Emphysema and asthma

there is no topic for emphysema on the forum list but asthma is very close to the same thing brochitis and lungs .

several years back I noticed my legs were just falling asleep trying to carry my now oldest son up to the Plain of Six Glaciers at Lake Louise it was unusual and forget the trip down my wife had to carry him to make along story short many events occurred since then and just 6 months ago I was diagnosed with emphysema breathing was getting impossible and even a specialist kept side tracking the problem so I had no choice but to consult a Russian GP and he picked upon the problem right away I received inhalers and finally breathe better but I can't run anymore

I tried to play street hockey with a mob of Jr High kids this last summer but I couldn't run ...4 running steps and that was it for 2 or 3 minutes and then another 4 running steps same thing and the more I tried the longer it took to catch my breath and my heart was beating faster than ever two weeks after that was when a Cat Scan showed the emphysema .Living with this is not easy but now I understand the disease much better and know how to breath to extract the left over air in my lungs.

One thing I've learned about emphysema and forums is the stages each person is at is so different that sometimes it creates horrible animosity between those who are on oxygen all the time and those who just can't run anymore and take nebulizers and oxygen occasionally.

I hope to meet some people here who are going through this illness.

I can't run anymore either. I remember, every once in a while, how I used to run like the wind. Those days are long gone. The most terrifying thing for me is stairs. I avoid them at all costs. I can't climb stairs. I'm at a stage where I can do a lot of the things I used to do but only for a minute. Then I can't breath and its panic time. But I manage. You probably will too. We're not totally finished.. I have COPD with emphysema and good doctors. My condition is well maintained so I do all right. Take your medicine and slow down and you'll probably be fine. I use oxygen when walking or exerting myself and when sleeping. I have a little tank slung over my shoulder and I'm just fine. You just have to learn your limitations and carry on. I noticed too, that not many COPD people post here. I'm just passing through and thought I'd respond to your post. I wish you all the best.

Hey JKB :) I saw your post and thought I would say hi and hope you get to doing better. Not being able to breathe and do the things we used to is really hard. I've been dealing with this since I was a kid, but when I was older I decided I would become a smoker which wreaked more havoc on me. Now that I quit (thank God) I still am having problems. Well, I'll try to avoid the further testing until needed, because I am a firm believer in the power of the mind for healing, so if I knew anything else for sure, I would have major anticipatory anxiety over it :) lol Life is a trip sometimes.