COPD360social welcomes new member KCSunshine who joins 66,015 current members of our community. Weโ€™re glad you're here!

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

๐Ÿ“ธ Visit My Corner of the World Wednesday โ€” World Photo Day Edition! ๐ŸŒŽ

Well, would you look at that โ€” Visit My Corner of the World Wednesday landed right on World Photo Day! ๐Ÿ“ท๐ŸŽ‰

I think that means we have absolutely no choice but to fill this place with pictures today. ๐Ÿ˜„

And for this one, there are no rules about what counts as your corner of the world.

Got a sunset that made you stop in your tracks? Letโ€™s see it.

A vacation picture youโ€™re still talking about 15 years later? Bring it on.

A beautiful flower, a favorite fishing hole, the view from your porch, somebody you love, or a four-legged family member who is completely convinced the camera was invented specifically for them? ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ˜‚

Or maybe you have one of those pictures that you're just plain bonkers over. We definitely want to see that one!

Thatโ€™s the magic of photographs. They let us hang onto little moments โ€” and when we share them, somebody else gets to step into our world for a minute too.

COPD and other lung diseases may change how far we travel or how quickly we get there, but they don't get to decide whatโ€™s worth noticing. Some days your corner of the world might be an incredible view from miles away. Other days it might be the bird outside your window, your morning coffee, or something that made you laugh from your favorite chair.

It all counts. โค

Around here, we help each other through the tough stuff, but we're pretty darn good at celebrating the good stuff too. We cheer each other on, laugh together whenever we get the chance, and sometimes a picture from one person's little corner of the world is exactly what someone else needed to see that day.

So grab your camera โ€” or start digging through that camera roll with 4,782 pictures you swear you're going to organize someday. What picture are you sharing? ๐Ÿ“ธ ๐ŸŒŽ โค

22 hours ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainanswered the question How long do you live with severe emphysema

My medical team is my primary care doctor/internist and my lung doctor (pulmonologist), plus his staff and APRN (nurse practitioner), plus the community pharmacist. Because Iโ€™ve been using supplemental O2 since 2008 for altitude and 2016 for exertion, …
BuscatKaren Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain also answered the question Buscatand 1 other also answered the question

2 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy thankful Thursday! 
Good morning, friends! What are you thankful for today, and every day?
I am very thankful for this community! It is a part of my day, every single day. ๐Ÿ˜Š

3 hours ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

Well, survived an 89 hour power outage!  I am SO glad I bought power bank in 11/2022 when Costco had them in stock locally. It is able to keep my POC powered throughout the night, even when we have no electricity. I was able to recharge my power bank during the day at family members who had power and sleep plugging my POC into it. 


I have no O2 tanks, so this was my way of having sufficient O2 for sleeping. I didnโ€™t have a recording oximeter but my reading was 95% when I fell asleep and I slept great so I think I remained adequately saturated. 


Anyway, with extreme weather events, storms, fires, floods and tsunamis for, itโ€™s good to contemplate good options for having backup power if you need any. Even folks who arenโ€™t on O2 may want to be able to charge their phone, watch, earbuds, radio, other electronics.  Definitely better to plan and acquire such items BEFORE there is urgent need. Folks like me who have old phones also benefit from having a power brick to recharge with. Haha!

8 hours ago

Sean P. Smith

Sean P. Smith

You know I don't get on this a lot. But I have to say it really is a great space to read and talk about what we deal with daily.  
People that know me know I tend to be bull headed and fix that GOD D@$& PROBLEM NOW.  Actually I have learned to step back and listen more to people I am trying to help. The old me would be "Okay, this is what you are going to do and don't stop." Now I ask how they are feeling, what their fears are and let that person know I am here to help - whether it is just letting them vent or to ask what I can do to help.
I am fortunate my medical team listens and makes suggestions but also flat out tells me what I should do. 
I hear stories from other COPD patients that their doctors or even respiratory therapists only mention in passing about pulmonary rehab. That doesn't make sense to me! For me I did a lot of digging on my own but I had doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and physiologists who guided me and answered questions. Even right now I have a rehab nurse and rehab physiologist reviewing an eight week workout plan I developed to get me back to Gym Rat status.
Besides getting the government and medical industry more attuned to what we need, it should be a given that anytime a pulmonologist, nurse or therapist speaks to a new one of us they should tell them about the COPD Foundation. 
Honestly, it would make their job a lot easier and give the patient an automatic support system. 
And by the way, thanks for letting me vent!

18 hours ago

Nancy2024

Nancy2024

Claudia,  how are you?  I had asked a question about the medication Oktuvayre.  Have you used it or do you know anyone in this community who has and what is their opinion of it.  It's a medication that you use with a nebulizer.  I would greatly appreciate any info you or anyone can give me.  Thanks so much.


Nancy

20 hours ago

  • Claudya G.Hi Nancy,

    Yes โ€” there are quite a few patient reviews for Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) now, including some from people with severe/stage 4 COPD. I checked the newer reviews, including ones posted in 2026.

    According to Drugs.com , there are more positive reviews than negatives....

    Drugs.com currently shows about a 7.8/10 average, with 62% of reviewers reporting a positive experience.

    Here is one review...Taken for 6 months to 1 year August 20, 2025 For COPD "I started using Ohtuvayre
    in December. I noticed a reduction in my dry cough almost immediately.
    After a few days, I could take a deeper breath than before using it. I
    feel that I can breathe better.."

    I personally have never used it..but it is a very popular medication, and patients that I have spoken to use it and say it has made a difference in there breathing..


    Hope this answers your question.. You can search for answers from other patient experiences from COPD360social by clicking below and typing Ohtuvayre:


    https://www.copdfoundation.org/COPD360social/Community/Questions-and-Answers.aspx
    COPD360social Questions and Answers | COPD Foundation

    COPD360social Questions and Answers is the one stop shop to share thoughts and ideas, receive and provide support as well as ask the community about …

    18 hours ago
DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

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

๐ŸŽAPPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL๐ŸŽ1 tbsp. butter2 cups cubed Honeycrisp apple3 tbsp. light brown sugar, divided, plus more for sprinkling1 tsp. cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling1 cup old fashioned oatsPinch salt2 cups water1/4 cup warm milk for...

23 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy wonderful Wednesday, friends! Sending lots of smiles and well wishes to all of our members! Enjoy your day! ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜Š

1 day ago

Boucles d'or

Boucles d'or

Hi - anyone have bad side effects on ohtuvayre? and can you just stop taking it or is it necessary to taper?

1 day ago

JeanO53

JeanO53We finally had a break in the humid weather. What a relief! The air feels breathable again. 
Yesterday was a beautiful day... high 70s, warm sun, blue skies with lots of gorgeous fluffy clouds
I spent most of the afternoon at the Mill Pond.  There's always something going on there, even when it seems quiet,   Like this small group of young Barn Swallows

1 day ago

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

๐ŸŽ‰ 66,000! We did it! ๐ŸŽ‰

Today, COPD360social officially became a community of 66,000 members.

But I have to tell you, when I look at that number, I don't just see 66,000 accounts or names on a screen. I see people.

People who came here looking for answers. People who came to share what they've learned. People who needed a hand, and people who reached theirs out. And many of us have been on both sides of that hand at one time or another.

We've been here through the good days and the really hard ones. We've celebrated victories, shared plenty of laughs, sat together through tears, welcomed the newly diagnosed, supported caregivers, remembered friends we've lost, and reminded one another over and over again: you don't have to do this alone.

That's why this has become so much more than an online community. There is genuine care here. There are friendships here. There are people helping people simply because they understand what it means to need someone beside you.

So whether you've been here from the beginning, joined yesterday, post every day, quietly read from the sidelines, ask the questions, answer them, or simply show up when you canโ€”you are part of what makes this community what it is.

66,000 members. 66,000 reasons to keep showing up for one another.

Thank you for making this one incredible community. Here's to wherever we go nextโ€”together! ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŽ‰

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

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

๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘PEACH BAKED OATMEAL๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ "It's peachy-keen!"3 fresh peaches, divided 2 cups rolled oats2 tsp. baking powder1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. salt1 cup unsweetened almond milk 4 tbsp. maple syrup 2 tsp. vanilla extract Preheat the oven...

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy terrific Tuesday, friends! 
I hope your day will be peachy-keen!
๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿงก

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

WOOHOO! We have reached 66,000 members! ๐Ÿคฉ

2 days ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainanswered the question Are long haul flights advisable

Your uncle needs to ask his provider. Some patients who normally donโ€™t need O2 need it for altitudes, including flying where the cabin is pressurized to 5000-8000 feet, especially in longer flights. A High Altitude Simulation Test (HAST) can help …

2 days ago

Nikola

Nikolaasked the question: Are long haul flights advisable

My uncle has copd. He does not need oxygen. He wants to take a long haul flight. Is it advisable and will he need any additional support ie nose spray as well as inhaler

2 days ago

Caroline West Virginia State Captain

Caroline West Virginia State Captainanswered the question any 57 yo with 21% FEV

Try the pulmonary rehab. I learned so many valuable tips that help in my daily life.
brydyJeanO53 also answered the question brydyand 1 other also answered the question

2 days ago

Community Announcements

Community Announcementsadded a new article Immunizations and COPD: A Preventive Tool That Starts with a Trusted Conversation

This post was written by Tralisa Willis, MEd, CHWI.

Immunizations can play a fundamental role in managing the quality of life of a person living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Conversations with medical providers regarding the importance of vaccines for illnesses such as influenza, pneumococcal disease, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections can have a great impact on vaccination uptake.

Alongside smoking cessation, evidence-based treatment, pulmonary rehabilitation, physical activity, and individualized action plans, recommended vaccines can help reduce the impact of preventable respiratory illnesses.

Health care providers play a critical role in helping patients understand how vaccinations support their overall lung health.3 A strong recommendation paired with clear, respectful communication can help patients make informed decisions and feel supported throughout the process.

2 days ago

MLT0715

MLT0715asked the question: any 57 yo with 21% FEV

Hi everyone, Iโ€™m 57 years old and recently had a spirometry test where my FEV1 dropped from 30% down to 21% (GOLD Stage 3/4). I haven't had any recent flare-ups, colds, or changes in my mucus, and I'm not on supplemental oxygen. My Alpha-1 test came …

2 days ago

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain

Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainโ€‹ - are you OK?  Do you have power?  I read where some 130,000 are without power on your island.  

2 days ago

JeanO53

JeanO53

Do you think we'll get 6 more members today?  Tomorrow?    Get ready to celebrate!  ๐Ÿ’ฅ ๐ŸŽ‰

2 days ago

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

โ™ป A Little Thrift Shop Thinking for Monday...

Apparently today is National Thrift Shop Day, and it got me thinkingโ€”not everything worth passing along has to fit in a shopping bag.

Sometimes the best things we can give someone else are the things we've picked up along the way.

Maybe it's a breathing tip that made your day a little easier. A trick for getting through the grocery store without wearing yourself out. Something you learned about oxygen, traveling, medications, or pacing yourself. Maybe it's simply a piece of advice someone once gave you when you really needed it.

That's one of my favorite things about this community. We take what we've learnedโ€”sometimes the hard wayโ€”and pass it along. Someone else picks it up, makes it their own, and maybe their day gets a little easier because of it.

So, in honor of Thrift Shop Day, let's do a little reuse, renew, and pass it on.

What's one tip, trick, or piece of wisdom you've picked up along your COPD journey that you'd happily hand down to someone else? ๐Ÿ’™โ™ป

2 days ago

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State Captain

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State Captain

3 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

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

โœด๏ธCOFFEE SMOOTHIEโœด๏ธ1 medium banana, sliced and frozen1/2 cup brewed coffee, chilled1/2 cup milk of your choice1/4 cup rolled oatsSpoonful of nut butter of your choicePlace all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy,...

3 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.