COPD360social

For a decade, the COPD Foundation has provided a growing COPD community with resources and education. Now we want to take our work to the next level. We want to hear from YOU daily.

Welcome to our interactive, collaborative community: COPD360social. You can join us and other friends, learn about events in your area, participate in research, chat with the experts, and learn how to take action -- all on your time, at your pace. COPD360social is the COPD Foundation's way of saying 'Thank you' to a community that can make the world take notice of a silent epidemic.

Join COPD360social, because we are stronger when we work together.

Create your COPD360social profile today!

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Jenny R Smith

Jenny R Smith

😵

15 minutes ago

Jenny R Smith

Jenny R Smithreceived the badge Getting started

Earned the Getting started badge!
CumorrisRicky WayneSmithGeckoand 26655 others also received the badge Cumorrisand 26657 others also received the badge

21 minutes ago

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captainvoted on 5K for Mary Jo: Running with Wings

Gave a thumbs up for a blog post!

50 minutes ago

Linda11

Linda11

I wake with sp02 of 91. I cough all night and all day. Once i use my inhaler and do my neb it goes up to 94 or 96 range. When i walk my legs hurt. I wake with severe headaches that last all day. I have chest tightness at times. I am tired all of the time! I am just so tired of feeling this way! I use neb 2 times a day and symbicort twice a day. I use a rescue inhaler also when i need it. I still continue to smoke.  I feel like a fool!

2 hours ago

Louanne State Captain

Louanne State Captain answered the question What can you do for low energy?

Hi Charles. , I hope my input will help in some way , and your Medical Team can resolve your fatigue & headaches . I understand how you feel ! I've recently began having terrible headaches , I've been ill though with an exacerbation , being out in …
clipper (Debbie) - State Captain Bill66zania also answered the question clipper (Debbie) - State Captain and 2 others also answered the question

4 hours ago

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captainanswered the question Does the brand make a difference?

Hi – I think what you’re asking is not if it makes a difference to take a generic vs. a brand, but if the various brand-name meds are different? I disagree with your doctor – is he a pulmonologist? Incruse Ellipta is an anticholinergic (umeclidinium) …
Louanne State Captain judg69 also answered the question Louanne State Captain and 1 other also answered the question

4 hours ago

Cheryl W.

Cheryl W.

Not sure how I feel other than full of anxieties. Just found out yesterday that I have COPD.  Not sure how bad. I found this site when I Google the life expectancy of copd.  

4 hours ago

Louanne State Captain

Louanne State Captain

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and phone calls , Im elated to finally be feeling better . Looking forward to good follow up test results , and being active again . 



4 hours ago

Linda11

Linda11

I have emphysema i am a current smoker. How can i stop? I have tried many things. Iove ciggerettes! And my emphysema continues to worsen. Does anyone else continue to smoke?

6 hours ago

  • NewestOldestClick to View All Comments4 comment(s)
  • Linda11Stephanie i tried wellbutrin and it didn't agree with me. I have tried chantix 5 times and patches a couple of times. Nothing seems to work for me. My husband begs me to quit every day! I feel so stupid knowing i have this disease and yet i continue.  I am always embarrassed to tell the doctor that i have failed once again!3 hours ago
  • Kristen WillardLinda11 -- I totally get it. Remember, if it was easy to quit, no one would be smoking! 😄 I understand not wanting to tell your doc, too. Supportive physicians understand what a tough process it is and that it takes several times for most of us to put a stop to the habit. You can do it! You only need one time for it to stick for good -- keep at it!2 hours ago
  • clipper (Debbie) - State Captain I continued to smoke for two years after being diagnosed by my primary care. All sorts of noises would emanate from my lungs,  I lost about 25lbs, I had trouble walking in the house from room to room. It only gets much worse. That was a little over two years ago. I used Chantix and joined a tobacco cessation group sponsored by the state cancer center (hospital). That was a big part of it for me, having her professional input was priceless. It was not easy but I did it. At one time I loved cigarettes too, or so I thought. Now they are terrifying. 
    Just because something failed for you before doesn't mean it wont work now. Talk to your doctor, find a group, start exercising, do yoga, do Tai Chi, stop smoking and start moving. 1 hour ago
clipper (Debbie) - State Captain

clipper (Debbie) - State Captain answered the question **Attn: COPD patients who have contracted pneumonia in the last four months**

Wish I could of been more help but fortunately I did not qualify.
Fabiana TalbotLisa Deates 69Cara Pasqualeand 2 others also answered the question Fabiana Talbotand 4 others also answered the question

6 hours ago

Bill66

Bill66commented on5K for Mary Jo: Running with Wings

 This is a Great Way to show support, to help others who aren't fortunate to afford medical care and to spread awareness of COPD, especially to other generations....

7 hours ago

Bill66

Bill66voted on 5K for Mary Jo: Running with Wings

Gave a thumbs up for a blog post!

7 hours ago

Bret99

Bret99voted on 5K for Mary Jo: Running with Wings

Gave a thumbs up for a blog post!

9 hours ago

Sinceofnormalcy

Sinceofnormalcyasked the question: Does the brand make a difference?

I am currently taking Breo Ellipta and Breo Incruse. I still have a lot of heavy breathing with the medicine and asked my doctor if I could try something different. I've tried Anoro Ellipta and it did not work well for me. My doctor believes that since …

9 hours ago

Millie N.

Millie N.answered the question How do you tell what stage you are in? Do you go by the FEV1 figures or the FEV/FVC numbers.

Hi aLL HAVING A BAD DAY mY BREATH IS NOT GOOD CANT SEEM TO GET ANYTHING DONE GOING TO LUNG DOCTOR TODAY HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING TO HELP mILLIE
Jean IA State CaptainOrlan = State CaptainMike Hess, RRT (State Captain, Michigan) also answered the question Jean IA State Captainand 2 others also answered the question

10 hours ago

CharlesH

CharlesHasked the question: What can you do for low energy?

I do not know about everyone else but by the end of the dayI feel worn out. That and headaches seem to be my new norm. That worn out feelinggoes with my memory sometimes. I have tried naps and that has not been any helpso far. Being sob doing the …

20 hours ago

lazy t

lazy t

Have been really trucking along nicely with exercise...adjusting to the heat...couple of percentages improvement on function test...then found out today I failed a chemical stress test.  Second time...now we are scheduled for one of those cath things....durn it!!

20 hours ago

Fabiana Talbot

Fabiana Talbot created the event 5K4MJ: Running with Wings

The annual Mary Jo Byrne Association will hold its 5K4MJ at the Heritage Park in Olathe, KS on August 26, 2017. Event Details: LIVE. LOVE. BREATHE. RUNNING WITH WINGS What: 5K Walk/Run, Kids Fun Run, COPD Honoree Walk When: Saturday, August 26th, …

23 hours ago

Fabiana Talbot

Fabiana Talbotadded a new article 5K for Mary Jo: Running with Wings

Mary Jo Byrne was a dedicated mother, wife, and grandmother. Described as “strict but passionate," all four of her daughters very much knew they were loved while growing up. Mary Jo was a symbol of strength in her family and instilled in her children the value of hard work. She lived with COPD for 20 years. Her family described COPD as “cruel and debilitating," but she never complained.

5K race for Mary Jo

1 day ago

Jane Martin

Jane Martinvoted on Coping with Stress - Part 1: Fear and Uncertainty

Gave a thumbs up for a COPD Digest Magazine article!

1 day ago

CharlesH

CharlesH

😋The day was going pretty good and then I woke up. Still, I count any day that I wake up as a great day.

1 day ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captainanswered the question Just diagnosed

Just to add to what's already been said (and all really good advice!), be sure when you see your new pulmo that he tests you for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Defiency. That's a genetic version of emphysema, and the fact that your mother died of COPD and you're …
JeannieMMs DVHIcopd - Hawaii State Captainand 4 others also answered the question JeannieMand 6 others also answered the question

1 day ago

Chippie

Chippieasked the question: Transplants

Has anybody had lung transplants?

1 day ago

JustWannaBreathe

JustWannaBreathe

Got my first friend request today! Thank you for the welcoming feeling. :-)
I still haven't figured out how to navigate around the site yet, LOL, but I will be working on that! Have a great Tuesday all who can see this! I have no idea at this point...  👋

1 day ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captainanswered the question How does one know if you need nighttime oxygen?

Ask his pulmonologist to do an overnight oximetry test. Your father will keep the oximeter on his finger and a machine will record the data. You'll know from that whether he needs it at night, but my guess is that he does, and the doc might just assume …

1 day ago

Deb111

Deb111asked the question: How does one know if you need nighttime oxygen?

My father had stage 4 COPD. He was just released from the hospital and now needs oxygen. We had a follow up appointment yesterday, and they indicate he needs 2L of pulse flow, after a 6 minute walk that really only lasted 2 minutes due to fatigue and SOB …

1 day ago

Marsha L

Marsha L

I am new to the site... Hi everyone! I just want to know, when any of you were first diagnosed, was chest tightness and pain a part of it because I haven't gotten a plan yet with my doctor but I'm kinda worried because sometimes it feels almost impossible to climb a flight of steps without feeling faint and weak.

1 day ago

  • NewestOldestClick to View All Comments4 comment(s)
  • Jane Martin
    Welcome, Marsha L, to 360social! We're so glad you found us!


    I am a respiratory therapist with asthma, so I can't speak to personal experience with COPD but I've worked with a lot of folks in the hospital, ER, and Pulmonary Rehab.


    It's not unusual for people with COPD to have chest discomfort, yet its really, really important - vital- to know that chest tightness and pain can be symptoms of heart trouble - and can't be ignored.


    You said you don't have a COPD plan yet. Do you have an appointment set up with your doc? He/she can give you guidelines on how to know what's normal (and not dangerous) for you, and what might need immediate attention.


    I just have to say though, when in doubt, check it out! In my hospital and ER work I did thousands of EKG's on people with chest pain and discomfort. Yes, it turned out that many of these folks were having a bad episode of heart burn or another non-life-threatening issue. But in every single case we were so glad they came in to be checked!


    With that said, sometimes in COPD the shape of the chest wall (the ribs surrounding your lungs) can actually change, making your chest larger. So this may cause discomfort with certain clothing and undergarments.


    If you are huffing and puffing going up stairs, that can certainly make you feel faint and weak. Pursed-lips breathing and pacing can help a lot. Talk with your doc about referring you to Pulmonary Rehab. The health care professionals at Pulmonary Rehab are experts at working with people with shortness of breath. They will help you build strength and endurance and learn a whole lot about living well with COPD.


    I hope this helps, Marsha L. You can learn a lot here, and also be assured that you're not alone!


    1 day ago
  • Jean IA State CaptainYou've gotten great advice from Clip and Jane.  The only thing I wonder is are you seeing a pulmonologist?  If you aren't, I really encourage you to find a good one and get a complete diagnostic workup.  Primary care docs often don't know very much about COPD and aren't well versed in the most cutting edge treatments, medications and action plans, so if you're not seeing a pulmonologist, I strongly recommend that you find one and be seen.  That way you can be sure that you are getting the best treatment possible.1 day ago
  • Jane MartinJean, you make a very good point. Thanks!7 hours ago
Bill66

Bill66

I kept calm and walked today instead of overdoing it on the treadmill. I didn't have any episode's, had a little anxiety and just tried to refocus myself. Thank You Everyone for your caring thoughts and suggestions. Love You Guys, Bill66

1 day ago

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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. While we encourage individuals to share their personal experiences with COPD, please consult a physician before making changes to your own COPD management plan.