I quit in 1992 after smoking 30 years. In 2022 I will have been tobacco free for as long as I smoked. As for learning to manage and control this disease, you need a good pulmonologist to begin with. Your family doc is probably not going to be very helpful, not because they're not good docs, but because they don't get much information about COPD and many don't know of any of the new things that have been developed, researched and become best practices in the last 10 - 20 years. Many still think that very little can be done for COPD, and they don't like feeling helpless, so they pretty much give up.

A good pulmonologist knows better and will not only prescribe meds, but exercise, diet and a healthy lifestyle that will benefit everyone. We do have to take charge of our own health and part of that process is finding a good doc for you.

There is no cure for COPD, we are in a terrible fix and there is no way out. I just take my medicine and thank God that I am able to be here another day to see and be here on earth with my loved ones. It is not an easy road but a road I must travel.

.I quit cold turkey in 1974 Never missed it and felt better in a few weeks. Was not DX until 1984 . I walk 2 miles a day, clean my house, grocery shop and haul the bags into the house, cook etc. I show 96 -97 on the oximeter but do get SOB and take neb treatments as needed . I have asthma as well and I am 81, will be 82 in March , the Lord willing.Stopped with all my pregnancies as soon as it was confirmed . I could always stop but could not cut down and if I picked up a cigarette now I would be back to a pack or more in a few days.

My quit date is 5/25/17. Roughly 4 1/2 months ago. I felt a difference within a month. Coughing has almost disappeared and breathing is easier. My quit date is also the day I found out I had COPD. Saw a picture of my lungs and the damage I had done and stopped that very minute.

I quit 60 years ago and still ended up with COPD but Idid feel better when I quit. Hubby didn't quit so I still ended up with this problem. Breatheasy!