COPD360social welcomes new member kathyapetersen who joins 59,276 current members of our community. Weโ€™re glad you're here!

mankeegna55

mankeegna55answered the question Itโ€™s me again. Update from my PCP. So discouraging.

Yes this is good news. Quite a switch from your first pc assesment. I know the feeling. A year ago a scan purportedly showed mild emphysema. I did a battery of tests w a real pulmonologidst...they were normal. A second ct scan in February....no …
Caroline West Virginia State CaptainKristen Szymonik, BS, RRT, AE-C (Assistant Director of Education)brydyand 6 others also answered the question Caroline West Virginia State Captainand 8 others also answered the question

10 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy Saturday! Wake up with a smile on your face, with a positive outlook on life! ๐Ÿ˜€ Enjoy the simple things...

15 hours ago

brydy

brydyanswered the question Going to events

it can be hard or it can be a way to flip the narrative, an opportunity. when we become faced with a challenge to our health, it can set us up to evaluate our lifestyle, maybe that means learning new ways of eating that strengthen our bodies, getting …
RedPower also answered the question RedPower also answered the question

17 hours ago

RedPower

RedPowerasked the question: Going to events

Emphysematous changes and early background COPD on my CT. Lung function testing in a couple of weeks. I am doing everything I can to slow progression - daily exercise, good eating, vaccinations etc I play 8 ball pool and attend our National event …

20 hours ago

Bradley J

Bradley J

as usual seems struggling - no Drts norses seem to have an effective answer?

20 hours ago

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota answered the question Low dose of prednisone for maintenance?

My pulmonologist does not like me on pred less really need it At this stage game don't see what its going to hurt doing a maintenance There are alot side affects from steriods.
muddleageddas23BlairT also answered the question muddleagedand 2 others also answered the question

21 hours ago

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota answered the question Dry lips and nose

I have used Petroleum jelly for many yrs. I used to have sever eczema. I use it only for my skin. I do not put it in my nose.
muddleagedJonnie Korinko (COPDF Manager of Public and Professional Education)JeanO53and 2 others also answered the question muddleagedand 4 others also answered the question

21 hours ago

Kailuabreathing

Kailuabreathing

just got a new inhaler Breztri 2 puffs a day so far it's kind of magical

'

23 hours ago

dezherm

dezherm

I saw a claim that the Inogen One G5 and Caire Freestyle Comfort have new advanced sensing and are approved for 24/7 use. Is this true, and if so what experience have your parents had with them?

1 day ago

Tara Shedor, COPDF Communications

Tara Shedor, COPDF Communications created the event OxyTalk

Join us for our next oxygen community virtual coffee hour! Please feel free to send any questions ahead of time to oxygen360@copdfoundation.org, or just stop by to enjoy some time together! Click the following link to register: https://copdf.co/oxy-talk

1 day ago

Tara Shedor, COPDF Communications

Tara Shedor, COPDF Communications created the event BronchAndNTM360 Coffee Break

Join our group for those in the bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease communities! Click the following link to register here: https://copdf.co/Bronch-NTM-support

1 day ago

Miss Piggy

Miss Piggy

I'm actually terrified of dieing from COPD. I found out last year and I also found out that I was  Gerd stomach and coeliac at the same time I knew I had IBS insomnia anxiety but I am still in shock so I stopped smoking and I couldn't tolerate the gum and patches so cold turkey for me. I have got so overwhelmed with anxiety and paranoia I stopped taking pregablin for back pain because I felt like they were affecting my breathing and giving me shortness of breath. GP said that they don't do that but I know how it felt now all my nerves are standing out frazzled I thought I had neuropathy but it didn't come back in my blood. The GP said that to stop the electric shock feeling in my chest 20plus times a day I must go back to the pregablin so I started taking a 25mg again but I know it's having an effect on my breathing my choice is no quality of life and in a relentless panic or take them and die really soon while I'm still in an uncontrollable panic.im completely paranoid about dieing. What makes it worse is I'm leaving my 13year old son who has ADHD and he's autistic behind with no money no education and nothing much but a rented flat. He can't even tie his own shoes or get washed and dressed by himself I have to do his hair and everything. I'm so scared for him as well.

1 day ago

JeanO53

JeanO53Happy Fluffy Friday from the Grant Park Cat!!
I saw her this morning hanging out around the bird feeder and she posed very nicely.
The  story is she's lived in the park for years.  No one know where she came from and no one has given her a name.
She's in very good shape for an outdoor cat, so I imagine some of the neighbors surrounding the park may be feeding her.

1 day ago

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota $2.6M grant aims at biosensor for sweat that can predict COPD flaresScientists developing a wearable devise that could allow earlier treatment!!
https://copdnewstoday.com/news/grant-aims-sweat-biosensor-predicts-copd-flare-ups/?utm_source=COPD&utm_campaign=d065b243ff-Email_ENL_US_COPD&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_23d08524e9-d065b243ff-74460006

$2.6M grant aims at sweat biosensor that predicts COPD flare-ups

The grant supports a U.S. research project into a wearable biosensor that analyzes various molecules in sweat to predict COPD flare-ups.

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainWant to know how to make this dish? Stroll on over to my Eating Well cooking blog to find out how...

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captaincommented onEating Well: From Debbie Bโ€™s Kitchen to Yours

Here's a great recipe to serve on Cinco de Mayo! โšซ๏ธBLACK BEANS AND RICEโšซ๏ธServe this as a side dish, or use it as a filling for burritos!1 tbsp. olive oil1/2 cup finely chopped onion 2 tsp. minced garlic1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice3 cups...

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

Will someone PLEASE let the cat out of the bag?!!
Happy Fluffy Friday from the one and only Johnny Rocket! ๐Ÿš€ 

1 day ago

Caroline West Virginia State Captain

Caroline West Virginia State Captainanswered the question Spirometry Results 31M

I have GERD and a hiatal hernia. I take the generic Prevacid in the morning and a probiotic at night.
Kandy State Captain of South Dakota colorado3Kristen Szymonik, BS, RRT, AE-C (Assistant Director of Education) also answered the question Kandy State Captain of South Dakota and 2 others also answered the question

1 day ago

colorado3

colorado3asked the question: Spirometry Results 31M

Due to wheezing, coughing, fatigue and related breathing issues I had a spirometry test and CT scan done in 2021. I was 31 with a history of asthma/GERD but otherwise active and healthy with no history of smoking. The tests came back as follows: Pre …

2 days ago

The COPD Foundation

The COPD Foundationasked the question: What questions do you have about financial wellness when living with chronic illness?

What would you like to know when it comes to financial planning? Finances are a large part of our lives. Planning and structuring our finances can be difficult when living with chronic illness. This May and June, we are partnering with financial …

2 days ago

baileymccrary

baileymccrary

Hello everyone! Two of our COPD Foundation Captains, Goldia Brown and Elizabeth Berger, and our own Dr. David Mannino were featured in a recent AARP article titled "How to Be a Caregiver for Someone with COPD." All three of our network members shared how COPD caregivers can help their loved ones live better, longer lives, and Goldia and Liz shared valuable insights about their experiences serving as a caregiver to their loved ones. You can read the article here: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2024/copd-care-plan.html

Amazing work, Goldia, Liz, and Dr. Mannino! Way to represent our community and spread important knowledge to help others!

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captaincommented onEating Well: From Debbie Bโ€™s Kitchen to Yours

๐ŸŒฟTURNIP GREENS SALAD๐ŸŒฟOne 10-ounce bunch turnip greens5 ounces fresh baby spinach1 medium cucumber, halved and thinly sliced 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1 small red onion, thinly sliced 1/3 cup crumbled feta...

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy Thankful Thursday!
What am I thankful for?
I am extremely thankful for this website. Not only is it informative, it is also interesting, and filled with reasons to smile! 
What are you thankful for? ๐Ÿ˜Š

2 days ago

Flower girl

Flower girl

Hello. I am new here. I have COPD and thatโ€™s all I know. I donโ€™t know what stage or anything. I am just getting over a flare up and decided Iโ€™d like to hear about how other people live with this. It seems Iโ€™m always tired and wore out or sick and Iโ€™m tired of telling my friends and family this and Iโ€™m sure theyโ€™re starting to get tired of hearing it. Thank you for listening. 

2 days ago

Julia33

Julia33answered the question Help with pft

First of all: Thank you all for the great response! I did a methacoline provoation test which my pulmologist said it would indicate asthma. He recommended to try Symbicort inhaler and see if my symptoms get better. I hope I'll seek answers one day...
TonicDkBill Clark - Community ManagerDebbieB.-Connecticut State Captainand 1 other also answered the question TonicDkand 3 others also answered the question

2 days ago

brydy

brydyanswered the question Flare up frequency.

thanks Mike! Thats really helpful to know that I as a patient am not the only one a bit confused as to determining whats happening day to day, week to week etc! I saw & read the Rome Proposal a while ago & was happy to read some more definitive …
Mike Hess, RRT (COPDF Senior Director of Public Outreach and Education)Professionally PatientJAH5001and 1 other also answered the question Mike Hess, RRT (COPDF Senior Director of Public Outreach and Education)and 3 others also answered the question

3 days ago

Julia33

Julia33asked the question: Help with pft

Hello everyone, I recently did a pft and compared it to the one I did about 1,5 years ago. The pft is still ok but there's a decline in fev1 and fvc. Is this beginning copd? I'm female 34 yo with 6 packyears and 1 year vaping quit 2 years ago. Thank …

3 days ago

GregorySAFS

GregorySAFS

Hi, my name is Greg, I'm from Sarnia Canada. This is my first post, I thought I'd reach out to you Donna. I'm not sure how far your disease has progressed, I'm sorry to hear that you feel fear. I'm sure we all have felt that way at one time or another. I'm joined up with a group, we exercise together for an hour twice a week and I see many who can't get by without oxygen supplementation. My Oxygen saturation levels drop to the 84 percent needed to qualify for free oxygen in Canada but most of the time my levels are too high to get it. I just wanted to reach out and recommend getting the flu vaccine regularly. I've started getting the shot the last few years because of the respiratory illnesses I have. My main one being severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS). It's a relatively new term and it can be quite scary as well, I also have COPD and coronary heart occlusions, all of which make it hard to function. But enough about my comorbidities. I hope you have a good respirologist to prescribe a good bronchodilator. I'm using symbicort as a main solution and it works well for me but your situation may be different. I wanted to recommend that you get the flu vaccine regularly because it can help prevent getting the flu as I found out last year. I was so grateful to have gotten the vaccine because I did contract the flu and as though the virus was still inside me even after 3 weeks (you know that awful flu taste if you cough up some phloem), BUT, I only had the actual flu symptoms for 2 days (fever, etc.). I was amazed. Please get the shot when it's available. One last thing to prevent exacerbated breathing issues. Take care.

3 days ago

Medical Advice

It is not our intention to serve as a substitute for medical advice and any content posted should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We make every effort to support our members, our medical professionals cannot and will not provide a diagnosis or suggest a specific medication; those decisions should be left to your personal medical team. While we encourage individuals to share their personal experiences with COPD, please consult a physician before making changes to your own COPD management plan.