C O P D ???

[mimitabby]

wow, that's awful! I hope it's something you can get under control!

[PinkBike]

my hubby was diagnosed with COPD and he's perfectly ok to ride as long as he does his inhaler course and also brings one with him.
of course he was also diagnosed with asthma, exercise-induced asthma and allergies, so i dont take much stock in what doctors know about breathing things.

[Grog]

I agree with the others, it's unusual in active people.

I don't know much about it, except what I've heard from respirologist (aka pneumologist) friends about it. It usually is related to smoking, environmental/work issues (like working in an environment with an enormous amount of dust).

I strongly recommend seeing a specialist about it to confirm the diagnosis and get some education about how to manage it. I'm not certain, but nearly sure that you can at least stop the progress of COPD, if not partly reverse it.

I'm also quite certain that "quit riding" is not part of the solution...

Big hug - good luck.

[makbike]

My mom has COPD and here is what has been recommended to her:

1. Get plenty of exercise to keep the remaining lung tissue as healthy as possible.

2. Drink plenty of water.

3. Eat a healthy diet with lots of good protein.

4. Watch your weight

5. Use your medications/inhalers as directed

Make sure you find yourself a good pulmonologist and work closely with them to manage this disease.

Keep us posted.

[teigyr]

Very scary stuff.

Please let us know what you find out. I've been active my whole life but have become more sensitive to outside influences. I've been known to go out for an evening (not even in exercising) and end up not breathing well due to cold/damp/smoke. There are times my ribs feel bruised if I touch them from the outside.

It's surprising, kinda, but I know how I am and how an otherwise active "healthy" person can succomb to strange things.

I don't know anything about COPD and I tend to avoid inhaler things like the plague. Could be my downfall but I am curious as to how you fare.

I'd say 2nd opinion definitely. Then maybe try to find out why it happened?

[ClockworkOrange]

At the moment the only medication I am using is Seretide 125.

This is a bronchodilator. This relaxes the muscles in the walls of the small air passages in the lungs. It helps to open the airways and makes it easier for air to get in and out of the lungs. The effects of Seretide last for at least 12 hours.

When it is taken regularly it helps the small air passages to remain open.

I use to smoke, although always less than 10 per day and not every day. I gave up almost 3 years ago.

No, I have not worked with any hazardous substances at work and the area I live, I should imagine the air is reasonable clean, unlike when I lived in London many years ago.

I agree with what makbike posted, keeping a very sensible life style.

The only down side I guess is that the damage done cannot be reversed, so I must ensure I do all the right things from now on.

It was great the feedback that I received from you guys, BIG thanks.

Clock........not ticking quite so fast at the moment!