If I can, anybody can !!

I decided to write this blog for no other reason then to get off my chest the sometimes futile message that living with Emphysema is not a automatic death sentence.

As such, I doubt if it will attract much attention from the many fit and healthy bloggers out there in Blogland. But if I can reach just one or two then my two finger typing will not have been in vain.

In 1998 I was admitted to hospital with a suspected Angina attack, following numerous tests it was decided that I was to be re-diagnosed as having C.O.P.D. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Now most people I have spoken to and I assure you I have spoken to many, have never heard of the disease, let alone what C.O.P.D. stood for or the consequences of having it.

I on the other hand had got a very good idea of consequences. My Mother was diagnosed in 1993 as having what in those days was termed as C.O.A.D. which was exactly the same apart from the "A" which stood for Airways. Mum had been a heavy smoker certainly for as long as I knew what a cigarette was.

I started smoking at about 14, the usual thing pinch one out of Mums packet for on the way to school. The Tuck shop near school would sell singles, and if you were really well off with pocket money you could buy 5 Park Drive for 6d that's six old pence. In today's terms that would be Two and a half new pence. Then it was off to the back of the bike sheds to smoke them. Or later that evening at the youth club to really impress the girls, yes it was cool to smoke (If Only).

And so to work as a apprentice motor mechanic I neither had the money or the inclination to smoke at work, with oil on your fag it tasted vile anyway. But come the week-end now that was a different matter I could always find money for a packet of fags, I had also graduated to packets of ten at a cost of 1 shilling and 9 pence. Less then 10p in today's money. (If Only).

Continuing my graduation to even more ciggy's and the so called better brands continued to increase throughout my working life, at this stage 40 a day. Till in April 1998, My doctor told me the results of tests had confirmed C.O.P.D. My G.Ps advice at the time was Stop Smoking and with proper medication we can control your disease. I could, I thought handle anything that was thrown at me but I could not get my head round the "Word" Disease, I thought leprosy is a disease, contagious illnesses are disease's, STD is a disease. What the hell was I doing with a disease, little did I know it is a general term for any degenerating illness, which by definition gets progressively worse as time goes on. (If only)

Even though mum suffered from shortage of breath on exertion she was still able to potter around in her bungalow with the help of a carer. Until May 2000 when she was rushed into hospital at deaths door, however she rallied, but was unable to continue living alone in Derbyshire. I was able to get her a place in a residential care home just half a mile from us. She never really settled as she felt she had lost her independence. Mum passed away in August of 2006, so from 1993 to 2006 a total of 13 years she had fought the disease and to the end never gave up. I use this as an example, you will see why shortly (And yes at this point I still had not fully kicked the fags) (If Only)

Having been diagnosed in 1998 and knowing just a little about this condition, I felt as though I needed to know more about this debilitating illness. So you ask around and as with most cases in life you invariably come across the "Barrack Room Lawyer", or sometimes better known as "I know everything there is to know" but the truth is they more then likely no nothing at all that is useful.

I met just such a chap, and I hate to say it but it was someone I looked up to and respected, in fact a man of the cloth. He told me that once diagnosed with Emphysema you have at most three years to live. It wasn't put quite as blunt as that but that was the very clear message, having given me chapter and verse on a couple of parishioners he had been involved with. One of which I also personally knew very well, so his opinion did carry some weight. Of course his most useful piece of advice was to stop smoking. Oh yes I was still sucking on the weed. But there again I'm a clever devil I am (If Only).

So her we are nine years later and I'm still here. Not as mobile as I was nine years ago, I get out of breath much quicker on exertion. I have to use oxygen for about 4 hours a day on iffy days, about 9 hours on a bad day, and on a good day I don't use oxygen at all, the trick is stringing the good days together. And for relaxation, I now Blog thanks to a good friends encouragement. I also run a Self support group for people with lung disease. I produce a monthly newsletter which goes out to over 80 members. I have given talks on the effects of living with C.O.P.D. to medical seminars and to general patients groups. on behalf of our own group I have arranged 3 and 4 day mini cruises to Spain, Norway and Belgium, numerous social events and day trips. I was once told by one of my members, "Bloody hell Keith, we can't keep up with you" Although I hasten to add it was said with a smile on his face and a wink of the eye.

I have been a reformed smoker for just 18 month, and yes in that time I have I am sure been a real pain in the arse at times. I have never told anyone to stop smoking, that through my eye's would be totally hypocritical. But if only I had listened to those who were telling me. Boy do I wish I had listened. (If Only)

But now let me tell you why I really push so much. It is a known fact that patients with C.O.P.D. have a tendency to say, I can't do this or I can't do that because I get out of breath and I am scared of having an attack that could put me in hospital or even worse give me heart failure. I know totally how they feel, as I've been there, done that, bought the t-sheet. But and it's awful big but, if you cede to the I'm tied in the house syndrome, or I don't want to do that, or I cannot be bothered just in case. Then that is a sure way to set that clock ticking down, and some would do well to manage even three years.

Recently, we in Bolton have seen the beginnings of a truly remarkable exercise program for victims of C.O.P.D. What is remarkable about it ? It is manned and run by a group of Specialist Thoracic Nurses, Physiotherapist, Dietitian's and Occupational therapists. Which they themselves set up without additional funding from the local P.C.T. (Primary Care Trust) or better known as the miser's that hold the purse strings. I am proud to say that our own group were able to fund the purchase of the equipment needed.

Whilst it may well be to late for the likes of me to really benefit, the real benefit is for those that will be diagnosed tomorrow, the day after and those that don't know they have a problem YET. My message to them and anyone else do not give up on yourself. As I said at the beginning IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE.

So as I prepare to go off on a 12 day cruise through the Mediterranean with all the little trimmings like 10 Restaurants, 15 bars, 2 Show Theaters, Casino, and a Movie theater. Then of course there are the things I cannot do like the Gym, The Climbing Wall, Deck Sports, but what the hell win some lose some. It never fails to amuse me when very good intentioned people ask " Are you sure your up to it" or "But what if you get ill" I reply I can get ill sat in my arm chair, I can get killed on the road whilst driving my car, I could also die tomorrow from a totally undiagnosed illness. So I choose to go for it. I will never do anything knowingly stupid. But if I'm likely to have a problem, I would rather meet it head on, it's far better to have tried, then knowing deep down inside that I never tried at all.

On Tuesday I was at the hospital to obtain a fit to travel certificate, I was told by a certain specialist nurse that I was coincided a blooming marvel, well I don't know about that, I think they were just being polite and kind as always. But I was asked, "Does nothing worry you" well the answer was of course yes. "This Cruise I'm going on is the Maiden Voyage of the Norwegian Gem and we all know what happened to the TITANIC".

So if I go missing for a while don't worry I'll be back. And if I'm not, will some kind soul out there check the shipping forecast and find out where that bloody ship sank.