Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disorder ( CORD) How long too live !!!

[ScotsJon]

Well thanks to everyone with last post - Now for another teaser !!!

Just had medical done ($180) Doctor has noted on docs - "In Excellent Health" Felt well chuffed and rubbed it in front of OH as I'm 47. Felt great, went for blood tests this morning ($80) then for chest x-rays (another $80).

Came back home with x rays in envelope, had a cigarette and opened up the docs - Next to Lungs Box was ticked "abnormal" . Well bujezus - cig fell out of mouth and I'm off to buy patches tomorrow. Seemingly I have the above listed ailment. Now I am self diagnosing myself online thinking the worst.

In all earnesty has anyone else had this diagnosis on there x rays and could it cause me any problems with my application for a WP.

Many thanks - God off for a puff

[Taffy]

My grandmother had the same illness from smoking, but didnt know until it was too late and it had reached a critical stage. Having witnessed first hand what happened to her, I can't stress highly enough that your joke about quitting should be taken seriously!

I don't know whether this will affect your application, but I would think it may as although you may not feel it now, if something isnt done to cease its progression then it does turn in to a very serious medical condition.

Don't mean to scare you, but seeking further medical advice may be the best thing you could do. I can't remember much about it now, but I'm pretty sure if caught and treated early enough then it can be relieved. Perhaps you only have the beginings of it, and it may be as simple as quitting smoking!

[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by Taffy

My grandmother had the same illness from smoking, but didnt know until it was too late and it had reached a critical stage.

I would go along with that as it's my mother that Taffy is talking about. If I could only show you what it was like for her and how she lost her quality of life being tied to an oxygen cylinder 16 hours a day and not being able to walk very far, I would do so. Then you would have the choice of continuing as you are or doing something about it while you still can. My mother's condition deteriorated because she sometimes forgot to hook up her oxygen or her breathing apparatus came away during the night. This caused her a type of brain damage through lack of oxygen and impaired her memory. Even if it doesn't kill you, and it's a slow death, being continually breathless and unable to do much for yourself is no fun - for you or for those around you. This may sound like a bit of a lecture but if it saves a life......

Have a read through this previous thread . Although it concerns a different health matter, you can see in there that CORD (otherwise known as COAD) is included under 'Exceptions' so you may be lucky if you get in quick enough.

Appendix 10: Medical conditions deemed to impose significant costs and/or demands on New Zealand’s health and/or education services
HIV infection
Hepatitis B surface antigen positive, with abnormal liver function
Hepatitis C, RNA positive, with abnormal liver function
Malignancies of solid organs and haematopoietic tissue, including past history of, or currently under treatment

Exceptions are:
a) treated minor skin malignancies (not melanoma)
b) malignancies where the interval since treatment is such that the probability of cure is > 90%, e.g.: early stage (I & IIA) breast cancer at 5 years; low risk prostate cancer at 5 years; early stage (Dukes A & B1) colorectal cancer at 5 years; childhood leukaemia at 5 years
Solid organ transplants, excluding corneal grafts more than 6 months old
Chronic renal failure or progressive renal disorders
Diseases or disorders such as osteoarthritis with a high probability of arthroplasty in the next four years
Central Nervous System disease, including motor neurone disease, complex partial seizures, poorly controlled epilepsy, prion disease, Alzheimer’s and other dementia, and including paraplegia and quadriplegia
Cardiac disease including ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy or valve disease requiring surgical and/or other procedural intervention
Chronic obstructive respiratory disease with limited exercise tolerance and requiring oxygen
Genetic or congenital disorders: muscular dystrophies, cystic fibrosis, thalassaemia major, sickle cell anaemia if more than one sickle crisis in 4 years, severe haemophilia, and severe primary immunodeficiencies
Severe autoimmune disease, currently being treated with immuno-suppressants other than prednisone
In a person up to the age of 21 years, a severe (71-90 decibels) hearing loss or profound bilateral sensori-neural hearing loss
In a person up to the age of 21 years, a severe vision impairment with visual acuity of 6/36 or beyond after best possible correction, or a loss restricting the field of vision to 15-20 degrees
In a person up to the age of 21 years, a severe physical disability, where they are unable to stand and walk without support, and cannot independently dress, eat, hold a cup, or maintain their stability when sitting.

[nickydwuk]

It is also known as COPD here in the UK. It is a disease primarily of smokers and by packing up ASAP you can reduce the effect somewhat. I have seen people in their 60's diagnosed with this and still smoking in between gasps for air. Not a pretty site. By packing up now and trying to exercise a little you should have a lot better quality of life. Hopefully it won't affect your chances of getting your WP.

[MotherBear]

My advice would be 'Don't do it for your WP, do it for yourself, your family and your future.

[1happywoman]

You might talk to your doctor about having respiratory function tests done. That might define the degree of damage done to your lungs. Then, a letter from your doctor documenting that you are not on oxygen and able to exercise at XXX level might help. (Able to climb x number of steps, walk such and such distance without becoming short of breath, etc.). Last, and most important - stop smoking NOW! There is a medication called Chantix (here in the US) that can help (it attaches itself to the pleasure receptors in your brain that nicotine attaches to, meant to be taken for about 3 months.) Failing that, patches, gum, lozenges or whatever can help you stop. Also see if you can find local or even online support to stop smoking. Documentation of all of this might get you in. Just my $0.02 worth as a nurse!

[ScotsJon]

Many thanks to all concerned, and believe me I am going to try my hardest to kick the habit (got the old patches and gum today)

As an after note - I noticed that the radiographer/doctor had not signed the documentation. I went to find him this morning and mentioned his findings and asked for comments/advice.

Apart from the obvious (stop smoking) he asked me for how long I had held my breath during the x-ray procedure. I honestly could not give a definitive answer, however he made a strange comment that if one holds one's breath for too long it could give a false/misleading reading of the abnormality mentioned.

So in other words - even if you don't smoke and hold your breath too long you could have a false diagnosis on your medical form.

Strange old world eh !

[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by ScotsJon

Many thanks to all concerned, and believe me I am going to try my hardest to kick the habit (got the old patches and gum today)

Good man, Jon. It's got to be worth it. Apart from the improvement in your general health and the hope that your future will have a better quality to it, think of all the money you'll save. Think of something you'd really like to do with that money and keep it in mind whenever you feel a weak moment coming on.

If you happen to fall by the wayside and give in one day, don't be discourage and think 'I've blown it', just start again afresh. Every day you go without a cigarette will take you nearer salvation. Well.....something like that . We'll be here for you.

[1happywoman]

Pat yourself on the back for every hour you make it through.

I knew an exercise physiologist a long time ago who smoked. She said she was an expert on stopping smoking - she did it four times!

[MotherBear]

I think the key is that you have to WANT to do it. I just wish I could have put Jon (and all smokers, come to that) inside my mother's body for a while so he could see what it felt like to gasp your way through each day.

It wasn't just her - when I was in the UK I worked in a hospital and one of the clinics I was involved with was the Chest Clinic. I used to see the patients struggling in every Thursday afternoon and practically collapsing at the counter where I was waiting to book them in. I often had to wait a while for them to get their breath back before they could even give me their name. I could also hear Dr. Cotton yelling at patients who admitted to still smoking 'I will not tolerate smokers in MY clinic!! What's the point in trying to patch them up when they're busy undoing all my good work?' She was right, too .

People who are trying to give up smoking seem to be at their weakest when they're under stress and that's when they feel the need for a ciggie the most. Perhaps finding something else that will stand instead of that as a prop would be more ideal. That's all ciggies are - a prop - and our bodies don't need them at all, apart from that.