Lately, I noticed that although I'm getting the prescribed 7 or more hours sleep I wake up feeling bright and refreshed but often find myself exhausted a few hours later. I'm researching this issue now and discovering some interesting facts about how our bodies cycle energy. Does this happen to you? Do, share your experience and thoughts in the comments. We can learn together.

COPD is a complex condition that differs from person to person. Your experience of the condition can be influenced by numerous external factors. One day you're doing quite well and the next your symptoms flare up! Why! One person swears by a certain device, a supplement or a therapy but none of them work for you? What's that about? Then there are stages, stats and test results to worry about! It can all be quite stressful and confusing. So, I'm putting together an interactive A to Z of everything we need to know about COPD. The information is bite sized, easy to read and well illustrated. I've done the research and checked the sources so you don't have to. If you want to check for yourself please do follow the links to verifiable sources. I need your participation and help! By doing the mini quizzes and polls at the end of each section you can help to identify gaps in our knowledge and I can work on improving the content.

Have had a day when I really didn't want to do anything,have only managed to have a shower, feeling guilty, does anyone else have days like that, feeling depressed & sad

I belong to various COPD groups on social media and I'm often moved by personal experiences of how the disease can affect ones mental health and daily life. A woman recently explained how she felt. She said COPD goes on and on and leaves you feeling lonely in the prison of your mind. I understand exactly how she felt. I sometimes felt that way in the early years after diagnosis. During bad days I still sometimes feel that way. COPD can rob a person of a normal active life that everyone needs to stay physically and mentally healthy. Ordinary things that others take for granted suddenly require huge effort. Hobbies and interests that would have kept body and mind occupied are out of reach. You feel trapped and alone in the prison of your mind where your attention is on catching the next breath. It's not surprising if your thoughts turn dark as you wish yet fear that the end would come; sooner rather than later. The reality for many is the misery can be overwhelming, the suffering may have no let up but Like it or not as COPD progresses you will sometimes find yourself locked in the prison of your mind. The question is What can you do about it? We would like to hear how you cope with this. Please leave a comment.

Fatigue comes with having COPD and the advice about pacing yourself is absolutely spot on but ... this can be easier said than done. Despite knowing better, I over did things today. Over the weekend I had narrowly escaped a full blown exacerbation and the Respiratory Nurse advised me to start on my rescue pack which I did. Today, Monday I was feeling much better and grateful to be breathing pretty much normally again. So foolishly, I had a shower, and decided to attend pulmonary rehab class to make up for the sessions I missed when I was feeling poorly. Now, I'm flat out laying on the sofa and wondering how on earth I'm going to drag myself up to bed, tonight! Silly me! Are you disciplined about pacing yourself?