COPD360social welcomes new member OldFitzer who joins 58,835 current members of our community. Weโ€™re glad you're here!


Bill Clark - Community Manager

Bill Clark - Community Manager

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Jan Cotton, Illinois State Captain and COPD360 Community Engagement Committee member..


Jan contributed her many talents for storytelling and community service to the COPD Foundation for over a decade. She served her community in many ways at the COPD Foundation, as a lung health advocate, a patient advisor, and a mentor. She worked every day in her personal life to spread COPD awareness and always encouraged patients that they were never alone in their COPD journey. 


While she took her critical role as an advocate for COPD awareness seriously, she was an relentlessly friendly face to turn to when you needed a voice, encouragement, or just a smile.Jan's loss will be felt throughout our organization and the entire lung health community. She will be sorely missed as we continue our fight for better treatments and policies for lung health patients. Please keep her family in your thoughts during this time.

20 hours ago

The COPD Foundation

The COPD FoundationYour unique life experience matters. Do you have a lung condition such as COPD, bronchiectasis, or NTM lung disease? We want to hear from you! The COPD Foundation is currently interested in learning more about how experiences differ between patient populations. Take our 10-minute survey to be a part of important research. The survey is anonymous and linked to no personal identifiable information. Thank you in advance for your participation.
 
Click the link to take the survey:  https://copdf.co/pops-survey

3 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy Tuesday, and happy first day of Spring! 
Wishing everyone a day filled with smiles! ๐Ÿ˜€

3 hours ago

sickboy

sickboycommented onSarcoidosis: Seek Answers, Inspire Results

How are you doing these days?...

7 hours ago

Caroline West Virginia State Captain

Caroline West Virginia State Captainanswered the question Biologics designed for airways in chronic bronchits

There is a biologic in clinical trial for COPD. I was enrolled in the study, but was washed out because my lungs had improved too much. I don't like to fail, except this time it was a good thing.

11 hours ago

Villa

Villa

Also I'm 65 and not very good with computers 

13 hours ago

Villa

Villa

Very nervous, hoping to find someone to talk with. I've had copd for years now but lately it has gotten much worse. I have an appointment the 1st of the month with the Veterans Administration about getting a lung transplant.  Thanks for letting me join.

13 hours ago

Heidelberg

Heidelberg

Hiya all I just wanted to say my mums doing really well on her higher oxygen level stats are really good. I was so scared to say anything didnโ€™t want to jinx it. Tomorrow sheโ€™s gets some portable oxygen tanks so she can go out ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

13 hours ago

Brittishere

Brittishereasked the question: Biologics designed for airways in chronic bronchits

Iโ€™m aware that most biologics target allergic pathways but with the latest, Teszpire, it can also benefit non-allergic breathing processes. With that, does anyone know if there are any biologics in the pipeline that will target pathways that solely …

14 hours ago

pparish

pparish

I apologize for my post being so long, but Iโ€™m frustrated with my lack of progress. My issue is that after my valves were put in late January of 2024, my breathing has not returned to its pre-procedure levels or capability. I have faithfully done my breathing exercises.  I do my nebulizer treatments two times a day. Iโ€™m on oxygen 24/7 and I gently exercise the best I can, but it leaves me gasping for breath most days. After six weeks I had the valves removed and Iโ€™m no better one week later, with my breathing. Maybe a little worse. From the day my valves were put in, I have been asking my pulmonologist and primary for respiratory therapy. I have been told to just do all my various breathing exercises and use my oxygen. On 1/17/24 at age 65, I had a pneumothorax following a biopsy on the upper right lung. I had quit smoking nine months previously after smoking for 40+ years. I have COPD and asthma. Prior to the biopsy, my breathing was good. I certainly wasnโ€™t climbing mountains or running marathons, but quitting smoking made a difference in my quality of life. I was not struggling to climb stairs, walk at a pretty fast pace or dealing with being tired. The pneumothorax did not heal by traditional method, even with a chest tube and oxygen at 4. After 7 days in the hospital, I had a severe case of subcutaneous emphysema and a new chest tube was put in. I was transferred to an excellent hospital where I had 2 Spirationโ„ข Valves placed in upper right lobe. X-rays over the next 2 days showed I needed a 3rd valve. After 17 days in two hospitals, the pneumothorax was finally healed. The trouble I had was because my lungs were in bad shape and very thin. I went home with oxygen at 2 for 24/7. As I stated, Iโ€™m frustrated that my breathing isnโ€™t better Iโ€™m worse off than before I went in for the biopsy but I donโ€™t regret that procedure for a second. I do not have lung cancer, so Iโ€™m able to deal with this for the most part. Any suggestions?

14 hours ago

Jonnie Korinko (COPDF Manager of Public and Professional Education)

Jonnie Korinko (COPDF Manager of Public and Professional Education)answered the question My first cold in ages with severe COPD

Hi, SteveinFrance! Many people living with COPD can take 6 - 8 weeks to fully recover from some upper respiratory infections and colds. But you should notice some improvement, even if it is only a little at a time. I hope that you continue to recover!
SteveinFrancedas23Jean IA State Captain also answered the question SteveinFranceand 2 others also answered the question

22 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

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

WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH SPINACH 1 tbsp. olive oil1 small onion, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced Three 14.5-ounce cans reduced sodium chicken brothOne 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with liquid1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning 1/4 tsp. freshly ground...

23 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainWishing everyone a magnificent Monday! 
Thought for today: Never give up, and never lose hope! ๐Ÿ˜Š

1 day ago

TonicDk

TonicDkanswered the question Anyone's sp 02 abruptly change from say 81 to 95?

I have a very expensive oximeter, approved for night time use. I the day time it shows anywhere from 92 to 99 percent , but if i use it for about 5 min, it becomes stable around 97. Moving around is also an error factor, as well as bright light.
RAESJean IA State CaptainDavid Mannino, MD     (Chief Medical Officer, COPD Foundation ) also answered the question RAESand 2 others also answered the question

1 day ago

Greg Gardner

Greg Gardner

Struggling

1 day ago

das23

das23answered the question Zephyr value?

Hang in there. We have folks here with good and not so good results with the valves. Hope it works out for you
Kristen Szymonik, RRT, AE-C (Assistant Director of Education) also answered the question Kristen Szymonik, RRT, AE-C (Assistant Director of Education) also answered the question

1 day ago

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State CaptainI've had a really nice weekend.  My oldest granddaughter drove over from Tampa (about a 3-hour drive) and brought a lovely bouquet of flowers, two HUGE slices of specialty cakes from a gourmet cake shop, plus some chocolate candy.   She wasn't able to come over for my birthday last month - I think I could kind of get used to belated celebrations โค
Today we spent about 4 hours at our local zoo - they have wheelchairs, which made it very nice.  We fed the giraffes, which was fun, but my favorites have always been the meerkats.  

1 day ago

JeanO53

JeanO53This one is just so cute I had to share it. 
This poor little chipmunk kept trying to get the whole peanut inside it's mouth.  It ran off before I had a chance to see what it finally did with it.

1 day ago

brydy

brydy

frustrated. the past few wks have sucked & I am a generally positive human. I am a very active person, I cannot sit, I have a farm & animals that need me every day. this increased shortness of breath is kicking my PF11 & making me miserable. I have had severe emphysema for years & never let it stop me so this is a whole new level of frustration. 


I'm not sick, I just can't seem to breathe. rescue inhaler made it worse. I am seeing my specialist next week but in the meantime just venting I guess to people who I know understand. xx

1 day ago

Xtreme Caffeine

Xtreme Caffeine asked the question: Zephyr value?

Anyone have the zephyr valves done what was your experience I just did 3 but had a pneumothorax so had to have 2 taken out donโ€™t see much chang

1 day ago

SteveinFrance

SteveinFranceasked the question: My first cold in ages with severe COPD

Hi all - just a question to know what is relatively normal with a cold and COPD. Reminder of myself - alpha 1 antitrypsin deficient - age 57 severe but stable COPD (mix of emphysema and chronic bronchitis). First time in ages with a cold and wow was I …

1 day ago

Komplize

Komplizeanswered the question Its probably COPD - please help me to understand

Sorry, i meant best Regards komplize. I am currently very sad about my condition and anxious. I therefore preferred to use deepl.com instead of writing in English myself...;-)
David Mannino, MD     (Chief Medical Officer, COPD Foundation )David29Brittishereand 3 others also answered the question David Mannino, MD     (Chief Medical Officer, COPD Foundation )and 5 others also answered the question

1 day ago

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota Good morning everyone,  stopping by to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day and that you have a great Sunday! 

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy Sunday and Happy St. Patrick's Day! 
"May the luck of the Irish smile on you." ๐Ÿ€๐ŸŸข๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŸข๐Ÿ€

2 days ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captainanswered the question COPD & complications from knee replacement?

When I've had to have surgery I always talk with the anesthesiologist prior and make sure that they know I have COPD and use 02 regularly. That alerts them to watch for dips in 02 saturation levels and to increase the 02 as necessary. I always ask if …
Caroline West Virginia State CaptainshazierDavid Mannino, MD     (Chief Medical Officer, COPD Foundation ) also answered the question Caroline West Virginia State Captainand 2 others also answered the question

2 days ago

Heidelberg

Heidelberg

My mums home from hospital she is now in 2 lifers of oxygen concentrate I worry what the life expectancy is for someone on oxygen 24/7 

2 days ago

RAES

RAES

Possibly partial lung collapse?  I've had that happen several times but it will inflat back but now after a serious respiratory failure they say it'll never come back . Go to a different dr next time ask for a xray of your lungs. 

2 days ago

RAES

RAESanswered the question I guess this is a good thing?!?

I was on breo only 10 days. Ive had copd for over 10 years my insurance won't give me an inhaler anymore but i do the nebulizer every day of my life. But i believe your lungs can heal but dont smoke at all!! Your throat will get better once you get …
mcat43David Mannino, MD     (Chief Medical Officer, COPD Foundation )Jonnie Korinko (COPDF Manager of Public and Professional Education)and 1 other also answered the question mcat43and 3 others also answered the question

2 days ago

RAES

RAESasked the question: Anyone's sp 02 abruptly change from say 81 to 95?

I have copd. I use oxygen at normal 2 level... my question for any one is related to my peraonal experience. When i check my oxygen one minute it will be 85 then couple minutes later 95. I've been told due to my copd and co2 levels that my oxygen level …

2 days ago

Breathless Kath

Breathless Kath

Hiya
Over 70 degrees in Portland, Oregon today, setting a record! Climate Change is sure cutting back on our lovely PNW spring season!
It's still the most beautiful region I've ever lived.๐Ÿ˜
I hope it's wonderful wherever you are, too!
Kath

2 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.