I've been reading all the comments about Ventolin and I find them all interesting. I've been on Ventolin, as a support inhalant for the past 15 years - my doctor does not like to chop and change meds. I have also found Asmol, which is identical to Ventolin (does the same work) and is a bit less expensive!! Naturally, I'm on three other inhalants which, all together, seem to be keeping me more or less stable. Obviously, like most of us, there are good days and not so good days, but I get the feeling that we've all got broad shoulders and somehow get through the yucky ones - a little tired, but ready for the next round!!!! Good breathing, everyone!

Stage 4 "The end stage" means you are at the end and going to die soon.
This is wrong. The stages mean nothing. Just a number. This is the last testing for lung capacity. It is meant as a guide for Drs to aid them in helping and prescribing for their patients. There are no more tests for stages after 4. You can love a long time in stage 4 with proper care

Give them a straw and let them breathe through it while holding their nose. That should set them straight.

I am not sure if this is a myth, it may be more of a misconception, but some folks think that you have COPD because you were a smoker and they think we got what we deserved. This really bugs me because first of all, who deserves this? Second, many of us have this disease due to other factors or exposure to toxic materials or different diseases. Even those who were smokers do not deserve this judgement because it was once a normal thing to do and socially accepted. I want to tell some of them to judge not, lest ye be judged.

Not so much myth as lack of understanding from those not affected. I have heard this called the invisible disease and that is highly applicable. Some days I do great with work and exercise (yoga and breathing) but my chest is in constant pain. No one sees this pain. Some days the anxiety makes it really difficult to even drive to work and yet drive I must and so I do. My associates only see that I am there and working, they don't see the pain or understand the fear when the breathing gets difficult. Then again, not really their job to deal with my problems. I don't want sympathy for problems I created for myself but some education on what we go through would be nice. My Doctors cannot even tell me what to expect other than saying I won't get better. I choose to try to get better anyway by eating right, breathing right, practicing yoga (huge help), and working a very physically demanding job.