Symptoms of COPD
The first symptom of COPD is usually coughing that produces mucus, followed by shortness of breath after activities such as climbing the stairs or walking uphill. Many times a person experiencing difficulty breathing will cut back on activities that cause shortness of breath. Over time, these breathing difficulties usually get worse, and a person with COPD might eventually have trouble even dressing and bathing himself. He might get tired easily, lose the ability to concentrate, and put strain on his heart because his lungs are not processing enough oxygen. Strain on the heart can lead to swollen feet, ankles, and legs from water retention; this is called edema (i-dee-ma).
People with these conditions sometimes have a serious flare-up of symptoms, usually caused by an infection.
NOTE: The most difficult symptom of COPD to deal with is shortness of breath. People with COPD feel as if they have no control over their breathing and might die. They may become more and more anxious as it becomes harder to breathe. This is also the most difficult symptom for caregivers to deal with.
HI TO ALL WELL I AM A CPOD PERSON I AM 673/4,I'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT9-10 YEARS NOW AT FIRST I WAS ON O2--2LED.65%OF MY LUNGS THEN I HAD A I FILLED UP WITH WATER,I WENT UP TO 303,I HAD CONGENTAL HART FAIL.THE WITH A CATH.TOOK OUT 3.5 GALS.OF WATER,THEN MY LUNGS STARTED TO WORK BETTER SLOW AT FRIST THEN ALL HELL LET LOSE MY LUNGS STARTED TO WORK TO FAST ALL AT ONCE THE PAIN I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIET HE THEN SAID TRY TO CONTROL MY BREATHING OR HE WOULD GIVE A PILL THAT SLOW MY LUNGS DOWN BUT IT WOULD BE HARD ON ME SO I GET THEM SLOWED DOWN.NOW I HAVE READ ALL IN INPUT ON THE ABOVE PAGES,PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND THAT'S ME.BUT NOW I KNOW THAT I AM GOING DOWN STEADY I GET HOPE I GO FAST OR HAVE HART A TAC AND DIE IF NOT I COULD LIVE YEARS IN BED.YOU SEE I AM A BIG BABY,WHEN I SEE MY DOCTOR I WINNE ABOUT HOW I FEEL,THEN WOULD TELL ME BOB YOU THOUGHT YOU WHERE GOING TO DIE FOR THE PASTED 6 YEARS AND YOUR STILL HERE.SO HAVE LEARNED THAT EACH DAY I LIVE AND IDO THE MOST I CAN I DRIVE A CAMPER FROM IDAHO TO MONTANA.AND I PLAIN TO KEEP IT UP AS LONG AS I CAN.TO ALL THE LADY ANGLE I AM SOUNDING OFF TO YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU READ THIS AND TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT I SAID PLEASE.GOD BLESS ALL OF US WITH THIS OF-FULL THING WE HAVE.ROBERT LAPOINTE.