I have been told on three occasions that I would probably die before the night was over. The first time was 12 years ago and I had a feeding tube for 2 weeks and slowly got better, the second time was 6 years ago when once again I had a feeding tube for 2 weeks and was released from the hospital that time too. My downfall was that both of these times I came home and continued to smoke. I continued this for another 3 years and was once again in the hospital being told if I survived I could never live alone. This is when I went to an assisted living facility and had to give up smoking - this was the best thing for me because I became stronger and have been back in my home alone for the past 3 years. I am now as active as I can be in my Church and continue my daily routine but know my limits. I believe we have to go through these things sometimes to bring us closer to God and each time we go through a bad time we can tell everyone around us about our experiences and spread the word that God is good. I know my experiences have even touched my Doctors as I was able to witness to them. Life isn't easy sometimes but none of us will die until God calls us to be with Him.

I don't. You can't explain how you struggle. They don't think much about it because they all don't have to live with. Besides, it uses energy to explain.

@A MyCOPDTeam Member, I just want to say it's an incredibly cruel thing to blame someone's past actions for their present illness. It is one thing for us to say so ourselves, it's quite another for a loved one to do so. And what's more, so absolutely pointless and achieves nothing. Suggest you don't talk about it too much there, come here instead where there is support. Hugs and more hugs.

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A MyCOPDT...

I think my family & friends feel that I'm ok now that I've stopped smoking and they think that my COPD has gone (or will go soon) they don't realise that the damage to my lungs is permanent and will get worse!!!
I think although they say they understand they don't really as they stopped asking me to go on shopping trips (although I can still walk for miles if I go somewhere I can have a trolley to lean on) with them.... I know they think they're being kind in 'not making me walk' but I'd feel better & safer if I could go with them rather than on my own.
Although I can still do most things (for the moment) they don't realise how long it takes to do everyday things like dishes, dusting, hoovering, changing beds etc.
Rant over - I'm so lucky to still be able to do everything I can. If and when I have a bad day I just take it easy and hope the next day will be better.....

There is a short story called "The Spoon Theory" which you can find online. Read through it with them and both of you will have a better understanding of what you go through. I also ask them to breathe through a straw to get a slight idea of the problem. We can get the oxygen in, but we can't breathe out the carbon dioxide, so therefor it gets trapped in our airways. Another good suggestion is that it feels a bit like being trapped underwater and you are fighting for air. We COPDers live with this everyday.. When it is very smoggy outside, or extremely hot, or you are way up high in the air, or extremely cold, my husband who is in the peak of health with no breathing issues even has trouble breathing in that kind of environment. He then looks at me and says "I think I have an idea what you must be going through".