COPD360social welcomes new member Johnmal who joins 65,124 current members of our community. Weโ€™re glad you're here!

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community Manager๐ŸŒŽ Visit My Corner of the World Wednesday โ€“ Earth Day Edition ๐ŸŒฟ

Okayโ€ฆ today feels like the perfect day to take this somewhere special.

In honor of Earth Day, letโ€™s turn our corners into little windows of the world around us ๐ŸŒ

Your โ€œcorner๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ today can be anything that connects you to this amazing planet we call homeโ€ฆ

๐Ÿ“ธ A favorite outdoor spot
๐ŸŒณ A tree or garden that makes you smile
๐ŸŒ… A sunrise or sunset you caught at just the right moment
๐ŸŒฆ๏ธ Even the view from your chair looking outside

Or heyโ€ฆ even something small that reminds you to pause and appreciate it all ๐Ÿ’š

Because just like we take a moment today to appreciate the Earthโ€ฆ
itโ€™s a good reminder to slow down, breathe, and take in whatโ€™s around usโ€”whatever that may look like for you.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Drop your photo below and tell us:
What makes your corner of the world feel like your place?

Letโ€™s take a little trip around the world together todayโ€”one corner at a time ๐ŸŒŽโœจ

12 hours ago

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community Manager๐Ÿ’Š Ever wish your prescription costs didnโ€™t hit all at once?

Thereโ€™s a newer Medicare option called the Prescription Payment Plan (also known as โ€œsmoothingโ€) thatโ€™s designed to do just that.

Instead of paying larger amounts at the pharmacy, this program spreads your medication costs out into more manageable monthly payments.

Hereโ€™s how it works in simple terms:

โ€ข You may pay $0 at the pharmacy for covered Part D medications
โ€ข Your Medicare drug plan sends you a monthly bill instead
โ€ข Your payment amount can change if your prescriptions change
โ€ข Itโ€™s free to enroll, but it doesnโ€™t lower your total costโ€”just spreads it out

For many, this can make budgeting a little easier, especially if medication costs tend to stack up early in the year.

Itโ€™s completely optional, and you can sign up anytimeโ€”but getting started earlier may help you get the most benefit.

Your insight could be exactly what someone else needs to hear right now.

๐Ÿ‘‡ Weโ€™d really value your experience:
Have you looked into this program or signed up already? Whatโ€™s it been like for you?

๐Ÿ”— Jump into the conversation here:
https://www.copdfoundation.org/COPD360social/Community/Questions-and-Answers/Have-you-signed-up-for-the-Medicare-Prescription-Payment-Plan-MPPP-.aspx

Have you signed up for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP)?โ€‚

Have you signed up for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP), also called smoothing? Why or why not?

2 days ago

Johnmal

Johnmal

I have COPD. Can I visit Yosemite national park?

3 hours ago

Kaseykat

Kaseykatanswered the question Is any else dealing with the pollen, are you wearing a mask?

Iโ€™m so scared to go outside. I do try to wear a mask but here in the last week I have let it slid and now I feel like Iโ€™m getting sick.
GAnneCaroline West Virginia State CaptainKaren Deitemeyer - Florida State Captainand 1 other also answered the question GAnneand 3 others also answered the question

6 hours ago

Community Announcements

Community Announcementsadded a new article Is It a Flare-Up?

This article was written by Arnelle Konde, MPH, CHES.

If you are living with COPD, you may experience symptoms that change daily. Some days, it may feel harder to breathe, or you may cough more than usual. But sometimes, these changes can mean something more seriousโ€”an exacerbation, also known as a flare-up.1 These flare-ups can have a major impact on your breathing, daily activities, and overall health. Knowing the warning signs and acting early can help you feel better and prevent a hospital stay.

What Is a COPD Flare-Up?

A COPD flare-up is a worsening of your usual symptoms1,2, such as:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Mucus buildup

11 hours ago

Bob puff dragon

Bob puff dragonSob this morning going to just chill today,been busy taking out the old sound equipment and hooking up new,not a fan of change l guess.Not sure what is worse with this new diagnosis the actual harness of it or the two and a half month wait just to see an oncologist to map out a treatment plan.Our healthcare system is seriously broken for sure.
Happy thoughts and positive attitudes for today everyone,keep on trucking.

12 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

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

๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“1 cup whole frozen strawberries 1/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt 1 tbsp. almond butter2 tsp. honey1 tsp. vanilla extract 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth....

13 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy wonderful Wednesday! Wake up with a positive outlook, knowing there is plenty to look forward to. Set your mind to keep moving forward. Spread that joy everywhere you go! ๐Ÿ˜€

17 hours ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

Today is a great day!  Had a nice chat with my O2 supplier who will send me yet another machine that HOPEFULLY will meet my continuous flow for sleep needsโ€”being small & light enough to have in luggage while supplying sufficient O2. 


Then had breakfast and nice zoom call and then walked a mile around the neighborhood. Also bought 2 new Nonin pulse oximeters from ebay for under $50. 


Had a chat with my son and convinced him to pick us up at the JFK airport when we visit, so we arenโ€™t wrangling luggage on public transit. 


Otherwise, all is pretty good around here. Got a lung exercise device Iโ€™m evaluating and trying to decide what I think about it. It provides resistance inhaling and exhaling and you can adjust the amount of resistance. 

1 day ago

Caroline West Virginia State Captain

Caroline West Virginia State Captainanswered the question Supporting a Loved One With Allergies at Home

Karen brings up a great point. I also see a doctor who specializes in allergies.
Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State CaptainJazzybeanTom.E also answered the question Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captainand 2 others also answered the question

1 day ago

Abeba

Abeba

It Is Not My Lung โ€” It Is My Husband
Her answer showed me how many of our patients don't truly understand their condition.


Today, during a routine morning visit, a COPD patient reminded me of the gap we face as healthcare providers. She is a 60-year-old grandmother who never had the chance to attend school but incredibly expressive. I sat beside her and explained what COPD is, how smoke affects her lungs, and why her medications matter. After I finished, I asked,
โ€œDo you understand now?โ€ 
 She replied: โ€œDoctor, my problem is not the kitchen or the woodfire. My problem is my quarrel with my husband โ€” thatโ€™s what burned my heart.โ€


Her answer showed me how many of our patients donโ€™t truly understand their condition. Not because they donโ€™t want to โ€” but because their lives are overwhelmed by emotional, social, and economic struggles that overshadow the illness itself. 


Then I come to platforms like this one, where patients talk in detail about COPD, treatments, and techniques. And I feel the paradox โ€” two extremes of understanding and experience. It reminds me that COPD care is not only about lungs and medications. It is also about education, empathy, and meeting people where they are. 

1 day ago

Bob puff dragon

Bob puff dragonHope everyone makes the most of their day,laugh,love and Cherish you are who you are.

1 day ago

Community Announcements

Community Announcementsadded a new article Lung Transplants as a Treatment for COPD

This article was written by Kalli Mago.

Some people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) get a lung transplant to help. In a lung transplant, doctors remove a diseased lung and replace it with a healthy lung from an organ donor.

A single lung transplant means replacing one lung, while both lungs are replaced in a double lung transplant. Whether someone gets a single or double transplant often depends on how many donated lungs are available and how many people are waiting. Studies show that double lung transplants can have an increased chance of long-term success.1

COPD is one of the most common reasons why people get lung transplants. From 1990 to 2017, people with COPD made up 36% of all lung transplants.1

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy terrific Tuesday! Today is going to be unbelievably awesome! Enjoy every minute! ๐Ÿ˜€

1 day ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainanswered the question Check-in: Are you prepared for the unexpected?

I have a duracell battery that is 500 watts. It can power my POC for up to 8+ hours if needed. I can also get adapters for Hโ€™s batteries for his power tools if we need to tap them for extra power. When we had power outages in recent storms, we had …
DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainJonnie Korinko (COPDF Director of Education) also answered the question DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captainand 1 other also answered the question

1 day ago

Oxygen tank Man

Oxygen tank Man Hi Everyone, Hope every one keeping fine. Still getting out each day. Still doing races training for ultra marathon in June 48 miles getting out on the coast run and moors side. Graham. 1st over 70 in 10k run in photo with my lovely wife Marie. 

1 day ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainanswered the question Any updates on Nucala Experience?

Well, the issue of potentially taking my biologic while traveling is moot as CVS Specialty wonโ€™t deliver to Japan.
janab72Ruth Tal-Singer, PhD BlairTand 3 others also answered the question janab72and 5 others also answered the question

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

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

๐ŸฅฃSALMON QUINOA BOWL๐Ÿฅฃ5 fresh Brussels sprouts, very thinly sliced 1 tsp. olive oilSalt and pepper to taste 3 ounces salmon, skin removed2/3 cup cooked quinoa, at room temperature 1 tsp. unseasoned rice vinegar 1 small avocado, cubed1 tbsp....

2 days ago

JeanO53

JeanO53answered the question Check-in: Are you protecting your lungs at work?

Hmmmm.... This always makes me wonder. I smoked for many years and was diagnosed with asthma in my 50s. I may have been destined for a COPD diagnosis, but the year I was diagnosed with COPD (2017/2018), there were environmental factors that I believe …
JazzybeanKaren Deitemeyer - Florida State CaptainDebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain also answered the question Jazzybeanand 2 others also answered the question

2 days ago

baileymccrary

baileymccraryHappy Volunteer Appreciation Week everyone! The COPD Foundation says THANK YOU to our huge network of volunteers, including our 100+ Captains, who dedicate their talents and time to making life better for those impacted by chronic lung disease. You are a critical part of our mission at the COPD Foundation and we couldn't do it without you!

Are you interested in volunteering with the COPD Foundation? If you, you can learn more here: https://www.copdfoundation.org/Take-Action/Get-Involved/Volunteer-with-Us.aspx

2 days ago

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State Captain

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State Captain

Monday music to move into a new week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U



2 days ago

Kalli Mago (COPDF Communications Coordinator)

Kalli Mago (COPDF Communications Coordinator)asked the question: Check-in: Are you protecting your lungs at work?

Your job can have a big impact on your lung health. Many people think of COPD as a smokerโ€™s disease, but a lot of factors can contribute to chronic lung conditions. Aside from smoking, one of the biggest risk factors can come from your job. At work, …

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

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

๐ŸŒŸRECIPE FOR SUCCESS๐ŸŒŸ1 cup positive vibes 1 jumbo CAN-DO attitude 1 cup self esteem1 cup self confidence 1 heaping handful energy1 great BIG smilePlace all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Grab a magic wand ๐Ÿช„ โœจ๏ธ Dip it into...

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy magnificent Monday, friends! I thought I saw something sparkling โœจ๏ธ when I entered 360Social. Yes, I did! Wearing that bright smile will make everyone's day better! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ Keep a smile on your face, and you'll always be in the right place! ๐Ÿ˜€

2 days ago

Werido

Werido

Hello. I am doing ok

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.