually helped me get over some of the fear; as I wasn't any worse than the day before i 'knew'.----8 years later I'm still here. My 02 has increased, my body has slowed, I decide what is important to spend my time on & what isn't. Of course that doesn't mean I don't have 'down days' that I can get sad, mad, frustrated & go into the 'why me's", but that is where having this board is so wonderful; there are others that know & understand how I feel & what i'm going thru.....some not as far along in the disease & some further along in the disease; but I'm not alone with it. BTW; when I 1st got told, I went into the internet & started looking up things like 'lifespan with COPD' & many of the negative sides of it. Beware of internet!!!! It can scare you to death! The internet has a wealth of information out there, but it also has a lot of crap out there . As with anything, some people move faster, some slower, some are on 02 from the beginning (i was) some never seem to need 02. we are all here for each other, but we are not 'medical professionals' so work with your Dr. & find out what you can do to keep yourself as healthy as you can.
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Post by gnott on Aug 27, 2018 21:30:43 GMT -5
That is the perfect expression.
"I wasn't any worse than the day before i 'knew'. "
[Annoyed I didn't think of that, sums it up so well. Consider it stolen.]
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Post by joany on Aug 28, 2018 7:58:58 GMT -5
Brings back memories of "I Just Found Out Day." I was told via "receptionist" from a phone call. I don't recommend that method to anyone. It took two weeks after the phone call and after I checked my pulse that I called the Dr's office to find out what to do next. I guess after two weeks I must have decided I had a few more days left - luckily I didn't give my dog away. (I went to the Dr initially because I kept coughing. I just wanted a strong cough medicine.)
As a certified COPDer, I accept that I absolutely need interaction since I'm a very, very private person aka independent to a fault. It takes work, effort on my part to mingle. If I hadn't been hospitalized several times since, my family still wouldn't know!
I mention my experience in hopes it has some affect on those who recently joined or are the non-joiners who pass through regularly. If you haven't, do come join us. It's most helpful for people like me.
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Post by sonnygirl on Aug 28, 2018 11:10:52 GMT -5
I haven't the proper words to say how all of your comments have made me feel. Thank You seems so little but its all I have. My angels and guides must have been working over time to push me to keep searching till I found this wonderful site. I plan to fight this will every cell in my body I have so much life yet to live. My doctor was the first to scare me- she walks in and tells me my numbers and says "I'm sorry", then says shes called in my prescriptions and to take them as directed in the instruction sheet. It took me a minute to get out of the chair and go to the front desk. As scared as I was, I was equally as angry.. I have an appointment with a new GP in sept. Its like a meet and greet to see how we get along and if he'd be a better fit. He's younger and hasn't been in practice long but maybe that'll be to my advantage. I need to go to my profile and add my location as I see there are others in the US also. I'm in North Carolina.
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Post by David on Aug 28, 2018 11:18:29 GMT -5
Sonny, I have a brother who lives in North Carolina, near Asheville. He is younger than me. He has prostate cancer that went into his bones so there is no cure.
I have had emphysema for 35 years so you can still have a long life. Exercise and eat well and find the right medicine for you.
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Post by gnott on Aug 28, 2018 12:18:04 GMT -5
Sunnygirl Don't know your situation - insurance, local resources, etc. But you mentioned just a GP. You absolutely need, if possible, to add a pulmonologist , a cardiologist, as well as a GP to your combat team as soon as you can. Ha, as for your first experience I can truly understand. I also had coughing fits (Smokers Hack) that was getting worse. Knew I had to quit smoking, just wanted a better cough medication. Got the X-ray, C-scan, ... whatever. Went back 4 or 5 weeks later for the results - was told I had chronic bronchitis, handed an inhaler, asked to use as directed, and come back in 6 months? Of course all I knew about chronic bronchitis. (Sarcastic) It was something smokers got just before emphysema and lung cancer. I was going to die soon, just no clue how soon. (The inhaler helped me when I was SoB, but did nothing for my cough. Ha) Now I'm going to say something that is probably really going to really shock you (really, ha) ->I lucked out and had a heart attack about a month later. (Don't panic, doesn't mean it is going to happen to you.) First, lucky because I came under the attention of a whole staff. Got a complete battery of tests, was more accurately diagnosis and thus got started on a treatment plan. Second, got sent to rehab - Got the opportunity to make some serious changes to my lifestyle. Things I never thought of.while I was feeling sorry for myself and trying to quit smoking. (My diet stunk. My exercise was ... well NOT. And so on.) That was 14 years ago. I ain't running any Marathons, chopping down trees, or ten-mile hikes. But I am playing with my grandkids and making my kids life miserable, (Hey! Payback is fair right?) Yelling at kids to get off my lawn, and generally having fun as I get senile.
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Post by Suzanne (Suz) on Aug 29, 2018 8:34:02 GMT -5
Welcome Sonny - you did get an overwhelming welcome with lots to read about and great suggestions. We are here for you and like someone mentioned, we are not doctors but have experienced a thing or two that could be helpful to hear - however, do get approval from whoever is following you. I believe in oils myself and chinese herbs - they have helped me although doctors won't talk to me about those . Good luck!!
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