Reaching out to other COPD patients brings joy and satisfaction

I would like to Welcome you all To My Little Corner Of The World. I have had this yearning for sometime now to reach out and help others with COPD cope with this disease.
I met a woman one day while surfing the web who also has COPD. She had no idea how to live her life with this disease. Through my e-mails, I gave her the understanding of how to control the disease rather than to let the disease control her. It gave me a sense of... Good Job - Well Done, I made someone happy. I also have a friend in New Hampshire that has been trying to quit smoking. I have sent her whatever information that I can find and trust that she reads it and thinks of ME and what I have gone through because of smoking. Hopefully my help to her will be a positive outcome. That is my lot in life, to help another human being... to make him or her smile and to have self worth from that smile. I feel that helping others brings so much satisfaction to our lives.
I am very excited to help Lori with her website Love Your Lungs, Breathe For Life, http://www.loveyourlungsbreatheforlife.com in her new venture into the world of BLOGGING. I so much want to make this happen and I will contribute as much as I can to help anyone in need.
Please do not be afraid to post, I would love to hear from you. If you have questions, comments or suggestions I will be here to support you.

Breathe Easy.... 1 2 3 Inhale... 1 2 3 4 Exhale
Sandy

How I can relate by: Sandy Grace

November is COPD Awareness Month. It is a disease that so little is known about. Those of us with this disease are trying to inform the public of what it is and how we live our lives.
I did not write the following, but received it from a support site. I give Edna Fiore a overwhelming amount of credit for writing this piece below. It is a very good explanation of COPD. The one thing it does not say is that the main cause of COPD is SMOKING. It is the 4th leading killer in the world today. And although treatable, it is not curable. But, for those out there that may have COPD and think their life is over...it is not! By eating well, exercising and taking the medications that are prescribed, you can still live a good life. You just have to move slower and with help most of the time. I am praying that in reading this people will become aware and have a better understanding of COPD.

Sick Lungs Don't Show
adapted from 1998 EFFORTS Brochure
by Edna Fiore

I may not look sick,
BUT.....I have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

What is COPD? It includes such illnesses as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and sometimes asthma. It is primarily characterized by extreme shortness of breath.

LIVING WITH COPD IS VERY RESTRICTIVE

It means having to avoid strong odors, smoke, flowers, perfumes, cleaning agents, paints, solvents, vehicle exhaust, shaving lotion, bath powders, incense.

I also have to avoid temperature extremes or wind, crowds, molds, and dusty places because they make me short of breath.

PHYSICALLY:

Living with COPD can mean having difficulty walking up stairs or inclines, not walking very far, being unable to rush or "being rushed", tiring easily--especially if things last too long, being unable to tolerate tight clothing and inability to talk for any length of time.

SOCIALLY:

Living with COPD can mean coughing in public which attracts attention and embarrasses me, having to use or wear devices or equipment, or take medication which invites public comment (oxygen, cold weather masks, inhalers), being concerned (often excessively) about contact with cold or flu germs, having my friends make short, pleasant, smoke-less visits.

EMOTIONALLY:

Living with COPD can mean crying easily, angering easily, becoming frustrated and impatient because I can't do the things I used to do. Feeling resentful when others tell me, "You don't look sick." It can cause me to be panicky and tense, and becoming dependent and demanding because it's frightening when I can't breathe.

COPD AFFECTS MY FAMILY....

By having to adapt to my physical, emotional, social and environmental needs and limitations, often having to leave social functions earlier than they wish because of me or sometimes never getting there and by having to check out all of the details in advance, getting places early and all the while having to remain calm and reassuring at all times on my account.

REMEMBER: I may not look sick but-- SICK LUNGS DON'T SHOW!!!!


Breathe Easy,
Sandy