Hey fellow junkies,
I want to pick your brain, if I may. My dad was diagnosed with COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease recently. He has smoked for 60 years, which I know isn't helpful with this. He did quit about a month ago. I've done some research on this to see if there is a turn around after quitting smoking but I'm not finding much out there. Do you know anyone who has had this disease or been treated for it and how helpful it was? I'd love any info you can send my way. Of course, prayers are always helpful too. He's in the hospital now and hopefully will get out this weekend. Thanks.

Cheryl, my brother's boss had that. He was trying some new treatments but it didn't help him much, sorry to say. I'll keep your Dad and family in my prayers. ((Hugs))

Sorry to say, there is no turn around. But people (half my family) lives for many years before it gets really bad and then the inevitable. There are drug therapies to make it bearable and breathing therapy to do that helps.

Cheryl,
I'm sorry to hear the news and your family will be in my prayers and thoughts. With that being said COPD is kind of a crud diagnosis. I say that b/c in all reality it is actually how they just lump a bunch of lung illnesses without a specific cause, treatment or test into a bowl so they can actually call it something. I don't mean that as horrible as it sounds, but I really do blame a lack of research for not having a BETTER diagnosis.
Unfortunately, there is not much to be done. Quitting smoking was the best thing, and if he is in any kind of shape to start treating the lungs better (with some walking or exercising of some sort) it can make the symptoms less severe at times. There is not much of a "turn around" but a lot can be done to help the symptoms, and by taking better care of himself this is not an automatic sentence to a end of a lifestyle. However, I definitely recommend finding a good cardio-pulmonary specialist...and always have good communication with the medical team. Any new symptoms or ailments that arise need to be addressed separately, and of course may help with having better answers.

Hope your dad is doing okey Cheryl. My dad had COPD before he passed on. He was on oxygen. My boyfriend has it. He had to have all but 1/2 a lung removed but he does very well with just a half a lung. Hope your dad gets better soon. Prayers on their way girl.

Hey...You want a good story??? Now this may be under Michelle's "they lump everything together"...It may also be that they caught it early...But, my Mom was diagnosed with COPD...She smoked for years, but as soon as they diagnosed her she gave it up...Very proud!!!...They orginally gave her some breathing exercises , and an inhaler...After a couple of months she was basically fine. I never really see her use it anymore, and I never really see her having any problems breathing...TG!!!

Thanks guys, for all the stories and info. That helps. I'm hoping that he stays off the smokes. Time will tell. Right now it's easy cause he feels like &#^#% but once he feels better who knows? He did get home today, yay! They did find some both pneumonia and bronchitis on his tests so, I'm hoping once that all clears out he'll be way better. Thanks again, everyone for sharing.

Keep us posted Cheryl on how your dad is doing!