COPD The Patients Experience
or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
The purpose of this blog is to help The Patients’ Voice find out more about of COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, as one in seven people suffer from a form of lung disease in the UK.
The Patients’ Voice is keen to find out how COPD is diagnosed, whether you were affected by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, how is it currently treated. We would like to explore whether you are supported emotionally by your family, friends and the healthcare professionals and if you are working, by your employers.
Please feel free to tell us your story or those of family or friends.
The kinds of things you might like to include would be
- Tell us the story of your diagnosis. Who diagnosed you? When? What symptoms or events prompted your diagnosis of COPD, if any?
- Are other people in your family affected by a lung disease or COPD specifically? Before your own diagnosis, were you aware of a family history of the disease?
- What tests were done to establish or confirm your diagnosis?
- What physicians/specialists have you seen in connection with your COPD? Who do you see on an on-going basis? Who do you see but occasionally?
- Have you had to change your diet, lifestyle and exercise routine to cope with the disease? What support did you receive from family, friends, physicians, pharmacists?
- If you smoke, did you manage to stop smoking? What support did you receive from family, friends, physicians, pharmacists?
I look forward to your comments and ideas
