First of all, COPD is not a death sentence. When you see a pulmonologist, you should have at least a spirometry test if not a full blown Pulmonary Function Test (PFT which includes spirometry). Make sure you get a copy of the test results and be sure your pulmonologist explains the results in words of one syllable so you understand what they're saying. Ask questions until you do understand and ask them to speak English or whatever your language is! Then you need to know what meds are going to be prescribed, how you take them and what they're supposed to do. Make sure you understand which ones are maintenance meds and which one is for rescue. The most important question you should ask is what can you do to help yourself, and you should hear about things like exercise, diet, exercise, weight control, exercise, healthy diet....you get the idea. If Pulmonary Rehab doesn't get into the conversation, ask about it.

Don't worry about the stage until you actually have some information. I know many people who have been at stage 3 and 4 for well over 20 years. I'm one of them. The keys are really no smoking, daily exercise of at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise and strengthening exercises three times a week, and decent weight control. Those three things will do more to improve your life than any of the meds we take. Guaranteed.

For good information, go to www.copdfoundation.org and go to the "learn more" tab. The Foundation is a patient founded and patient influenced site that has lots of information written by pulmonologists, RTs, nurses and lots of patients. Patients are involved as staff and as members of major committees and parts of the Foundation. I sit on one major committee and am on the Board of the Patient Powered Research Network. I also serve as a principal patient investigator in a clinical trial that's partially sponsored by the Foundation. There are places for patients who understand their chronic condition well to participate and get involved. You'll learn a lot!

We can all be each others family!!

Hard to answer for each person is different....was diagnosed about 15 years ago and still function good only a littler slower.
Wait until you see a specialist and most likely take a breathing test..
This is not a death sentence . Good luck...relax.

No one knows that You have to keep having your reviews until they tell you it’s gone to serve
And then you have to go under a consultant at that stage in my case he then tells you there’s not a lot he can do just send you for more scans and monitor your sleep patterns and at the end of all test you just go on as I do
And at the end of the day there’s nothing they can do
And as myself if you have no family you just have to suffer in silence
Keep breathing and have faith x

Good afternoon. I stayed at stage 3 for over 3 years and then got pneumonia and was in the hospital for a week . At my follow up visit my pulmonary doctor put me on prednisone and two inhalers, one was to use as a rescue inhaler for when i got real short of breath. The prednisone was a tapper down to 5 mg. He explained that I was now stage 4 very severe due to scaring from the pheumonia. I have been at stage 4 for over two years now. When you get yourself a good pulmonary doctor then they will get you on the right treatment plan. Having a pulmonary doctor is key to how well you do. Try not to worry and stay active even if you have to go slower than before and take lots of breaks.