Kayla, sorry, I haven't been here for a while. I'm not really sure how everybody knows how bad there COPD is. I was told years ago that I had Chronic Bronchitis. At the time, I had no clue it was a smoking disease, my doctor at the time didin't tell me. The doctor I have now is the one who told me I have emphysema. When she told me, she told me it was moderate. After doing some reading, I found out moderate means Stage 2. There are 4 stages of emphysema - Beginning, moderate, severe, and very severe. I didn't know I had COPD until I started Pulmonary Rehab. One of the instructors (Pulmonologists?) in there told me that COPD consists of three diseases and you must have 2 of the 3 to be considered to have COPD. They are Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. So I am considered to have Moderate COPD since I have Moderate Emphysema.
You need to talk to your doctor to find out what stage your COPD is. COPD never goes away and will progress. But with medicine, not smoking, and exercise, can be controlled and slowed down.
Hope this helps you some.
Barb
