Hello! I've been lurking awhile but should probably find some courage and ask for guidance.
I'm 43, live in Japan, and am almost certainly pending a diagnosis of mild COPD.. I had 2 recent PFTs both with FEV1/FVC at or below the borderline with FEV1% around 99%. I had childhood athsma but it was well controlled until I screwed it all up with intermittent/light smoking over the past 23 years; perhaps the heaviest over the past 2.5 years due to isolation of covid and deception of the iQoS (heated tobacco) products they sell here - spoiler alert: they're just as bad if not worse than regular tobacco.
Fortunately, I've quit as of last November and have little worry of relapse as even the thought of smoke now makes me retch. I'm exercising and eating much better now too.
I know COPD is manageable from what I've read, but I still break down when I look at my 1-year-old child's face wondering how long I'll be able to keep up.
I have so many questions now, but maybe I'll start with how did you initially cope? Have you been able to find a groove?
And if you're willing to share a bit more, how long have you been able to maintain an active lifestyle?
I just want to give my boy the best childhood possible and not drag my family down.
I know we're in an age of great advancements in care, and I might be able to hold on a long time, maybe even until an effective treatment is found. But for now, I need to learn to find my footing.