The phrase chronic and progressive illness for which there is no cure is a hard one to get your mind around. This statement brings about a series of emotions that have been likened to the grieving process. The first step is that we deny the statement and say, “Yes, there must be a cure.” We then search frantically and consult Dr. Google and then become quite depressed with the idea that we do not have long to live. Then for the lucky over 50,000 of us, we find the COPD Foundation website and begin to again have hope. http://copdfoundation.org

That phrase has a lasting effect on the psyche of the individual receiving that message. There is that gnawing feeling in our gut, that crying out to the Lord for help, that cursing the powers that be in the background for time to come. How we deal with this phrase has everything to do with how we can shape our lives moving forward. There are some of us who will unfortunately lie down and take what is coming, while others will determine that this is a fight worth having.

How do we fight, well first we have to get our heads in the right place? We need to learn that there are things that we can to do control the progression of the disease. We find that getting enough rest, exercise, healthy diet, and a positive mental attitude can carry us a long way toward stopping the progression of the disease. We learn to recognize the warning signs of an exacerbation and take the proper actions to prevent further lung damage. We develop an action plan or a care plan as my pulmonologist calls it. This plan helps us determine what kind of a day that we are having.

We may have a green, yellow, or red day and the plan tells us what to do in each instance. Visit http://COPDFoundation.org to begin the development of a plan.