Tina Moyer's Story

What were the steps leading up to your diagnosis?

I started to become short of breath when I would be at work singing along with my MP3 player. I was short of breath at night time as well. My ankles would swell and I was always tired and was not able to do things like I did before.

I was a smoker for over 30 years at 2 packs a day. I knew it was because of my smoking, but I did not know how bad it would be. I started to read American Lung Association and made a quit date 10/08/2009. I quit cold turkey along with my son Rob who quit with me.

After a few months of not smoking, I was very short of breath still and I was also feeling tired. I went back to the doctor and had a breathing test and a CT scan. I was told that I had COPD Emphysema and it was mild at first but now I’m in the moderate stage of COPD.

What lifestyle changes have you needed to make?

Quitting smoking was #1. Getting a better doctor and lung specialist going into pulmonary rehabilitation was a huge help for me and it taught me all about COPD, how to do things, how to cope, how to do purse lip breathing and what to look for triggering flare ups and how to take my medications properly.

Who has been there for you? How?

My husband Bill would listen and let me get out all the emotions one carries when they are diagnosed with COPD because you feel so lost and alone. Plus, it helped because he was able to relate, since he has sarcoidosis.

My son Rob was my rock. Quitting together was a huge benefit for me. He would always coach me and just be there and let me get my moments out getting angry, crying or whatever I needed to do. Quitting smoking was the hardest thing that I have done in my life.

My friend Mimi was always there to tell me that she loved me and just to listen when I was down.

My friend Wendy was there to keep me going when I would get urges to smoke at work. She was a huge help.

The COPD Foundation was also there with encouragement and empathy because they understood what one goes through with COPD.

The many, many Fellow COPDers who I have been friends with through Facebook. Without them, my journey is one that I am never alone on.

What accomplishment are you proud of?

I am proud that I have been smoke free going on 5 years, that I have been a face of COPD an advocate and started my own COPD Aware Page so that I can give encouragement Love and support to others in our Journey with COPD. I also became a State Advocacy Captain of Pennsylvania.

What's your advice to someone else living with COPD?

Never give up. Always have communication between your doctors. Contact the COPD Foundation, the best tool for information when one is told they have COPD and the people are really wonderful.

Get into a Better Breathing Meeting or support groups. Because even now, I still find myself having a hard time accepting my COPD and how some chores take me longer than they use to. It is a life-changing illness but with knowledge and exercise, we can have a high quality of life.