Any doctor who gives you a timeline is an asshole. Its up to no one walking around. Big fella in the sky will let you know when its time :)

When I was first diagnosed in 2017 with stage 4 COPD, they told me 2 years. Numbers Mean NOTHING!!! You are the Boss of you....

Oh for heaven's sake @A MyCOPDTeam Member, NO ONE human can tell you how long you have left on this earth and that pulmonologist should be kicked out of the profession; he's a disgrace to the medical field!! God is the only one who knows how long you have left so keep on living your life as you want and are able! Oh man, that makes me SOOOOOO mad!!!! If you are thinking about that transplant don't ask this pulmo about it; either talk to your Family Doctor or find a different pulmo. I wish you the best of luck! Chris
July 20, 2024

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A MyCOPDT...

I have to disagree about any doc who is giving you an estimate of remaining time being a jerk.

As @A MyCOPDTeam Member said, it’s often an attempt to try to wake you up and participate in your care needs more consistently, etc.

While mine was VERY reluctant to give me a timeline in 2015 when I asked, as we do not have a date stamp on our butts, he did say maybe 3-5 years AT THAT CURRENT RATE OF DECLINE…. with lots of disclaimers.

Well, for one thing, I stopped working, reducing my stress, and moved out of an apartment with a mold problem, changing my triggers and rate of decline.

While I had new / different stress, the elimination of the fear of being fired for not being able to keep up at work was HUGE.

At this point, @A MyCOPDTeam Member, I have had the last rites multiple times in childhood, and have so far exceeded expectations for my lifespan, that I know it’s pointless to keep on asking. I’m now in my 9th year of being on disability (where did the time go???), and I focus on 3-6 months at a time for managing my budget, figuring out housing needs as my income declines, and trying my best to not let obsessive / depressed thoughts consume me by keeping busy.

I’ve outlived everything that I’m willing to allow them to do for me, and the key point there is how we each look at what we will or will not tolerate. Seriously. If anyone had ever told me I would *willingly* exercise, I would have laughed in their face, but, exercise is the best thing I can do for myself to ease my pain and improve my quality of life, so having tried everything else I’m willing to do, I have become a walking fool, LOL.

In my case, I know I’m running out of funds and my income will drop another 60% in the Fall of 2027 (absolutely frightening) but rather than be derailed, I’m on multiple subsidized housing lists, trying to find a way to survive and prepare in order to tackle that scare head-on. I plan fun outings as often as I can (i.e., last week’s concert), and I plan longer-term activities for fun so that I have something to anticipate and enjoy in the future while slogging through the aggravations of today. Scream, cry, but find a way to get beyond this focus on death. Life is for the living, and you are still very much alive.

The work and frustrations of each day can be overwhelming, as this is not a health adventure any of us willingly signed up for, but accepting that today is not the day you’re going to die is the first step toward embracing your new reality and finding a way to enjoy yourself despite your anxieties. Every day will pass whether or not we want it to, so finding hobbies, new activities, or any interests to bring you joy despite the frustrations of any irritating day is your first step to embracing wellness and feeling more in control of your life and how you spend your time. Good luck. You’ve got this.

Hugs. Monday, 22-JUL-24

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A MyCOPDT...

A MyCOPDT...

He had no Business saying that to you , NONE!!! very poor ethics on his part