I need a bit of advice

[vapourized]

Hi all and wonder if you can help me with a bit of honest advice and help.

I've been diagnosed with the first stages of COPD and I only found that out from a phone call from the doctors receptionist when she phoned me up to have a flue jab, as I'm only 63 I asked why I was being called in to have a jab and that's when she looked at my notes and told me.

Anyway, that's not the issue really, after the length of time I've been smoking and the amount I smoked then I'm not surprised but what I haven't got is any information or procedures, prognosis - nothing, so I'm floundering a bit. I've done the worst possible thing which everybody does but knows that you shouldn't and that's to Google it!!

So, I'm after any information, help etc or first hand knowledge so that I can get this round my head. I am not smoking at all now, just using the vape but is this causing me problems and should I stop using it as well? So many questions and hardly no information yet. I do know that stopping smoking is THE major thing to not cure it as there is no cure but to at least stop making it worse.

The really stupid thing is that right at this very moment in time I feel absolutely fine, I don't feel out of breath and I haven't got a cough but the breath machine I used show that there is an obstruction so it's definitely there.

So any information or advice would be much appreciated.

And mods, if I have posted this in the wrong part of the forum then please feel free to move it but I thought that I'd post it here as this is where most people know me.

Graham

[beautycat]

Aww graham #grouphug# sorry for your news , I don't know I'm sorry but my thoughts are with you

[Queenie Bee]

Graham the admin team are not trained to read info out over the phone if I were you I would make an appointment an discuss with your doctor !!! I was told over the phone that I had abnormal fat cells in my blood when I went to the doc she said I had double the good cholesterol nothing to worry over please see your doc and put your mind at ease

[FirinBlanks]

I'm sure I read that there are others here that have COPD, hold on and I'm sure you'll get some help understanding what you need to know.

[vapourized]

Nov 27, 2012 19:55:39 GMT Queenie Bee said:

Graham the admin team are not trained to read info out over the phone if I were you I would make an appointment an discuss with your doctor !!! I was told over the phone that I had abnormal fat cells in my blood when I went to the doc she said I had double the good cholesterol nothing to worry over please see your doc and put your mind at ease

I have made an appointment today to see another Doc for exactly that reason but I do know that what she said is correct - the doc who I saw originally back in May when I did the test came in as I was having my flu jab and I said to him that I was a bit surprised to have been told that I had COPD and all I got back was "Why are you surprised when you have been smoking for so long" and then he turned and walked out!!! Nice.

I know that I deserve everything I get from smoking for so long, I'm not arguing against that and I'm not after sympathy either - totally my fault, but now that I have it I just need to know what to do next (if anything) and what to expect.

Graham

[giles]

Queenie's right Graham - see your doc.

In the meantime, don't worry too much about COPD. I also have it. At my age (same as yours) and smoking history it would be surprising if I didn't.

There's no reason to believe that vaping makes it worse.

Presumably you've had a lung test (if not the doc will arrange one) and the doc will talk you through the results, tell you if it's worth having an (asthma-type) inhaler available, which is the next thing. Probably won't be.

My guess is that there is nothing wrong with you that you don't already know about. COPD is just the name they give to a bunch of symptoms relating to shortness of breath which are the almost inevitable result of years of smoking. They can't cure it, they can only "manage" it - which usually just means flu jabs, pneumonia jabs.

[giles]

Sorry crossed post. That doc sounds like a

I'd see another one. If he/she doesn't mention inhalers, ask (I'd probably have one now if I was still smoking). Same with pneumonia jab.

One other thing - if you don't already take some regular exercise I'd start. It doesn't have to be strenuous, just regular. A good easy read about that is "Younger next year" by Henry S Lodge and Chris Crowley.

[Blownupdolly]

Totally agree with Giles.
I spent a couple of weeks in hospital 2mths ago and came out being diagnosed with moderate COPD. The ironic thing was I had already stopped smoking a couple of weeks before that using one of those horrid elite things.
I hope this reassures you. When i was in there, i asked if it was ok to use my ecig and the doc said not only would hr prefer i did that to smoking but i was given permission to smoke it on the ward!! Take from that what you will. I define it as a big green light.

[pikeybarsteward]

COPD is what it is , I ve got it , had it since my late 20s . It sounds like yours is a pretty mild case , if you re capable of brisk walking or carrying shopping ...and you dont take any inhaler to manage it ...you re pretty much worrying about nothing .
It can be a total disability in its final stages , but really all long term smokers get it to some degree . Theres no doubt giving up smoking is the single most important thing you can do to manage it .
Really sorting out dust in your home and protecting yourself from excesses of urban traffic pollution will help . Even as a smoker ,just moving to the countryside improved my respiratory health significantly .
Theres little doubt that inhaling eliquid will have some effect on the COPD ....however my experience (of several years) is that the effect is minimal . I certainly wouldnt be vaping 10ml/day or anything tho lol . JC from Flavourart is promoting his 4.5 liquid . Minimizing the carrier you inhale seems to be wize , hes a COPD sufferer himself I believe .
I only vape 36mg these days for that reason ...On 18-24 I was chainvaping

[vapourized]

Nov 27, 2012 20:25:37 GMT giles said:

Sorry crossed post. That doc sounds like a

I'd see another one. If he/she doesn't mention inhalers, ask (I'd probably have one now if I was still smoking). Same with pneumonia jab.

One other thing - if you don't already take some regular exercise I'd start. It doesn't have to be strenuous, just regular. A good easy read about that is "Younger next year" by Henry S Lodge and Chris Crowley.

Perfect Giles - that's exactly the information I was after. You have made me feel so much better with just those few words and I really thank you for that. ;-)

I will have a look at taking some regular exercise too, I normally run up the stairs at two at a time at work about 12 times a day, I have just run up and down our stairs two at a time one after the other at home here in front of my wife just to see what I was like and I wasn't even out of breath and nothing - I was breathing slightly heavier than normal but certainly not out of breath - I just don't get it.

Graham

[Banky]

Hi Graham,
I suffer with asthma and emphysema smoked for about 50 odd years started very young
started vaping over 2 year ago best thing i did don't have C.O.P.D if i was you i would keep
to vaping i spoke to my doctor and consultant i was vaping and their answer was better then
cigerattes.

My sister has C.O.P.D and uses a steroid inhaler and a Ventolin ( Salbutamol ) inhaler and she is doing fine
and gets the flu jab every year. I'm sure if you have a word with your doctor he will explain this to you
and will pleased if you keep away from the cigs what your doc will say about vaping have no idea.

About mods don't know what you are looking for i have a chameleon 18650 and a legacy v1 18650
if its a kit your a looking for what about a ego.

C.O.P.D Narrowing of the airways

[giles]

Glad I could help Graham.

Nov 27, 2012 20:34:20 GMT vapourized said:

I normally run up the stairs at two at a time at work about 12 times a day, I have just run up and down our stairs two at a time one after the other at home here in front of my wife just to see what I was like and I wasn't even out of breath and nothing - I was breathing slightly heavier than normal but certainly not out of breath - I just don't get it.

Sounds to me like there's nothing much wrong with you. These tests and jabs - they don't do any harm, might do some good, and they get paid to do them. COPD is what they put on the form to make it all go smoothly. That said, COPD can go on getting worse even after you give up smoking (irrespective of whether you vape or not) so it is worth keeping an eye on.

Nov 27, 2012 20:28:24 GMT pikeybarsteward said:

Theres little doubt that inhaling eliquid will have some effect on the COPD

Not sure I agree with you pikey. There is no evidence that I know of that inhaling PG does any damage that lasts longer than 10 minutes. The evidence about the reduced capacity for 10 minutes is also pretty weak.

[Chrissie]

(((Graham))) I'm so sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with the first stages of COPD

No problem for me with this thread being here, but if you would prefer it to be moved into the more private "Members Only" board, please let me know.

[vapourized]

Nov 27, 2012 21:03:48 GMT Chrissie said:

(((Graham))) I'm so sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with the first stages of COPD

No problem for me with this thread being here, but if you would prefer it to be moved into the more private "Members Only" board, please let me know.

Thanks Chrissie, you're lovely. :-)

I suggest that we leave it here so that it's more public, my questions and the great replies might just help someone else who becomes in the same situation or knows of someone who is in the same situation so this thread will help others and not just me.

Graham

[pikeybarsteward]

Giles mate , I m not really talking about 'damage' per se . PG and PEG seem pretty benign substances . It just seems that every inhaled droplet or particle isnt exactly an ideal situation for optimum respiratory health . Even the staff of life , flour , if inhaled in sufficient quantaties can lead to occupational asthma for bakers .
As you say PG and PEG(I think )are well researched as inhaled substances , theres even evidence they could even offer a degree of protection from infections .
It just seems wize to me to keep my vaping down to a few ml/day , I take a combination COPD inhaler and lead a full and active rural life.Fulltime vaping benefits were immediate and enduring . Out in west wales I probably inhale more rain/day