Emphysema: What has your experience been like?

Hello members,

How are you today?

I thought I would open this discussion today to talk about emphysema!

For those who do not know, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is actually an umbrella term used to describe a group of lung conditions that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions making up COPD.

Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs caused by over-inflation of the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs). So, a person with emphysema has COPD, but not everyone with COPD has emphysema.

So, what about you? When were you diagnosed with COPD or emphysema? How long have you had it? How are you doing today? 
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T‍ake care,
Courtney 

Hi Group just found out a week ago im in the mild stages of emphysema and she put me on symbicort..Is there anyone here on it and does it help? I'm also trying to quit smoking.. Shes also wants me to get the vaccine im very hesitate to get it cause for one the last flu vaccine I took i got badly sick from it ..And I've heard so many bad side effects with this vaccine ..How many here have emphysema and has taken the vaccine ? And what side effects did u have if any ? Thanks 

Hello @Readybird19641!‍, thank you for your comment. I've moved it here to our emphysema discussion group for more visibility. Feel free to join our group by adding emphysema to your profile here: Add a condition

Can anyone share their experiences and advice with Readybird19641! ?

Take care,
Courtney

I'll be 80 years old on 4/18. I have emphysema due to stupidly smoking for 61 years before I quit. I'm on medication (Spiriva) and am pretty well controlled although sometimes I have difficulty breathing when lying down so I have to sit up in order to get a good breath. I am well aware that emphysema is a progressive disease even when being treated but, thanks to the breathing exercises given to me by my pulmonologist and some I have invented on my own that he has now passed on to his other patients, it's not progressing as quickly as he expected it to progress.