April 30, 2024
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Welcome to Faces of Bezzy, a series spotlighting members of the Bezzy community. There’s nothing like hearing and learning from others who’ve walked in your shoes. Chat with other community members, learn something new, or maybe even make a lifelong friend.
I was diagnosed with COPD (emphysema) in 2016. I had some shortness of breath, so my doctor did a CT scan and found it.
Right now, I’m home nursing a broken foot and getting ready for a major ankle and foot reconstruction, so I can’t drive.
My Yorkie Teddy and I get up at about 8 a.m. I do some yoga or band exercises, make coffee and breakfast, and check my email while watching the morning news.
I usually have doctor calls or appointments and check on things my mom needs done. Then, in the afternoon, after lunch, I do some work.
When I am in the recliner most of the day, I have a heated blanket that helps with pain. I have multiple autoimmune and connective tissue diseases in addition to lung issues. I do some chair exercises every hour or so.
I wish I had changed doctors sooner. My first pulmonologist told me nothing! I had to read in my CT report that I had emphysema.
My new pulmonologist is wonderful. He is always open to questions and available when I have a problem.
Definitely getting out of breath so quickly. People think you can build up stamina all the time. That is partially true, but with COPD, you hit a wall at some point.
Before my ankle problems, I could walk about a block. I could try every day, and that was as far as I’d get without huffing and puffing.
How absolutely wiped out I get from little things.
Don’t give up! There may be no cure, but there are a lot of treatments. Ask for another treatment if you think yours isn’t working.
I always like to help people with things I’ve learned on my long journey with chronic illness.
Someone welcomed a new member to the forum the other day and wrote, “You could always ask Marcia anything. She knows a lot, and she cares.” That really made me feel good.
Fact checked on April 30, 2024
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