As most know I am not even a week down the road from having a pacemaker placed in my chest to regulate a rather obnoxious and sometimes very slow running ticker.
What happened today I am sure many may be able to relate to and then again maybe not.
Had a good friend who came up to me today and said “good to see you up and around again, I know the pacemaker will help the heart and it will fix your breathing as well, right?”
Well yes the pacemaker will help the heart that is an obvious result, but will it also fixing my breathing – short-term it will help minimally while long-term no it will not solve my issues.
What this comment/question reminded me of, was the fact that those of us with COPD and especially those with later stage(s) COPD still fight the non-knowledgeable public about COPD being a curable disease.
While my pacemaker will/should fix my electrical issues of my ticker, and it will help recuperate quicker from breathing issues – we all know that long-term late Stage III COPD is not curable.
So I kindly gave appreciation for her caring, but did remind my friend and others standing nearby that while the pacemaker has its place in helping some of my health issues, the long-term reduction of my breathing issues is not one of them.
Then I just moved on, understanding that it was a moment in time where we come to grips with why many of us refer to our COPD as that ‘invisible’ disease that make us look near perfectly normal when reality can be we are fighting for every breath we take.
As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.
Remember always that without breathing a person is without life itself.
With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.
(Copyright@2014, CrossDove Writer)
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