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Back in 2008 I got pregnant with my now 5 year old daughter. Just prior to getting pregnant, I was having issues with pain. After I found out I was pregnant I had a major attack, the pain, unbearable. Gallbladder, gall stones. I needed surgery, but being pregnant prevented that. I spent the next 6 months drinking muscle milk and slimfast, because food wouldn't stay down. I had my baby girl and dreaded going back to work, I was so tired. No energy at all.
Being a single mother, who had already raised 2 kids, was tough. Thankfully they helped me a lot. In 2009, I waited until my baby was 6 months old to have the gallbladder removed. Thinking I will FINALLY have some energy! Nothing. It was even worse.
My days at work were now spent sitting in a chair and delegating to my employees. Where I had been super active and all over the store prior, even pregnant. I started making appointments to find a solution to my extremely low energy problem. I was now only able to do about 15% of the workload I had done. I was getting REALLY sick every 2 months, and it took WEEKS to start to feel better. I never got completely over it, but would feel a little better and it would come back full force.
Each appointment I was told I was coughing because I was a smoker, given a zpac and steroids and sent away, only to come back in 2 months. Finally, after a year of this, I went to the ER. They admitted me and said I had full on pneumonia and sepsis. Great! I was so sick the infection was now in my blood. After I got out of the hospital I was feeling much better, but still no energy. I started to take frequent vacations, and LONG weekends. None of this helped me.
So, I switched doctors. The new one admitted she didn't know respiratory illness well and asked if I was okay with the respiratory specialist taking over my appt. Sure, great! Well, she knew what she was doing! She asked me lots of questions and did a spirometry test. Yep, my lungs function was very low. My FEV1 was 40%. Think of that as your lungs only working at 40% of what they should be working at.
"You know April, if you get sick like that just one more time..."
I knew, it could be the last time I would ever get sick. She was wonderful and so caring and HONEST. She put me on Spiriva, Advair 50/500 and an albuterol rescue inhaler. I also got a nebulizer and was to do treatments twice daily. I was also referred to a pulmonologist and pulmonary rehabilitation. Sweet relief! Sure, I was very sick... But now I knew how to control it, what to avoid, how to care for myself. That was in 2010.
Now, my FEV1 is down to 26% and my pulmo is talking double transplant. I am only 41, my daughter is 5. I think I'll wait. I can no longer work, and have been fighting with SSI Disability for 3 1/2 years. Just had my hearing and that went very well. Hopefully, in a few months I will get that decision and a check! I have never been able to be a stay at home mother, and because of my family am I able to now.
I dedicate my spare time to running HOPEforCOPD, I have a website, 2 blogs, and a support group on Facebook. They keep me busy and it is SO nice to talk to others that really understand what you are going through! That was the first things I did when I was diagnosed, look for support groups! There are so many loving people out there that are so inspiring!
COPD is NOT a death sentence! You just have to embrace it as a part of your life, your new more relaxed life. Every day is beautiful, cherish it, just don't forget to LIVE it.
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Hello April,
Welcome to the EmpowHER community and thank you for sharing your personal story of perseverance, courage and zeal. Your words will inspire and give hope to others coping with COPD.
Regards,
November 26, 2014 - 9:55amMaryann
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