‘You have to keep persevering and refuse to give up’ advises Wicklow woman diagnosed with COPD

COPD is a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties and mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke or used to smoke, but many sufferers go undiagnosed. Most people with COPD do not have any obvious symptoms until they reach their late 40s or 50s.

Leah Dunne from Glenealy had been experiencing shortness of breath and countless chest infections prior to her positive diagnosis, and found what used to be regular routines, such as mowing the lawn, becoming increasingly more difficult.

"I had a fair idea that something was wrong as walking up hills and stairs were causing me a lot of discomfort, as well as whenever I exerted myself too much," she said.

"I was constantly out of breath and kept getting chest infections. It went on for quite some time and I knew something had to be up. Every day tasks were getting more and more difficult, like mowing the garden. I was a very active person and was always walking and doing pilates and it was clear whatever was wrong with me was impacting on my life."

Data shared by COPD Support Ireland ahead of World COPD Day has shown that 663 people from Wicklow were admitted to hospital due to COPD between 2020 and 2022.

Additionally, there is an estimated 380,000 people living with COPD in Ireland. Yet only 110,000 people have been diagnosed.

Leah got a referral to St Vincent's Hospital in the middle of the Covid pandemic, where it was confirmed that she suffered from COPD, which didn't necessarily come as a surprise.

"I used to be a smoker and I did think that may have something to do with the chest infections and shortness of breath, even though I had quit well over 25 years ago. I actually stopped smoking decades ago while working in Liverpool. I was rushed to hospital with chest pains and was told I had the early stages of emphysema. As far as I was concerned that was a case of live or die, so I quit smoking immediately, which was incredibly difficult, but had to be done.

"I try not to let my diagnosis impact my life and, having survived sepsis in 2017, being in an induced coma for ten days, and my family being told that I was going to die, I am delighted to be here today working, exercising and enjoying my life unscathed."

She manages her condition thanks to inhalers and portable oxygen. She also continues to do pilates, walks every day and takes regular COPD exercise classes.

"You have to keep persevering and refuse to give up, otherwise you will be sitting in a char all day attached to an oxygen tank, which wasn't an option as far as I was concerned."

Speaking about support in County Wicklow, she added: "You have plenty of COPD supports in the area. Siel Bleu run meetings in Wicklow town every week and there are also COPD online exercise classes I attend each week. There is also respiratory nurse in place at the Wicklow Primary Healthcare Centre, who has vast experience. It's a terrific back-up to have and that help makes a big difference. It's great knowing there is someone with real expertise available if you aren't feeling well.

"I have inhalers and a portable oxygen tank, which honesty has made a huge difference. I only recently received the oxygen it has been so beneficial. I live in Glenealy where you have a lot of hilly walks, so I just strap the oxygen onto my back when I'm heading out. I don't tend to need it for walks along flat ground, such as the Murrough.

"As for the future, my plan is to keep doing what I'm doing which will hopefully improve my quality of life. As a former smoker, as smoking is so addictive, if there is one message that I have about COPD, it is to never start smoking, or to seek support if you're trying to quit."

To raise awareness and broaden their net of support, COPD Support Ireland has published the booklet 'COPD & Me: an essential guide to living with COPD'. The booklet is brimful of information, advice and tips, from diagnosis and treatment, to exercise and nutrition, to mental health and well-being.

The key advice from COPD Support Ireland is that if you have ongoing breathlessness and a cough, with or without phlegm, you should checked out by your GP and ask about a spirometry breathing test.

GP practices in many places around the country now have direct access to HSE Spirometry Services testing in their local Integrated Care Hubs.

If you are worried about COPD, you can call the COPD Advice Line on freefone 1800 832 146 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) to receive a call back from a respiratory health professional.