THE SECRET TO THRIVING WITH COPD: A UNIQUE PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE FROM A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND A LATE-STAGE PATIENT Paperback – July 18, 2021

This was a very helpful book it also sheds hope on living with this.

Very good book.Very satisfied 😌 ☺️

Some useful info, too much repetition and story telling

Purchased as a gift. Was very appreciated.

I hesitated at writing this review, as I believe in writing it, I must reveal personal medical information that I'd rather not reveal. I believe the review will benefit enough people to outweigh my selfish need to keep my physical condition private.l was diagnosed with COPD in 2013. Because at that time I wasn't experiencing any symptoms, I pretty well ignored it, thinking... well, I'm not quite sure what I was thinking. About three years ago I noticed that I was huffing and puffing from walking up a small hill. I attributed it to pushing 70 years old, and gave it little thought. After all, I could still walk 3 miles, so it couldn't be too serious a problem right?Well, now it's a problem. I can't walk 3 miles anymore. In fact, I get winded from toweling off after a shower. I suddenly realized that I was in trouble and began to look for help. This book has been more help than I can describe here. The insights by both women have been eye opening, to say the least.Rachel's contention that "She found herself, time and again, trying to climb over a wall of medical professionals who insisted that sick people should stay sick" is so sadly true that it makes me want to cry. It hit me like a bolt of lightening that I'd been to a Pulmonologist, a Cardiologist and my own medical doctor, and not one of them even mentioned pulmonary rehabilitation, or for that matter, anything that would be of help to someone with COPD. This was a devastating realization. If I was going to get any help, it was only going to come strictly through my own efforts. How sad.If you have COPD, don't deny yourself the information in this book, because it can and will change your life in ways that seemed out of reach before you read it. As a side note, I also began using a pipe shaped device that's also available on Amazon called The Breather. I've only been applying this information and The Breather for about 4 weeks now, and I already notice a difference. My lungs don't crackle anymore when I'm laying down, and my recovery time between sets of walking on a stepper has become shorter. I see improvement already.I guess the bottom line is, what do you have to lose? My love and thanks to Rachel for the deep understanding of the disease that she's shared, and to Dawn, for sharing such a personal accounting of her journey, as she deals with what seemed like an impossible health crisis.

I have early stage COPD and have recently had a severe exasperation lasting months. It was time to get educated. While the book is weighted towards someone with advanced stage COPD, possibly on oxygen, anyone with any stage will benefit and be inspired and get educated. There are many books by doctors describing what is COPD and the standard protocols. You need to also know that to understand your disease. But, this is the book you'll return to for hope, practical advice, rehabilitation suggestions and more. I can't recommend it enough. P.S. Yes. The book may be desparately in need of an editor and formatting, but don't let that put you off from the heart and soul put into it by the two authors.

This book was very informing and written well. Great examples and life stories. I would recommend.

I'm just over 50% done reading this book and I've already learned more in the first 75 pages than I have with all my online research, everything my doctors have mentioned, everything the internet has "spit" out. I'm so disappointed that it's taken so long to finally stumble onto this valuable information. If you have COPD or know someone who does, read and recommend this book. The content is worth its weight in gold. My sincerest gratitude to the authors and my heartfelt wishes for Dawn's continued progress and quality of life. I cannot be more sincere in this review. I will update this review as my own recovery progresses.