I grew up with asthma; I suffered sinus and respiratory infections my entire life. I started smoking at 15. When I was in my early 40s, my asthma was becoming increasingly worse. I was diagnosed with COPD at age 47. I am now 55. I quit smoking four years ago. The disease does not improve. My "good days" are far and few these days. My dad and his dad died from this. My older sister was just diagnosed three years ago. My son was diagnosed with beginning stages at age 25. (He doesn't smoke.) My sister's daughter was just diagnosed at 33 (smoker). It's a hard disease that seems to start out like bad asthma and progresses into chronic lung infections.

Well it was a bit of a shock for me even though I smoked, my symptoms weren't particularly severe and still aren't but I had been sick with bronchitis for three months, but it was the pain in my left side that made me ask to get a chest x ray, I was then told it was COPD, huh? I have nearly quit, only been 4 days and down from 20 a day to 4. I think it was caught early and I expect to feel better soon, it's just getting through this bronchitis stage that's hard and confusing and I will expect to get sick each year now. I did notice I was breathless on steep inclines, but then I was 16 years ago so smoking did that, but my only symptoms at the time of my diagnosis was that I couldn't bring up any mucus and I had a pain in my left side, that was all.

I am 60 years old and met my husband when I was 15. (In 1966) We were soul mates he was my whole life, tragically he died in January 2011 and attempting to carry on without him some days seems like an impossible task. He started getting chest infections which grew worse over the past few years - he then went onto home oxygen 6 months before he died. I had never heard of C.O.P.D. before his illness it is really heartbreaking to watch your loved one struggle to breathe - I would give anything to have him back. Smoking does what is says on the packet.

Hi everyone out there! I have COPD and I'm 57 years old. I had smoked since I was 15yrs old (taking cigs from mom's pack without her knowing). I was a bartender for 16years. Breathing in all that smoke. I didn't smoke that much, maybe 1/2pk a day. After so many years, I started to breath heavy. About 2.5 years ago, I started having a hard time breathing just going back and forth from my bed room. So I went to the doctor's office, asked for a wheel chair for them to take back to the room. They said I was about to crash. They got my oxygen level up so my bf could take me. The ambulance was on its way. Now, I'm on oxygen 24/7. I quit smoking about 2 weeks right as I was getting sick. I rather live little longer than smoke. Smoking is a crutch. Kick it out, and you will live longer and happier. Do breathing exercises. My COPD is on the border line of medium to serious.

I was a heavy smoker for about 40 years (40 a day). I am now 61. I used to get cough but always thought it was due to smoking. Occasionally I consulted doctors, but my X-ray reports were always clear. About two months back I felt breathlessness while climbing stairs. Tests done on me confirmed COPD.I have quit smoking, take inhalers (three types) and somehow managing my work schedule.

I am a 42yr old female and I was just diagnosed with COPD today. My symptoms were that I kept getting really bad sinus infections, the last 2 sinus infections I had trouble coughing up anything and when I did cough something up it was disgusting. The sinus infection went away but the cough never did, so I went back to the clinic and the doctor said I was in rough shape. He gave me 2 inhalers and told me I needed to stop smoking (I have smoked for 30 years.) I am really afraid.

My wheezing was detected by physician during initial exam. The physician gave me a breathing treatment then he listened again for wheezing. At the end of the exam he referred me for pulmonary tests. After getting the results he told me that I had moderate COPD, and prescribed Albuterol inhaler for use when needed. I knew I had wheezing at times, off and on, usually not noticeable, but the diagnosis of COPD really surprised me.