I have never been married, I have an older sister in VA, all others in my family including older sisters, both parents, aunts, uncles, are deceased, I live alone, except for my Kitty(Shadow).

I am a professional, (Software Engineer), I shall begin with when I was discharged from the Army in 1977, they told me I had asthma, although I never had to treat it, or see a doctor, ever, until last month. I'm in pretty good shape, played football, etc., I am six foot six inches tall and weigh 240 pounds, and have an athletic build. I did serve in Vietnam in 1970.
  

Everything changed about a month ago, you see I do extensive volunteer work for the local Boy Scout Council, namely, I am their only certified welder. Last month, up at the Scout Camp I did a ton of arc welding for four hours straight, on a rusted out truck frame, outside in 15 degree weather, then I immediately picked up the Acetylene torch, and began compound rod brazing for another two hours, well, that was enough to cause me to lose my breath, (I mean I was not able to catch my breath standing, or sitting still).
  

Anyway, I loaded up my motorhome, and drove home, I thought if I got away from the camp, and the altitude I would be fine, wrong! I got home, about a 40 mile drive, I was so out of breath, I could not get out of the driver's seat, and I was not moving, or doing anything. I got inside my house, I took every inhaler I had, nothing worked! No relief, no matter what I did. I had a bad feeling, because I could see the color of my skin changing from normal to gray/blue. Well, I remember dialing 911, I remember the fire department coming, I remember them giving me oxygen, but it did not do anything, it did not help. I then went unconscious, I don't remember the ambulance ride, or anything in the ER. I came to in the ICU about four hours later, I had a ventilator tube down my throat, very uncomfortable to say the least, and hooked up to a monitor, and three IV's. I was in the ICU for 7 days, it took 24 hours for me to be able to catch my breath. Many IV's, lots of needle stickin' and lot's of gasping for air.
 

Finally, after two days, they removed the ventilator, that was the highlight of the hospital stay. I was released from the hospital 9 days after I was admitted. But, I was sent home on Oxygen, had the pump, extra tanks, and the concentrator, it really sucked. Thank God, I got off the Oxygen only two weeks after being discharged, I do not miss it!
 

I have been symptom free since I have been home, however I have four inhalers I take twice a day, and I take a pill every morning. In hindsight,(which is 20/20 by the way), the ER doctor, Dr.Taylor, saw me in the ICU, after I regained conciousness, he told me I was 3 to 5 minutes from not making it. He told me it was a miracle that I had the presence of mind to dial 911. He told me that the rescue people find victims of this disease dead, either near a door, or at a window, with the curtains and the blinds torn down, because they think they only need fresh air. Dr.Taylor told me that since I was outside, and could not breathe, I knew I was in trouble. I was seen in the hospital by two Pulmonary Care Specialists, and my doctor.
 

This is when for the first time I heard about this C.O.P.D., it was also when I found out that there is no cure for it. Anyway, I have since told the scout council to find another certified welder, I'm done. I also wear a mask when I am outside using my snowblower. Dr.Taylor told me to be careful, he said next time, there won't be a next time. That's enough warning for me. I now avoid smoke filled areas, I follow the doctor's order's to the letter, and I take my medications. So far, so good, it was a scary as hell experience for me, I thought I was going to die, this was even more pronounced for me when the Reverend came into the ICU and gave me last rites, that first day.
 

I have had to change my life a bit, like I said before, I have never smoked and have no allergies to anything, now I am a statistic for this disease.

  
p.s. I have learned, don't wait, it's not going to get better. Go to the Doctor at the first sign of a problem.