I was a nurse for 25 years, so I knew about a serious lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Many of the patients I cared for had COPD. And so did my mother. But I was playing the game of denial.

I had experienced shortness of breath, coughing, recurring chest infections and bronchitis. But I didn’t realize that I had COPD until my doctor officially diagnosed it. I’ve been living with COPD for the past 17 years. Having COPD hasn’t slowed down me down.. I work out regularly at a gym, swim at a local pool and play golf in a league called “The Golden Girls”.

That first 10 to 15 minutes of exercise can be hard. When I swim, I have to go slow and build up. But you gotta stay active. Pace yourself and don’t give up.
I’ve seen people who have been diagnosed with COPD take to their chairs. I saw that happen with my mother. You have to keep moving. The less you do, the less you can do.

You’ve got to learn to read your own body. Monitor yourself closely to see if you have shortness of breath. Pace yourself. But don’t give up. You gotta stay active.

Hear a 2-minute audio clip of COPD patient Mary Stewart sharing her story - click on the play button, below:

When I grew up, kids started smoking around age 15. I smoked from age 15 until I was about 35. A few years after I quit smoking, I started to notice that I was getting short of breath, coughing and spitting up phlegm. Second-hand smoke started to really bother my breathing.

When I retired, I went to work tending bar at a local golf course and there was a lot of second-hand smoke there. The second-hand smoke really did me in. I went to my doctor and was diagnosed with COPD.

I now volunteer at the local respiratory rehabilitation program and help raise awareness about COPD. I’m a former school principal, so I guess education’s in my blood. I’m known as the COPD’er of Brant County.

Even though I have COPD, I still sing in my church choir. But I don’t sing solos anymore. Singing helps me with my breath control. If you use good diaphragmatic breathing, you take in more oxygen. The more natural oxygen you breathe in, the less artificial oxygen you have to take in.

Ironically, it was only when I saw my doctor about a heart problem that I discovered I also suffered from chronic lung disease. That was 17 years ago. In truth, for the first nine years following diagnosis I ignored my COPD and chose to concentrate more intensively on managing my heart disease. Now I’m concentrating on the COPD.

Knowledge is a powerful thing: If you have COPD, many things are available to help you live a full, comfortable life. I live by the motto “the more I do, the more I can do.” Whatever activities you can do, do them as much and as often as you can. Research is showing that exercise can really help COPD, and I think the social aspect involved in many exercise pursuits helps too. I say, get moving, and you’ll feel better - even if that means starting by walking down the block and back.

When I found out I had COPD I thought my life was over. I was wrong. If there’s one message I could put out there it would be – it’s NOT over. In fact, my new life has just begun. Quitting smoking has given me a whole new life to enjoy! It hasn’t been easy – quitting smoking, learning to manage my disease – but it’s been so worth it.

I ignored the early signs of COPD. I was coughing and short of breath, sick all the time. I thought it was because of stress. Then one day I found myself lying on the stairs in full respiratory failure. I couldn’t breathe. My 16-year-old daughter was beside me. I vowed two things on that day: One, never to smoke again. And two, to do something good with the situation I now find myself in. Life with COPD isn't always easy, but sharing my story is a way of helping me make a good situation out of a bad one.

I have truly made my COPD diagnosis a new beginning in my life. Two years ago I was on life support in hospital. Now I can enjoy a half-hour walk with my children, grandchildren and my dog. I feel better than I have in years. If you think you might have COPD, go see your doctor. Do it for you!”

I was diagnosed with COPD at 37. I went to my doctor to get tested because I noticed that I was always out of breath. At first I thought: What am I going to do? How am I going to fight this?

So I decided to quit smoking right away. It was hard. Cigarettes have always been an emotional thing for me. I smoked when I was stressed or had anxiety.
I started smoking when I was 13. I smoked a pack and a half a day for almost 25 years. Last year, I spent the whole summer in the hospital because of lung infections and pneumonia. When I got out, they suggested I got to pulmonary rehabilitation.

This place (pulmonary rehab centre) gives me a lot of things. It’s a place to go where I feel comfortable working out. It gives me camaraderie – you know you’re not alone with your disease. I drive 45 minutes each way, twice a week, just to come here. But it’s worth it. Without this place, I would be at home, wasting away.

I was about 22 or 23 years old when I had my first lung collapse. My son was only two years old and we were tobogganing. I had pulled him up the hill and when I got home, I couldn’t breathe. They took me to the hospital and told me that my lung had collapsed.

During my twenties, thirties and forties, I had four lung collapses in total. The doctor had told me to quit smoking but I kept thinking, ‘just one pack more’ or ‘tomorrow I’ll quit’.

I was diagnosed with COPD about 15 years ago. I had some testing done before I went to Nova Scotia to visit my family. When I got back, I thought I had bronchitis. So I went to another doctor, who saw the results from my testing. He said, “I see you have emphysema*.” Well, I just about jumped out of my chair.

My father had died of emphysema. Two aunts and two uncles died from it, too. So I knew its name, but I really didn’t think about it happening to me. My whole family smoked. My two sisters had quit smoking years ago because they had seen Dad dying of emphysema. But I wasn’t there when he was dying. I didn’t realize how difficult breathing with COPD could be – it’s like breathing through a straw.

I like coming to The Lung Association’s pulmonary rehab to socialize with others who have COPD and to exercise.

I love to walk. But two years ago, I woke up one morning and I couldn’t even walk to the corner store. Now, I’m on oxygen. Without it, I would have trouble breathing.

I’m lucky to have the support of my family and friends, especially my daughter Tammy who I now live with.

If I could tell one thing to other smokers, I’d tell them: Please don’t smoke. That’s what I’ve told my youngest son Shawn. He’s only 36 but he’s already had pneumonia and bronchitis.

*Emphysema is one of the breathing diseases that’s part of COPD. Learn more about COPD, the new name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis (link to )

I grew up with second-hand smoke. Both my parents smoked. I even smoked a bit when I was in my twenties. I also grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, where there’s a lot of air pollution. So when I started having shortness of breath, I thought it was my asthma. But then I was diagnosed with COPD.

I haven’t been able to work since 1996 because of COPD. I would get winded. I couldn’t do much because I didn’t have a lot of energy.

Now my lungs are so bad that I qualify for (coverage of) oxygen. Before, I couldn’t carry on a conversation without getting winded. Now that I have an oxygen tank, it’s easier for me to talk.

Since I’ve started coming to pulmonary rehab, it’s made a huge difference in my life. I’m in better shape now. I know my muscles are more toned. My immune system is stronger.

I’ve got a great social network here. All these people here are like an extended family to me. We got out to dinner together and have a big Christmas party.

I used to get lung infections and pneumonia a lot. I used to go to the emergency room a lot – at least four times a year. Now I’m down to no visits to ER. That’s saving the government a lot of money.

Pulmonary rehab is a safe place for us. It’s a safe haven.

I was stunned when my doctor told me I had COPD. I had never heard of this disease before. The first thing I did was get myself informed. I read. I asked many questions. I was lucky enough to find a pulmonary rehab group in my community. I learned how to take my COPD medications properly. I now know what to eat, how to breathe and when to see my doctor.

Joining a pulmonary rehab group has made a big difference in my life. Five years ago I couldn’t walk more than eight steps without stopping to catch my breath. It was frightening and frustrating. Now my life has turned around. On good days I can go for long walks, enjoy grocery shopping and the occasional swim. I also laugh a lot. I’ve made many lifelong friends through my journey with COPD.

There are so many people out there who have COPD and don’t realize it. I’m sharing my story in the hope that someone will read it and recognize that they may have COPD. Diagnosis is the first step in taking charge of this disease and feeling better. See your doctor and get tested.