I have birth defect on the right sude of my heart. Had been vry active until I neared 70 years of age. I've a history of bronchitis and pneumonia. Three and one-half years ago I was diagmosed with lung cancer. It hax become impossible to walk to my mailbox and back, breathing was beyond difficult. I had the lower left lobe removed, was in the hospital for 12 days. Breathing was still difficult. So, after many tests, diagnosed with COPD, on oxygen 24/7. A couple months later, walking with oxygen became really hard on some days, more tests. Oncologist said results show Pulmonary Hypertension. Now heart is struggling some days, with strong palpitations. Been on cardiac meds for 30+years. My husband is a great help, my children don't fully understand or maybe to afraid to hear full explanation. I'm homebound, my legs swell most dats when I walk around too much. I am frustrated and depressed!

JosephineSalazar, I just started pulmonary rehab, hoping it helps. I decided I wasn't going to let oxygen, keep me from living life. I do have a personal oxygen concentrator. But I go out to dinner with the girls, and going on a girls trip for a few days. I missed grandkids activities when I worked, but I don't miss them now. I've found that people are more helpful about opening doors and offering assistance. Hope you're having a good start to your new year.

My family just knows that I'm sick. They don't understand really what all is going on with me or why I can't "just do...." I've missed out on SO much because of the difficulty of getting there, or the stigma and judgment society has for people on oxygen. It's a hard battle. The depression I had before has intensified, something my friends and family also don't understand. What looks like fighting in my eyes, on certain days, looks like I've given up to others. I've explained to loved ones that it's sometimes demoralizing to be seen with oxygen and struggling to do normal things. Before I got sick there were times I worked two jobs and was still socially active. Now, I can't work, especially since covid, and my social life is almost nonexistent.
Everyday that we wake up is a victory. Keep going guys! It's a difficult road but we are not alone. We have each other.

I've been on oxygen 24/7 for 15 years. Not the end of the world!!! Also have lung CA. Just had my severely stenotic 14yo cow valve (open heart) replaced, and I had hoped that was responsible for my downturn the last 3 years. Not so, as it turns out. I won't be 82 until May and am still as busy as I can be, even though I cannot be more than a slug. Stage 4 emphsema and cpap @ 15 years, too. So it's lungs or AHP...???? Even before TAVR I could get no answers as I assume nobody knows. Any suggestions???

I get into cooking and watching cooking shows on YouTube. I like to shop. I watch Netflix. I have two teenaged grandkids that stay with us for now. The younger two stay with my daughter and her husband. They just moved back from Meridian,Idaho. So they are looking for a place to live here in Louisiana. Yeah the cold and the hot,hot weather get to me. So I try to do vacuuming and laundry. I try to wash and clean my car. It’s not easy. I have projects waiting in the wings for me to do.