You all keep asking what's happening to you? Why are you so angry all the time? What happened?
Well, you got it folks. I'm telling you what happened.
I got diagnosed with COPD, stage 2.
If any of you remembers, in the last year or so I talked about my problems with breathing and costant cough and pneumonias. Just my heavy smoking habit? No. Something more sh*tty that usually only older people should have decided to pick on me.
What it is?
The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the respiratory system characterized by irreversible obstruction of the airways (bronchial ways and lungs).
Basically, the lungs are costantly inflammated, the airways harden up and an excessive production of mucus obstructs them, making it difficult to breath. It also damages irreversibly the whole apparate.
In the long term, the consequence of this pathological process is a real remodeling of the bronchi, which causes a consistent reduction in respiratory capacity (chronic obstructive bronchitis).
In layman's terms, the lungs slowly go to hell.
In the early stages, the illness is treated with breathers similar to those used by asthma sufferers, cough syrups and throat pills. In the later stages, stronger meds and artificial breathers are needed.
Other symptoms include:
- Wheezing and chest tightness, especially after exertion;
- Weight loss (also due to reduced appetite);
- Morning headache (sign of nocturnal hypercapnia or hypoxemia);
- Lack of energy;
- Swelling in the ankles, feet or legs.
Some of you will remember about my disinterest in food - that's why.
Later stages are even more lovely.
- Pneumothorax;
- Pulmonary hypertension;
- Frequent episodes of acute systemic decompensation;
- Right heart failure;
- Acute or chronic respiratory failure.
Fantastic.
Big question now. Is COPD curable?
No. It's a terminal disease.
People with COPD who do not die from another condition will usually die from COPD.
Depending on the disease severity, the five-year life expectancy for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranges from 40%-70%. That means 40-70 out of 100 people will be alive after five years of diagnosis of COPD. COPD is a chronic, gradually progressing lung disease that is not completely curable.
Well f*ck.
The most optimistic life espectancy is between 10 and 15 years, depending on how the stages progress.
- Mild (stage 1): chronic cough and sputum production is common. Respiratory function is slightly reduced.
- Moderate (stage 2): disease characterized by a more consistent reduction in respiratory capacity and dyspnoea in case of exertion; both cough and bronchial secretions are frequent. It can take several weeks to recover from bronchitis or colds.
- Severe (stage 3): coughing with bronchial secretions becomes more frequent and wheezing makes it impossible to perform some activities of normal daily life, such as walking and climbing stairs.
- Very serious (stage 4): breathlessness is present even at rest and makes it impossible to carry out the simplest activities of normal daily life, such as eating, washing and dressing. Exacerbations become more frequent and more severe; the risk of hospitalization and death increases
I'm currently stage 2, and there's no clear prediction about when the illness will progress to stage 3 and then 4. It can take some years like it can take two months. And damn, I do feel this stage 2 lol. It's basically very painful and I need to catch my breath for almost every action that requires physical effort. I can barely run any more.
And I'm sorry, but this crap pisses me off to no end.
Most likely I won't reach 30. 35 surely no. So I am pissed off. Really, f*ck it. I wear the mask, I keep the social distance, I wash my hands and yet I'll still die painfully. Because this sh*t just decided to pop up. Damn, old people should get this. Not a 23 years old.
And then screw it all. SCREW YOU ALL.
You won't have anything more to worry about after Covid dies down.
Then, why care? Why marry or even stay with my fiancée, if she'll be a window by 2030, if not sooner? Why impregnate her, and have a kid who'll be an orphan? I joke she's an old woman because she's 26, but I think she's still young and should find someone with whom she can live many, many years together with.
And instead she stays. Taking all my pain, all my anger and my abuse.
Really, I can't even lol. LOL.
I can't even breathe.
Most Helpful Opinions