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This is the first time I have posted a blog .......... I hope I've done it right.
Hi my name as you can probably gather is Joe.
And If there’s one thing that happens with this disease, it’s made me steady.
This is my story.
I am almost 62 years young married with three grownup children and four grand kids.
Oneotherthing I am a COPD sufferer.
I have had chest problems most of my life.I also have the genetic condition that is Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
A simple explanation of Alpha1 is it’s a faulty gene in the Liver which affects Liver Lungs and our Immune systems.
It also often means sufferers become dependent on drugs to enable them to have the same quality of life that others take for granted.
Enough about that, there is one thing I now have time for and that is hobbies.
You could sayCOPD’s allowed me to take up another hobby, that is writing stories.
Now I feel like I am in my third childhood which helps, since most of my writing is for children.
When I started our grandkids would request I read them my stories, they enjoyed them so muchIhad tocarry on writing them.
I do have one small problem with writing, my punctuation could be described as simplistic.
Considering I left school without taking exams it’s hardly surprising.
Back to my story, in 2002 I was working in the garden digging up what I thought was a shrub. I got a splinter from it. I got a shock when it turned out to be a Blackthorn more of a concern was it had poisoned me.
The effects of this meant my hand swelled up to more than double normal size. It was then the infection moved up my arm through my chest and down the other arm. I spent three days in hospital before the swelling went down.
Because of that and other things 2002 became a bad year for me.
Over the next six months my mobility became severely reduced.
The problem with this illness is the body doesn’tbother tellingthe brain.
When I think I can do that and end up overdoing things it takes anything from ten to twenty minutes to get from panic stage to getting your breath back and compose yourself.
There’s one fact, it brings you down to earth.
You find it’s not much fun being left just shaking and gasping.
I used to have my own business travelling around supplying industry I soon found I could no longer continue working at all.
Apart from falling asleep while I was supposed to be working I could no longer lift or carry the goods I used to supply.
From an health and safety angle it was definitely a problem.
If anything went wrong when I was on site I would have needed someone to help me to get to safety.
That made my mind up, pride doesn’t amount to anything when it comes to your health.
When you learn to take stock of your life and come to terms with it you find it opens up other things for you.
I mean now I can window shop for England. LOL.
On good days we will go out just to see something different, it helps.
It may sound laughable but just mixing with other people can do a lot for raising your spirits.
One thing I found with COPD is the feeling of isolation it can leave you with. Whether you live right in the middle of town or in the country.
If your mobility’s gone sometimes it’s easier not to bother and give up.
Please don’t do that! There’s still a life out there waiting for you.
I am a great believer in the pulmonary rehab programs and the Breathe Easy groups you need to mix with other people.
It’s nice to cough and not feel embarrassed, at these meetings no one looks at you, we all have similar problems. These self help groups are there for you so take advantage and help yourself,you could end up with a new circle of friends and a new social
life.
I will end this blog wishing everyone season’s greetings and until next time look after yourselves and take care.
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