Having lived with severe asthma her whole life, 67-year-old Sheryl Jones was no stranger to living life with poor lung health. But in 2014 when she was diagnosed with emphysema – a type of COPD – a wave of panic set in, bringing back memories of old asthma attacks and breathless days she knew would now be a more frequent reality.
A Scare that Stuck with Her
Sheryl had always been able to keep her severe asthma at bay with steroid inhalers, until one day in her 30s she collapsed, not being able to get enough air into her lungs. Sheryl’s ex-husband called the ambulance and had to perform CPR while the ambulance was on its way.
“If he hadn’t have done this, I would not be here today,” she said.
From then on, Sheryl was afraid of collapsing again, the near-death experience never fully leaving her.
Living with COPD
It wasn’t until years later, in 2014, after developing a chronic cough, Sheryl presented to her GP and received a diagnosis for emphysema. She felt a surge of fear that she would one day collapse again and couldn’t help but picture her grandfather who had died from emphysema at just 56.
“Hearing the word emphysema, I instantly thought of my grandfather who had to live with an oxygen tank. He died too young; I didn’t want to go down that same road.”
At first, no further symptoms came from the diagnosis, until 3 years ago when Sheryl started having constant shortness of breath. She decided to move from Queensland to Victoria, away from her son and grandchildren in hopes the change in climate would help.
“I was now living in a completely different state on my own. I didn’t know anyone with COPD and I was worried about collapsing again, this time with no one around to help me.”
Help on the Other End of the Line
Sheryl soon found Lung Foundation Australia, who connected her with specialty nurses that offered practical advice and emotional support, guiding her towards a quality life with COPD.
“The nurses taught me ways to live with emphysema. They put me on the right track. I couldn’t have gone through those initial months without them. They called me every few months to check up on me and it made me really proactive in doing anything I could to treat my COPD.”
“While there’s no cure to my emphysema, I have a different outlook on my condition. I’m a lot less stressed now with the knowledge that I can manage my symptoms. Getting support from Lung Foundation Australia has made me feel so much calmer.”
Take the Next Step for Your Lung Health
If you’re concerned about your lung health, it’s important you see your GP.
Lung Foundation Australia recommends consulting our website resources, such as the My COPD Checklist, to monitor and manage their condition. The checklist is a free and easy online tool that fills crucial knowledge gaps for people living with COPD.
For those living with COPD, their families, and their carers who would like to speak to a specialist nurse to help them better understand a diagnosis, manage symptoms and cope emotionally, call our free Lung Health Helpline on 1800 654 301 or contact our Information and Support Centre team. Lung Foundation Australia ensures no one faces lung disease alone.
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