LOOKING FORWARD TO TRAVELING WITH MY COPD

Hope you're having a fantastic day.

I am never not going to have COPD!!!
That's the first fact I had to accept.

I must have Mr O2 with me always. He can stay in the car at times but never leave him at home.
This fact was learned the hard way while in traffic on a hot and humid day.
That was also the day I learned what panic attacks are all about. For some reason we humans panic when we can't breathe.

I've been living with COPD for approximately 6 years. First couple of years are a blur now but I remember thinking I was supposed to lie down and wait on death. Guess you know it never came.

Then awhile of trying to ignore my disease. That didn't work cause it caused a lot of cancelled outings and disappointed people. In addition to many hospital visits.

Then like addicts say: I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I completely changed my life. I put structure into my days with at least one accomplishment. Even if it was only washing dishes it was an accomplishment.
I got my Crockpot (slow cooker) out of cobwebs and started cooking. I love to cook but couldn't stand for hours preparing and cooking meals. I can cook some of the most amazing meals in my Crockpot.

As days passed I began to feel better, feel good, feel like Ann. I followed the weather so to know when I could run errands. Never made appointments too far in advance, and advised everyone of worse case scenario.

Got a three wheel bicycle for exercise. Got hand weights for arm strength and try sit ups for stomach strength. Slow but sure it's helping.

BUT, and a huge BUT, I was upset that COPD had robbed Peter and I of our love for travelling. We could travel from hotel to hotel with Mr O2 in the back seat but no where to plug it in if I should need during the day. My nebulizer needs electricity to work every 4-6 hours for my treatments. No chance of camping out cooking on an open fire. It just didn't seem exciting.

Then one evening I asked Peter what he thought about us buying a RV, motor home. We were at the RV dealership so fast my head almost spun off. We looked at so many I got confused. So we decided to rent one first for a trip to see how it goes. We were hooked. In love. Had to have one.

We found a 2002 Motor home that felt comfortable for us. So the purchase was made and we couldn't be happier.

I will never not have COPD, but I'm learning how to live an exciting life with it.

I've made friends because of my COPD, especially my friend Vanessa Smith in England. She has been a huge inspiration for me and I'm looking forward to the day I can say to her, "I walked a mile"

We are looking forward to seeing the beautiful USA and sharing more adventures with you.