From the article: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often a misunderstood topic among your family members and peers? Share what you think they should know about your disease and how you go about explaining it to them. Share Your Story
I Love My Grandkids
- I can't do what I'd like with my grandkids, but when I am feeling good, and ask for them, I wish my kids would try to bring them then. It seems they are always busy when I'm up to having them. I think/feel like they don't like coming over any more. When I'm sick and they come over, we play board games which they love to beat me at. LOL! If I'm up to doing more, they are always busy. I know they have their own lives and are VERY busy, but even a phone call, or am email from the older ones make my day. If the parents would encourage them to call,write, or come over, it would be a blessing to me. They are my heart. They give great healing hugs. I also wish they would let my grandkids know how active I used to be before I got COPD. I tell them stories, but the parents need to reinforce them.
- —Guest Geda
Life`s a Bitch--Ain`t It?
- I just find the whole business degrading and humiliating - not least because I just want to live my life as I once did - but now I can`t and that hurts more than any desease! Just treat me and others with this disease as you always did! If you don`t - you become part of the problem - not the solution! It is better to have loved and lost - than to never have loved at all! I loved life! Now life is just hard work! Trying to act normal, walk normal, breathe normal and talk normally! - has become a laborious task - a task that weighs heavy every day! The first thought in the morning - is the last breath at night! It can only get harder! So please be patient with the patient - because his patience is wearing thin!!!
- —Guest william Ford
I Have Caused This
- No one wants to have a breathing problem. I am of the accepted smoking generation and may I say I smoked like a steamship. I did this for 40 years. No wonder my poor lungs look like swiss cheese. I do kick myself on a regular basis for doing this to me but hey, it is done. Now I read articles about COPD and I joined the YMCA to at least try to stay as fit as I can and have found some super friends who have problems of their own. I don't like not breathing well but I will not give up living and I will push myself as hard as I can to enjoy my wonderful grandkids and my life. Every day is a gift from God. I am blessed
- —Guest Linda
All Treatments are Ineffective
- This response is to medical doctors & researchers because all the understanding in the world will not help my lungs or make my breathing easier. The pulmonologists I've seen are not only more into their other specialty (sleep disorders), but haven't a clue how to help ou breath beyond rx'ing inhalers that do not work. Hey Docs - we don't deserve to be ignored like this...
- —Guest Judith
Please Realize I Need to Breathe Harder
- I have the problem of telling individuals why I have trouble going up stairs of a hill, I have no problem coming down stairs of a hill. I wish I could explain it better. Why is this so, or am I the only one.
- —Guest Ervin
No One Deserves This Disease
- I have smoked for about 40 years and so has my husband. He has C.O.P.D., I do not. It is the hardest thing to see him fight for breath, so please be kind to all that have this disease. If we could all go back and not smoke we would!
- —Guest vickie
Depression
- I would like to tell friends & family to please be patient with me & understand that I have mood swings & bouts of depression. I am not necessarily feeling sorry for myself--this is part of the disease. I did not contract this disease to inconvenience you. I wish I could do the things I once did, but I can't & you need to understand this.
- —Guest Dale Doyle
COPD and Loneliness
- I wish people would understand that just because I have COPD and have physical limitations, don't count me out. Please keep me involved. Not being invited to activities and gatherings because you think it would be too hard on me hurts. Let me decide if I can try. I want to stay as active as possible, I just need to make adjustments/preparations ahead of time. Please, COPD causes you to become a shut in, don't help it.
- —Guest Jean
Try to Understand My Shortness Of Breath
- Ditto TO the previous two posts. I don't want sympathy, but I want others to try and understand. Though I may look fine (for now), I get terribly short of breath for unseen reasons. Minimal effort can cause it. When I'm experiencing SOB, don't ask me to talk, for getting my breathe is all I'm concerned with. Understand I will/can only nod or shake my head.
- —FJones3
Doing Everything I Can
- I want my friends and family members to know that I am doing everything I can to stick around. I have quit smoking for good, started a good diet and exercise program, and follow the treatment plan that my doctor has given me. Treatment, as I understand, will help me live a better life.
- —Guest Judith
I Don't Deserve This Disease
- Many of my friends make smart comments about how I used to smoke. I want people to know that just because I smoked, doesn't mean I deserve this disease. Everyone makes mistakes. They need to remember that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones, or something like that!
- —Guest npalan
