Does anyone here have COPD? I was just diagnosed.
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31636)
United States
January 7, 2017 3:54pm CST
Well, kind of. The doctor is guessing since I can't afford the tests--breathing capacity, CBC and other blood tests, and a couple more I can't remember plus an X-ray. I don't have insurance. After 40 years of smoking (I'm 62 now) I quit this past October and my breathing has gotten so bad that I'm breathless just crossing the room. I have medicine the doc gave me and an inhaler but still I find I'm not able to do much. 
I'm looking for advice from people with COPD. How do you cope and does it get better? Is there anything special you do to make it easier to breathe and what medicine do you take that I might research and possibly ask my doctor about?
I'm looking for advice from people with COPD. How do you cope and does it get better? Is there anything special you do to make it easier to breathe and what medicine do you take that I might research and possibly ask my doctor about?8 people like this
7 responses
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Jan 17
Doesn't it seem that more people are being diagnosed with COPD lately? Is it b/c of pollution that even those not smoking are diagnosed too?
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
7 Jan 17
That could very well be true. Pollution doesn't stay in one place and if you've ever seen pictures of the pollution in China it would certainly help your theory about pollution contributing to COPD. I'm sure that a lot of it goes into the atmosphere and travels to other countries. If you've never seen the extent of China's pollution, go to I don't see why people criticize the US so much when we have cut down on pollution drastically and they don't criticize China.
Thirty-three unbelievable photographs that show just how devastating pollution in China has become.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
8 Jan 17
There are many countries that look after their people better than mine does. Insurance became a big industry and rather than making simple changes like allowing competition across state lines (would have lowered prices further and allowed more people to be covered) the government practically destroyed medical insurance. Part of the problem is this: when I was a child insurance was for big things like hospitalization and everything else came out of pocket. Doctors charged what their patients could afford for the most part. Now people want insurance to cover every little thing right down to hair transplants so prices have gone up. That's just one reason but a big one.
I'm hoping this mess will be sorted out soon. Millions lost their insurance due to the new laws and can't afford to replace their policies. For the money spent, we could have let everyone keep their insurance, paid lifetime premiums for those who didn't have insurance, and still had money left over!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326431)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jan 17
@dragon54u Governments and bureaucrats can really make a mess of things sometimes.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
10 Jan 17
@dragon54u I like the way you explained it, and the audacity to call it the affordable care act just slays me.
2 people like this
@marguicha (216077)
• Chile
8 Apr 17
I have emphysema from smoking many decades. Fortunatly it is not a big one. But I stopped smoking almost a decade ago and I am not going to start again.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (216077)
• Chile
8 Apr 17
@dragon54u Fortunatly, in my country there is a basic health care for the people who cannot afford a big insurance. It is a wonder that big countries seems to have worse health care than smaller countries.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Jan 17
About two months ago I was looking for something like that illness and found that they have support Groups.
My Dad had the typical "Miners Disease" and he was okay with blood pressure and water tablets. But I suppose that not everyone is the same. He used to get breathless a bit but he had an inhaler for that. He had to give up work too.
Sorry I can´t be of more help than that I would not want to give you the wrong information.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
7 Jan 17
Thank you for caring enough to respond. I didn't know there were support groups. I don't usually go in for that kind of thing but this is so frustrating and I can't seem to deal well with it.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48523)
• Canada
7 Jan 17
My best friend had COPD, but she passed away a number of years ago.
She really suffered when she couldn't catch her breath, it used to make me feel so sorry for her.
I hope that this isn't what you have and that maybe as time passes your lungs will clear now that you're no longer smoking.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
9 Jan 17
My mom had COPD and from what I understand it does not get better but you can stop if from getting worse. That's really all I know.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
9 Jan 17
Thanks. I'm sure that since I quit smoking I probably kept it from getting worse.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326431)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jan 17
I'm glad Gillian Carter has responded as I know she suffers from the same disorder. I do hope you are able to get some help somewhere.
