Lung Blog

I have all the tools to quit smoking; newsletters, publications, family members and drug store products, yet I still find myself having a horrible time quitting. I have tried so many times, but go back. You would think that a 57 year-old man who was diagnosed 6 years with COPD would be crazy to continue smoking. My own daughter told me that if I didn't want to quit for myself at least quit for her and my granddaughter. Am I completely hopeless?

Hi Wesley Derey: Thank you for sharing regarding your smoking habits. Two years ago, I needed a total hip replacement and the doctor shared with me that he was not going to perform the operation because of my breathing problems.
I have COPD/Emphysema. He called my family physician from the hospital and both doctors put me on certain kinds of medicine to bring back my breathing back to normal. What a horrible experience!! I thought here I am 53 years of age and I am going through this. The doctor informed me that I was ready for my corpse and would not perform the operation unless I stopped smoking. I was in so much pain with not getting the operation and breathing. Myself and a friend joined a smoking cessation group at a Hospital. I wanted to quit but I just didn't know how, I didn't have the right tools to stop. Myself and my friend went on an intake first at the hospital and to our surprise we learned that they gave out the patches for free if we kept up with the program within the hospital, free examination, and so much more. Then came the right tools.......the doctor, the patches, the group, cessation class, what to do when I needed a smoke (candy, fruit, etc.). It's been two years since we stopped smoking and I got my total hip replacement. I wish I knew about this program a long time ago. I feel so much better and you will too. Take care and Good Luck

I have COPD. My wife and I like to travel. For the past 3 years I could do that without portable oxygen. NOW I have to use portable oxygen to get around.I use the equipment called "HELIOS" and it's fine for abot 8 hours.I have a supply tank in garage thats filled monthly. Does your/our organization have any program in place to get "oxygen filling stations" in various hospitals around the (US) country? If not this would be a program that I would volunteer to help with now that I have retired from work.......

I have chronic Bronchitis with asthma. My problem is more with the bronchitis. My throat is constantly irritated (mainly because I constantly keep trying to CLEAR MY THROAT OF MUCUS. I am trying to find effective ways to sooth my throat and get rid of the excess phlem created. thanks, LLL

I am writing to tell ya'll that I just found out I have emphysema. I don't know how bad it is yet, but Shane and I quit smoking and put no smoking signs up. I have bad chest pains and shortness of breath, thats why I asked my Dr. to give me a breathing test. And the results came back that I have emphysema. I have some meds to help me breath. I noticed my chest bones were bowing out, so I did some research and found it's called a barrel-shaped chest from the emphysema. I noticed it before I found out I have lung diesease, and thought it was strange. Yes, most ppl are older before they develop it. In fact, not only am I young, but I have only smoked for 5 years. I guess emphysema doesn't care how old you are or how long you have smoked. There is another reason ppl get emphysema. Its called an alpha gene that is carried through your family that makes your lungs weak. Some ppl develop emphysema without ever smoking a ciggarette in their life. My grandfather has emphysema. Its bazzar how I developed it so young with such a short smoking history. I wouldn't be surprised if that alpha gene is in my family and in combination with smoking caused me to develop lung diesease at such an early age. Its kinda messed up that this is what it took to make me put those ciggarettes down, but I won't be one of those with an oxygen tank attached to me with a ciggarette in my hand. If you know someone who smokes, encourage them to stop! I am only 24 and have to endure daily pains and gasping for air! I am not as lucky as those who smoked for years and years without developing lung diesease, but believe me its not worth the risk!

I had bronchitis and pneumonia last fall and I'm still trying to get rid of the phlem in my throat. I've tried singulair without any results. I'm looking for suggestions. Thanks.

my husband, 40 year smoker (hadn't seen a doctor in 35 years) was hospitalized with severe pneumonia & they used terms like COPD and emphysema. He's been home from hospital for a month and was scheduled to see a lung specialist. He has told me that the pulmonologist's nurse said that he sounds pretty good now & that they probably don't need to see him. That the tests results are more accurate if they are done while they are still ill. so they have never called back and rescheduled the appt. Is this correct info? or is someone pulling my leg?

I have a constant cough with mucous...I cant' get rid of it and my throat swells shut without notice. Any idea of what this is? I've had scopes and they say they find nothing.

plz email me at mcmcnally@aol.com
i need a dr in NJ or Arizona..either one

Thanks!

So two weeks ago I received the shock of my life..."you have emphysema " I had pains in my chest ( from pleurisy ) Ibruprofen was not helping so my doc sent me for a ct scan. My doctor then proceeds to tell me "don't worry this was an incendental finding, you'll go for a lung function test and we can go from there. I am 45 years old, grant you I smoked however quit several years ago. I do not cough and walk typically 1-2 miles per day. Believe it or not since my diagnosis I feel short of breath when talikng on phone etc. ( physcosamatic ?? )
So here is the real disturbing part of this story. I have been so depressed, i read the horror of emphysema and now feel doomed. I feel like my lungs will just deteriate so much so I have nothing to look forward to other than aging before my time with an oxygen tube attached. I feel like giving up. Help ...I need to know there may be a better outlook. What can I do to try and make my future less bleak ???

I am hoping someone can advise me on this.
I just got out of the hospital after 2 days: I had chest tightness & shortness of breath off & on after walking too fast.
I have not smoked in almost 5 years, the doctors ruled out anything cardiac & think it's a lung issue, my internist gave me an inhaler & said that it might be the beginnings of a lung disease related to the smoking.
I can't find much helpful info online about problems that long after quitting; the different websites mention coughing which I have not been doing, also I have allergies & had a lung capacity test there where you breathe into a tube hooked up to a machine 4 months ago; they said I had normal lung capacity.
If someone could advise me as to whether it sounds like one of CPLD (I think the abbreviation is) also does it help if you haven't smoked in several years & you get this disease. I am very nervous about it as it sounds like its eventually downhill all the way with this.
Thank you for any help.

yeah i know how that can be i was also told i had emphysema with 3 holes in my lung. i have shortness of breath. and i am coughing again .. i hope it hasnt come back on me...

i constantly have to concentrate to breathe whenever my attention isn't focused on anything in particular. sometimes when i make an effort to breathe deep it either works or i hear a cracking sound i can only describe as annoying and scary, maybe it's a muscle spasm. my heart palpitates daily, but some have led me to believe it is just a muscle spasm. what the hell?

Well at 48 I have copd and emphysema and I have it as "serve" so I to have my good days and bad days i want to live another 30 years but at what cost I am on helios and my doctor would like me on oxygen all the time if i let him. I cant come to grips with the fact that no matter what I do I am doomed for death the same way as my mother, my sister both just past 44 years old, I guess I should be greatful I am 48 but I dont. I dont have antitryspin boy i sure was hoping that what was wrong with me but its not. Well depression comes from the fact that one NO one really seems to understand you are breathless, 2 NOT one of my kids are taking this serious as I am 56 days without smoking and I still have the want for a smoke. Ok here the problem there is not Happy pill out there, Its up to you to decide if this is your path or to fight for breath. I know smoking did this to me and my fight should be the tabacco industry but who will to fight this with me stop selling the damn things they are killing my kids ........ps I already am dead who's gonna save my kids
irene

I have recently been diagnosed with emphysema and have not been able to find out much about it. I also has quadruple bypass surgery a year ago, the COPD diagnosis came back-to-back with that, almost like a side-effect. I would like to talk with others who have COPD and find out how they cope with it. I walk and exercise, but have not been released to return to work. My Cardio has listed me as permanently disabled. Not too much encouragement for a 56 year old man.

I have COPD and have been on oxygen for 10 years and I am carrying a helios every where I go. I still do all my yard work around the house, just do it a lot slower than I used to. It's just something you have to get used to and you'll get along just fine. I quit smoking in 1989 and was dianosed witj COPD in 1997, so it will catch up with you. They have medicine for coughing up the flem, just ask your Dr. for it, he should prescribe it and if you get to feeling low he can prescribe some predisone to help pick you back up.

I am only 21 years old and I am terrified that I have emphysema, yes everyone tells me that I am crazy for thinking such things at a young age but anything is possible, I have been smoking about a pack for 6 or 7 years now, and over the last few months I have been finding it harder and harder to exhale, along with shortness in breathe, and difficulty even falling asleep at night due to shortness of breath, ect, I have not seen a doctor or been diagnosed with anything because I do not have health insurance at this point in time, however I have done so much research on everything COPD related, I am 99% positive I have it, I mean, what else could it POSSIBLY be?