I am 48, diagnosed with COPD December of 2017. It is 8 months later and being in and out of the hospital 9 times with different medications, nothing seems to work. I have chronic dyspnea, emphysema, and chronic exacerbations of asthma. I am scared and don’t want to die. I have a special needs child and she understands what is going to happen. I am feeling smothered suddenly this month, not all the time, but breathing fast at times also. It is depressing, all my dreams shattered when I got the news. I am down, I want to live.

I have had asthma my whole life but about 7 years ago my asthma got so bad and I was diagnosed with emphysema/COPD which was most likely due to the asthma. I was on double antibiotics and steroids, still didn't feel any better. I already used Advair, Spiriva, and albuterol in my nebulizer, they just didn’t do much. It has been awful for me due to the difficulty in breathing.

I received my test results and found out that I have COPD and emphysema.