Hello Everyone

[Deleted]

My name is Casey. I am a 52 year old female American Veteran.
I found out I have this COPD Emphysema last April 1st.
I quit smoking in March, the first day of spring after 38 years of puffing away. I wanted to smoke forever, it had me totally hooked.
I quit so I could give my husband a kidney, you can't smoke if you want to be a Donner.
Guess my body couldn't handle not having the smoke and almost did me in. I've been in ICU 4 times since then and two times at the Emergency.
It has not been fun, I have been taking prednizone for almost 9 months now along with a bunch of other inhalers and pills.
And my husband still needs a kidney. Poor guy, I always took care of him and now we both need a little extra help... and that is hard to come by.
See, ya try to do the right thing and it back fires almost every time, .
Glad I found this site, had a friend suggest it to me. Thanks friend, I like what I see and hope I can get some help as well as give others help too.

[John]

Welcome to our on line family Casey !

[andyf]

Welcome Casey, a great bunch of friends here.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Hi Casey...

It's lovely to have you join us! Sounds like you've been through the mill and back! A few times! And though I'm not American, congratulations and thank you for protecting your country (and in some ways... ours as well)

You must have been diagnosed "after" the kidney Tx possibilities?

As for Pred..... a nasty but good med. There's several members here that I can think of off the top of my head that have been, or are, on long time usage and gone or going through the taper process. I'll mention it at the fence and they can pop over to the COPD area where you posted about it..
I'm confident they can share some insight and info.

Do you happen to know what your lung function is by any chance?

Anyway; a heck of a way to meet but I'm glad we did. And; I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.! You'll find a lot of help and support here I assure you.

My name's Jackie aka Blossom.... Welcome to your new family!

[sandy07]

Welcome to the group. It's great to be able to share our problems and worries. COPD affects our lives in so many ways. Being able to talk about them lessens the load some how. Sorry you had such a hard time. Hope that is all in the past and you can get better now.

[susanny]

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Hi Casey, it is so good to welcome you to our home, and I want to thank you first for serving our country. Where were you stationed?

What a wonderful thing to want to do for your husband, and I am so sorry you aren't able to. It must have crushed you, both of you. Had you already found out if you were a match? There must have been a reason, perhaps it was to find out how ill you were and to save your life. And what a rough time of it you've been having. Seems like sometimes when it rains it just pours. I hope you will feel comfortable here and feel like this can be your home away from home, actually, you can get here right from home, so we can be your second home, period. We're a great bunch, if I do say so myself. I love it here and was never so grateful as I am now to have found it. It's saved my mental life more than once.

I am one of the ones who have been on long-term pred. and will go over to your question and see what you had to ask. Hopefully I can give you some answers or point you to some information.

Good to see you, hope you keep coming back. Stop over at the Fence and join us for a cup of coffee (hot chocolate in my case.)

Sue

[aero63]

Welcome casey, and glad that you joined.

[mary57]

Welcome Casey, what an experience you and your hubby have had. So glad you found us, we are a friendly, caring group that shares empathy knowledge and a lot of practial experience. Looking forward to meeting you at the fence.