Should Campaigning Become An Obsession?

Perhaps I should explain, in 1998 I was first diagnosed with a respiratory disease, with the rather grand title of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or it is more commonly referred to as C.O.P.D. But what ever you call it, for the sufferer it quite simply means that you cannot breathe in the " Normal Manner" whatever normal is. The truth of the matter is that no two sufferers are ever the same, similar yes, but never the same.

The reason being that C.O.P.D. is an umbrella term, which is used to cover many forms of lung disease. Would you like to have one for yourself, Cus’ there are plenty to choose from in fact there are over 40 known diseases ranging from Brittle Asthma, to Sleep Apnoea, from Lung Cancer to Bronchitis, from Sarcoidosis to Pulmonary Embolism, from Tuberculosis to Emphysema and the list goes on. "Me", I hit the jackpot "Emphysema".

I, of course jest when I say would you like one. I would not want to wish any one of these diseases on my worst enemy, of which thank God I have very few if any. Well apart from the newcomers to a smoking awareness scheme I run. However, after a short introduction and a few graphic pictures. It has and always will be the first question I put to any newcomers. "Which one would you like because you have a 65% of getting one". You will note that the scheme is called smoking awareness NOT a cessation scheme.

I have never told anyone to stop smoking, which has to be their own choice and theirs alone. Besides which as a smoker myself for over forty years, it would be somewhat hypocritical of me to tell others to do what I could not do myself. But the one thing I can do is to offer myself as an example of the consequences due to smoking.

In the last five years, I have chaired a support group in and around Bolton, and have given talks to various groups including medical conventions. I have been an ardent supporter of the British Lung Foundation, in funding their research into lung disease. I am also a delegate of our local P.C.T. (Primary Care Trust) And at every opportunity, fight for and champion the need for local funding of respite care for those with lung disease. Something that Coronary and Cancer patients are readily offered as a right.

As I am constantly pointing out to the P.C.T. If I can’t breathe it matters not one jot how strong my heart is, I’ll still die of organ failure due to lack of oxygen. Nearly 38% of all hospital admissions are chest-related infections and that’s even higher during the winter months. It makes perfect sense to me and to numerous Thoracic Consultants I have spoken to over the past few years. That if more money were available for pulmonary rehabilitation it would have an immediate effect on two fronts. (1) The patient would be fitter and therefore more likely to fight off infection. (2) Thereby reducing admissions to hospital, which creates a shortage of beds, for those whose need is far greater. The cost of providing Pulmonary Rehabilitation backed up with the Care in the Community initiative (Home Nursing) would reduce the cost of admissions by as much as 32% of the total care bill. But seeing the big picture is something the P.C.T. have no concept of.

Some of my close friends have often questioned why I feel so strongly about the need for better funding for Thoracic Medicine. The answer is very simple, thanks to the many people I have met over the last eight years. Consultants, Specialist Respiratory Nurses, Ward Sisters and Nurses. Who have always treated me as a person not a set of case notes. Also other patients who sometimes feel that they need someone with whom they can talk too who will offer advice in simple English that they can relate to.

The Support Group that we started in April 2002 as a core membership of 83, for more then 60% of us, any of the improvements above, which I feel so strongly about. When implemented and they will be implemented. Will unfortunately, be far to late for the likes of me and for many others.

But if through these efforts, I can encourage just one person to seriously consider their future health. Or the patient that has received a diagnosis to-day, and the one tomorrow and every other day of this week in hospitals and GPs surgeries, not only throughout this region but throughout the country. Who can then go on to be offered the prospect of a vastly improved prognosis. Then every word wrote, or spoken, every speech delivered or convention attended will have been worth every bit of effort expended.

I could of course sit back and do nothing but then, I would become like so many others with this condition. Many with lung disease are house-bound, and choose to become so because any form of exhaustion could bring on a attack resulting in a shutting down of the airways, and all the pain and discomfort.that goes with such an attack. So it becomes too easy to opt out. Choosing not put yourself potentially in harms way. But I choose to keep as active as possible, and unfortunately sometimes I have to pay for it. But that's my choice.

So Should Campaigning Become An Obsession?

I have stated that I have never told anyone to stop smoking. However I have threatened two very important people in my life, if they ever start smoking, I’ll come back and haunt them. WHO? My grandson’s James and Matthew.