How long can you live with COPD?

Question

I am 34 yrs old and have been diagnosed with COPD with asthma on top of that. Iguess it has just started to set in on me that I,m slowly dying. They told me that it's moderate. I am just wanting to know approx. I know that everyone is different so I just wanted to see if anyone could tell me!

I have had pneumonia (double) several times. I catch colds, flu, whatever is going around. I havepartly blocked airways and I have damage to the air sacs, my airways stay swollen most of the time and I have alot of mucus most of the time also, sometimes so thick it feels like I can't breathe or it feels like there is a very tiny hole to breathe through. Maybe these details help.

Answer 1

Pretty scarey stuff.

I had never heard of COPD when the pulmonologist said I had it. I also was diagnosed with the asthma. According to all the info I could find, COPD was either emphysema or chronic bronchitis. The pulmonologist assured me I had asthma COPD. Then I tried to find information on the life expectancy; all I could find was that it's the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. and did, indeed, sound as though my time left was seriously short. After a lot of exploration and talking with others having COPD, I determined that everyone is different. Johnny Carson died of emphysema at 85. He had had it for at least the past 20-30 years.

I was diagnosed three years ago and the doctor suggested from my history of pneumonia, colds, etc, that I had had this condition for many years. In 1996 I had to have a company physical and flunked the spirometry test. I was told that people often have the condition for years before it is properly diagnosed. As HMOs are prone to do, they determined a specialist was unnecessary and the family practitioner prescribed inhalers, steroids, asthma medication, etc. for every incident of flareups.

I would have told you three years ago my time was very limited. Would have bet no more than a year or so. Actually, now that my medication has been adjusted to necessary levels, I feel better than I have in years. I went from oxygen 24/7 to now only when I sleep and exercise. I go to the healthplex and use the treadmill and pool often. I amaze myself at how much I have improved with a little exercise.

My doctor does recommend I keep my pnuemonia and flu shots up to date and steer clear of anyone with a cold to lessen the chance of exacerbation. The asthma medication can have a side effect of depression, so be alert to that. We especially don't need to slump into a depression. I do take an anti-depressant because finding out I had the condition really hit me hard and coupled with the medication, well, I need it. Attitude is a big determinant in COPD's severity on a person.

Absolutely no one can tell you how much time you have left whether because of COPD or anything else. You're not going to be doing any more mountain climbing or run the Boston Marathon, but it is so important to live each day to the fullest. There's still plenty you can do, and you will probably live a long, productive life as long as you aren't your own worst enemy and just give up.

Answer 2

Life Expectancy With Copd

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How long can you live with COPD?
I am 34 yrs old and have been diagnosed with COPD with asthma on top of that. Iguess it has just started to set in on me that I,m slowly dying. They told me that it's moderate. I am just wanting to know approx. I know that everyone is different so I just wanted to see if anyone could tell me!

Answer 4

COPD is a very broad term describing what is going on with the oxygen exchange in your body. Without knowing more than you have asthma it's impossible to say what your life expectancy might be. You could live for another 70 years based on what you have asked.

Answer 5

I was diagnosed 8 yrs. ago and it was already severe and I was scared but my family physician referred me to a specialist and with the medication and checkups every 3 to 6 months my condition has stayed the same. If you don't quit smoking however you may not do well for long. We have started a group called the Better Breathers club and for a small fee twice a week we exercise at an empty office at the hospital and have a nurse and a volunteer to monitor us and oxygen available to use and most of us need that. We also have formed a close bond. You might try to work with your hospital or Dr. to try to get a group going.

Answer 6

Every person with COPD is different, but if you take care of yourself and stop smoking you can live quite a long time.

Answer 7

You can live along time with COPD. Quit smoking, if you do, and try to exercise. I know the latter will be hard with the SOB you will bre having. Try to keep your O2 on if you were given it and pratice your "pursed lip" breathing.