Fighting for breath: Katy’s story

Katy noticed her COPD symptoms three years ago. She’s been shocked by the lack of information offered to people needing a diagnosis. Here, she tells her story.

Katy, Asthma + Lung UK supporter
Published 16th March 2023

It’s three years since I first noticed symptoms of what would turn out to be COPD, but I still haven’t had a spirometry test, to confirm it or how well my lungs are coping. It’s very frustrating not to have the information you need, especially when early diagnosis and action can halt the decline.

Fighting for answers

There’s been a lot of back and forth with multiple doctors, trying to work out what was causing my breathlessness. I’ve had to fight for answers every step of the way. That can be exhausting. I initially saw a nurse in 2019 because I had a persistent chest infection. The first time a doctor mentioned COPD was in September 2020, but it took until February 2021 to speak to a COPD nurse over the phone and that took a lot of chasing.

Finding help online

Finding Asthma + Lung UK through social media has saved me. They have brilliant resources and support groups. It was through them that I found out about pulmonary rehab and how it could help me. Now I’m pushing my doctor for access to it. At their online support group, I’m able to talk about my emotions and my fears. COPD is a progressive disease with no cure. You can feel the future is out of your control.

You have to grieve the life you thought you were going to have. I expected to spend retirement travelling and volunteering with children and animals, not like this. It’s hard to accept. But I have to be realistic with what I can manage.

At Asthma + Lung UK, we want no one left fighting for breath without knowing what’s happening to them. Read our report to find out what we’re fighting for. 

Do you have COPD? Find out more information about what COPD is, the symptoms you might get, and how it’s diagnosed and treated.

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