@A MyCOPDTeam Member I can't answer your question but I can tell you that if your mind is set on focusing on the future and you eat right and exercise and or walk [indoors preferably] you can maintain what lung function you have. I have been walking for 7 yrs and I have had copd for about 20 yrs I have just found out that my last breathing test showed that I acually gained 3% lung function so now I have 36%.. Your lungs will never heal and eventually we are all going to get worse but with a strong outlook on life we can make the most of it. It may take longer to do thiings but they will get done. Cheer up and think positive and try to find something or some organization that will keep you on the right path anad try to maintain what lung function you have. Good luck

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A MyCOPDT...

Here's what happens and here's why both docs are right. Neither one told you the whole story. Beginning at about age 25 everyone begins to lose lung function. It's a function of age. Those of us who smoked lost lung function a lot faster than people who didn't, so now we have an FEV1 that's less than normal.

For instance, mine's 34% at my last PFT. It was at 34% back in 2000 when I was first diagnosed. When they measure your FEV1 they know what someone without lung disease who's your age, weight, height and sex would blow out, and they compare what you blew out to that normal person. That's how they get the percentage. Well, that normal person loses lung function every year; so do we.

After we quit smoking, the amount of lung function we lose annually generally goes back to about the same as what that normal person loses. That's why my percentage can stay the same, but the actual amount I blew out in liters is less. If the normal person is going to lose X amount, so am I, so I'm always at 34% of what that normal person, but we're both losing actual lung function. If you look at the test reports, you'll notice that what you blew is always expressed in liters, and those liters go down year by year.

I hope this explains it clearly.

Jean

The problem is that it's a progressive disease. The doc give us meds to slow it down but they cannot cure it. COPD also effects other parts of our body like it gave me pulmonary hypertension which is the heart trying to get more oxygen from the blood. Then at times the heart valve joins the crowd by leaking so low oxygen levels. Our lungs get stiff and really don't function well so we huff and puff. Oxygen is our life blood and the lungs provide it. Once the lungs are damaged its done no repair.

To all: I have a sheet I got from the hospital that tells you what copd is here goes...copd is a process in which the air flow is restricted from leaving the lungs. It is also an end stage process of previous damage with the most common cause being smoking. It is essentially irreversible and treatment is mainly supportive. The lungs can never return to normal, but there are measures you can take which will improve them and make you feel better. Avoid antihistamines and cough syrups, because they tend to dry your system up and slow down the elimination of secretions. This in turn decreases respiratory capacity and may lead to infections. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day, which will loosen secretions or mucus you can use a humidifer if they don't make breathing difficult.

Its possible we deteriote over time because as we get older our bodies lose alot of things. Our immune system doesnt work as well we dont eat as well, etc. Everyone loses these things at a different rate . My body is getting better because im getting my bone density fixed which is helping me alot. I get alot of exercise because I still work, alot of walking. But the thing is sometimes you think its getting worse because you think you are going to go back to being that person that didnt have copd, dont deny you have it you just have to adjust your life around it cause there is no cure but you can still live a long with it. Like the guy said positive attitude goes aloooong way. I have adjusted my life around my copd and I just have to know my limits and I have to adjust for my age too. But I dont let the copd define me. Enough said, hope I didnt offend anyone.