Evening.

[quark2008]

Hope you are all enjoying these fabulous Olympic Games, it's been so exciting hasn't it ? Everything has stalled temporarily, at the beginning of July I was diagnosed with obstructive airways disease, on top of the ticker, they were umming and arring for a little while, but repeated tests are conclusive. It's in the early stages, but of course my lungs have to be healthy and strong enough to cope with a long anaesthetic and time on a ventilator afterwards. Heart wise, I've had a few admissions with angina, but nothing too problematic.

I'm just trotting along like a little jalopy really, nothing else awful is happening, with anything and from anyone, especially creditors.I've not heard a dicky bird.Which is just as well, and probably why my heart has settled down. Regards to all.

[Shining]

Hi Quark as ever lovely to hear from you. I am surprisingly enjoying the games, didn't expect to but find myself drawn in.

Keep trotting along Quark and as I say lovely to hear from you.

[KM1512]

Quark hope you are feeling good today. My father-inlaw has COPD and a heart problem also but his COPD is in advanced stages.

[quark2008]

Thanks Lesley, what's happened with Kallis ? Hope all is well her end ? KM, sorry to hear about your Dad. My Mum also has end stage COPD, and has done for a long while, but she keeps going and going, and still manages to cook up a roast and feast when I go home to visit. My OAD is only mild, I do get out of breath quite a bit, and with a leaky heart the two play against each other sometimes. They can fix my heart no problem, but COPD is progressive. And I will find out if mine is starting to be, at the next appointment.I'm just getting on with it really,and allow myself the odd upset day here and there.

[Niobe]

She no longer posts for personal reasons Quark but she's ok.

I have severe heart problems and COPD as well and I'm still going at 65!!

[quark2008]

Send my best wishes to her for me Harpic, yeah I've known you also have ticker troubles and COPD for a while through Kallis.Knowing my heart can be totally fixed and I'll have no cardiac symptoms afterwards, aside, how long was it before your COPD started to progress Harpic ? I can't ask my Mum as we both get too emotional about it.

[quark2008]

I hope that's not too nosy a question.

[Niobe]

It's not nosy. It was diagnosed quite a few years ago after a routine check at the doctors. My COPD is quite manageable at the moment - I use an Accuhaler twice a day and have a Ventolin inhaler if I need it during the day. I just get out of breath sometimes but it doesn't stop me from living a normal life at the moment.

The angina is more likely to do that!!

[quark2008]

Thanks Harpic, yeah my shortness of breath only slows me down a little bit. I just stop and sit down for 5 minutes, I cannot walk and talk at the same time though, I make a right boring fart to go on a stroll with ! I agree with you on the angina though, I break out into an immediate sweat and the nausea does my head in. It's not painful as such, I generally feel an ache in my bottom jaw and teeth. I've learned to do all the things I normally do, just much slower, bosh !!!

[Niobe]

Mine is my arms, neck and chest and does get bad. It's also unstable so can come on at anytime whether I'm at rest or doing anything. I'm on about 14 different types of tablets a day, some of which I take twice so I'm surprised I don't rattle!!