Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent disease as with its symptom and treatment gives a burden for the affected person, family, health care and finances. Today the knowledge and understanding are sparse regarding COPD affected person´s own lived experiences about the symptom burden and its effect on their daily life.  Due to this knowledge gap the aim of this study was to identify and describe the symptom burden and its effect on daily life in people with COPD based on their own lived experiences.

Subject and Method: Eleven males and fourteen females in GOLD stage III and IV within an age of 58-82 years were interviewed. An interview guide guided the face-to-face interviews. Data was analyzed with Thematic Analysis following the six steps according to Braun and Clarke.

Results: The result show one theme; An altered everyday life. The altered everyday life lead to a need of support to handle the everyday life and  different strategies to live as desired. Persons with COPD need to take the day as it comes dependent on the status of the day. The life is not easy to plan, and the day must be taken as it comes. The life is handled with strategies in breathing techniques, take care of the home and garden as well as the emotions. Support from the next of kin, society and the health care is important.

Conclusion: This study provides insight in that persons with COPD in stage III and IV have an altered life caused by the symptom burden. They must struggle with strategies to handle everyday life. There is a need of support from next of kin and society to facilitate life, but this support needs to be well-balanced.