Just got a BIG reason to make my LC work this time...

[catne]

I posted a little while ago wondering how long it takes to stop feeling out of breath when starting a moderate walking program. Well, instead of getting a little easier each day (starting out just walking a couple of minutes at a time) it was actually getting worse and worse. So I went to my doctor thinking maybe I had exercize-induced asthma.

Well after a number of unpleasant tests (the breathing tests are not fun when you can't breathe!) Doc just diagnosed my shortness-of-breath...and sorry to say, it's not just being way too fat & out of shape. Unfortunately, it's not reversible: I have COPD.

UGH. Not very happy about this...still trying to sort out what I can & can't do, and of course trying various combos of meds to reduce symptoms. Hopefully I'll get to the point that I can start walking, etc.

But I do know this: I really NEED to stick with LC this time, no slacking. I know that giving my lungs an easier work-load will be another very good reason to lose all this extra baggage I'm carrying around.

Wish me luck.

[Janknitz]

You can do this!

Are you still smoking???

[CurlyGirly]

Best of luck to you! You can stick with it!

[catne]

Thanks, CurlyGirly.

Jan, I quit smoking 8 years ago. Glad I did that anyway -- would be extra difficult to lose the weight & fight a nicotine addiction too.

[drjlocarb]

Starting again does not mean success. It takes commitment.

[LunaAshling]

I was the one that brought up asthma, I am sorry to hear it was otherwise.


Dig deep deep down and fight!!!!


{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[catne]

Originally Posted by LunaAshling

I was the one that brought up asthma, I am sorry to hear it was otherwise.


Dig deep deep down and fight!!!!


{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

thanks, I plan too.

And yeah, truthfully, I knew something was wrong, and I was secretly *hoping* it was asthma. Which is actually kind of silly, because asthma is a serious disease. But the difference is I know a lot of people with asthma who are able to live very normal lives: play sports, go-go-go, etc.
The people I know with COPD are in very bad shape (nothing like the guys on the television ads...the people I know with COPD are in wheelchairs, tethered to oxygen 24/7 and spend a lot of time in the hospital. Quality of life is lousy.)

Don't want to be there...

[tulipsandroses]

I wish you success! Low carb will not just only help with weight, it will actually help with COPD.

I'm in nursing school, and that was an interesting fact that I learned. Low Carb actually helps people with COPD. COPD causes Carbon Dioxide Retention. Excess carbs will add to the retention of CO2.

A bit of info from American Lung Assoc

Food Plan
Foods contain three major sources of energy: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. The metabolism of each requires a different amount of oxygen and produces a different amount of carbon dioxide. Metabolism of carbohydrates produces the most carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used; metabolism of fat produces the least. For some people with COPD, eating a diet with less carbohydrates and more fat helps them to breathe easier.

Do some research on the diet for COPD. There are some other factors you should consider as well.

Good luck!

[Janknitz]

If you can quit smoking low carb is easy in comparison! Lower it by increments and support yourself with L-Glutimate-- you'll do fine. Drink broth, too. You will do great!

[leeloo]

I'm so sorry to hear this! What a tough diagnosis. And it's so unfair - you quit smoking 8 years ago! I mean, it's unfair regardless, but as a former smoker it would really chap my hide even more to come down with this problem after 8 years of doing the right thing .

I'm glad to hear LC can help, and I'm glad you're getting treatment. Do you have a specialist yet? Pick a good one, who also listens. Life is too short to put up with bad healthcare providers.

[Mobear]

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis . No one wants to find out they have a chronic health problem. Now is the time to put yourself first. It sounds like the quote from the American Lung Assoc. indicates a low carb diet could significantly reduce the work your lungs do....as will losing weight.

Buy the supplies you need, reread the plan you choose, and start. Making sure that I have what I need is the only way to stay on plan. You know you have support here at LCF.

Sending you good thoughts and prayers . Together we can do this

[catne]

thanks for the support, LC friends...

This is not going to be fun, I know.

At least I'm doing well so far on this round of LC (re-started 3/6...down 17.8 so far.)

[lterry913]

Best of luck

[drjlocarb]

17.8

[lowcarbie]

Catne, you can do it, health reasons are making ALL of us look to low carb eating as a way of life, thank God for the low carb eating plan and Dr. Atkins!!!

[beachmom3]

Just wanted to say best of luck to you! Great job on losing 17.8!! That is awesome

[smascot]

Originally Posted by catne

I posted a little while ago wondering how long it takes to stop feeling out of breath when starting a moderate walking program. Well, instead of getting a little easier each day (starting out just walking a couple of minutes at a time) it was actually getting worse and worse. So I went to my doctor thinking maybe I had exercize-induced asthma.

Well after a number of unpleasant tests (the breathing tests are not fun when you can't breathe!) Doc just diagnosed my shortness-of-breath...and sorry to say, it's not just being way too fat & out of shape. Unfortunately, it's not reversible: I have COPD.

UGH. Not very happy about this...still trying to sort out what I can & can't do, and of course trying various combos of meds to reduce symptoms. Hopefully I'll get to the point that I can start walking, etc.

But I do know this: I really NEED to stick with LC this time, no slacking. I know that giving my lungs an easier work-load will be another very good reason to lose all this extra baggage I'm carrying around.

Wish me luck.

Good Luck!!

[makeamove]

Just wanted to say good luck, and you can do it! I know someone with COPD who is living a great life. The key is to take care of yourself now, and it sounds like you are on the right track and in the right place (here with us! )

[clackley]

Cathy, so sorry to hear about your diagnosis but wonderful that you are receiving good advice!

I am sure you know that you did yourself a great favour quitting smoking 8 yrs ago and likely warded off your disease for a # of years as a result. That is awesome. And now you already know how to low carb and have a huge support system in place. You are doing great!! KUTGW!!

[catne]

thanks for all the good vibes & encouragement...I know where to come whenever I feel a "waver" coming on.

[drjlocarb]

We like to help. And wiil do that for you when needed.

[Babette Robinson]

I'm new here ... but I wanted to tell you not to freak out too much. My (late) father in law was diagnosed with COPD when he was 37 ... he passed away when he was 73. While it's scary for sure .... make sure you get a good doc, do lots of research, and do everything you need to do. Take care

[catne]

Originally Posted by Babette Robinson

I'm new here ... but I wanted to tell you not to freak out too much. My (late) father in law was diagnosed with COPD when he was 37 ... he passed away when he was 73. While it's scary for sure .... make sure you get a good doc, do lots of research, and do everything you need to do. Take care

Wow...thanks. Sorry to hear he passed, but glad he had virtually a normal life expectancy.

I really needed to hear that kind of information at this point...life expectancy is something none of the articles really talk about (I realize it's not easy to predict, everyone's situation is different, but all they talk about is improving quality of life, slowing progression, etc.)

[Liz1959]

Originally Posted by tulipsandroses

I wish you success! Low carb will not just only help with weight, it will actually help with COPD.

I'm in nursing school, and that was an interesting fact that I learned. Low Carb actually helps people with COPD. COPD causes Carbon Dioxide Retention. Excess carbs will add to the retention of CO2.

A bit of info from American Lung Assoc

Food Plan
Foods contain three major sources of energy: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. The metabolism of each requires a different amount of oxygen and produces a different amount of carbon dioxide. Metabolism of carbohydrates produces the most carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used; metabolism of fat produces the least. For some people with COPD, eating a diet with less carbohydrates and more fat helps them to breathe easier.

Do some research on the diet for COPD. There are some other factors you should consider as well.

Good luck!

Good info, thanks for posting!

[krb]

Originally Posted by tulipsandroses

I wish you success! Low carb will not just only help with weight, it will actually help with COPD.

I'm in nursing school, and that was an interesting fact that I learned. Low Carb actually helps people with COPD. COPD causes Carbon Dioxide Retention. Excess carbs will add to the retention of CO2.

A bit of info from American Lung Assoc

Food Plan
Foods contain three major sources of energy: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. The metabolism of each requires a different amount of oxygen and produces a different amount of carbon dioxide. Metabolism of carbohydrates produces the most carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used; metabolism of fat produces the least. For some people with COPD, eating a diet with less carbohydrates and more fat helps them to breathe easier.

Do some research on the diet for COPD. There are some other factors you should consider as well.

Good luck!

I'm in nursing school and just learned this not too long ago too! I was going to say it. Great minds think alike!

[moonmirror]

Hi there,
I'm following your posts with great interest because I want to know just how much lowcarb could heal COPD.

I am a hospice nurse and I see end-stage COPD all the time. Lots of them still smoke. Lots of them eat terribly.

I wonder if you kept to lowcarb like it was a religion, and carefully avoided dairy...if you could almost cure this thing.

Keep the lowcarb faith and best wishes to you.

[pooticus]

You can do this!

Drop ALL gluten and most casein (cheese) containing products!

Consider making the low carb, gluten free lifestyle a JUDDD diet. I have noticed so much relief of my reactive airway disease that I've now stopped all inhaled steroids!!!

(I'm taking a 2Week JUDDD break to get back to basics with Atkins Induction, but will be resuming JUDDDing while LC and gluten free at the end of the week.)

So sorry to hear of your diagnosis...Symbacort is great stuff! Love it much better than Advair. Not as hard to inhale with it!

[catne]

Not getting any gluten at all.

But why no casein...because it's dairy? I thought the myth RE:dairy causing phlegm has has been long disproved. Pretty sure I've read that on credible, legitimate sites.

Please advise where this advice is coming from now?

Thanks...

Editted to ad this PS: all of the nutrition-for-COPD info I'm seeing has no directions to eliminate dairy. In fact, the reverse is true...all sites I've visited so far recommend a diet including carbs/protein/fat...and all have many, many dairy items on the list of suggested foods.

For those talking about limiting dairy for COPD, please steer me towards sites with the reasoning for no dairy. Thanks!

PPS: my doctor is 100% on board with me following Atkins...he's done it himself back in the day. He's basically in favor of anything that works (that doesn't involve anorexia or bulimia, of course.)

[pooticus]

Google auto-immune type diseases and co-sensitivities to casein along with gluten.

That's my basis for saying that. You are in a critical stage rigth now, where you've just received this news and are in high adrenalin mode right now. I am not trying to convince you of anything nor trying to make things more restrictive.

But ultimately, you are the one with the dx and need to do the due diligence. I know with my asthma I'm trying very hard to cut out gluten and I'm going to try to also cut out casein cuz of the co-sensitivity.

[catne]

Originally Posted by pooticus

Google auto-immune type diseases and co-sensitivities to casein along with gluten.

That's my basis for saying that. You are in a critical stage rigth now, where you've just received this news and are in high adrenalin mode right now. I am not trying to convince you of anything nor trying to make things more restrictive.

But ultimately, you are the one with the dx and need to do the due diligence. I know with my asthma I'm trying very hard to cut out gluten and I'm going to try to also cut out casein cuz of the co-sensitivity.

Thanks for the info, but I'm still having a bit of a quandary figuring out how to apply this info to me. Reading back through the various posts, I think I've found the basis for the misunderstanding.

I do have COPD. But I do NOT have asthma. While asthma may be COPD, not all COPD is asthma. I suspect your info is pertinent to your own condition...but asthma is not my diagnosis.
I'm on COPD-specific meds...not asthma meds, so Symbicort is not going to help me.

I'll continue researching these issues...