Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a disease which is affecting people all around the world. Frequent symptoms are coughing, excessive phlegm and breathlessness. Until today there is no cure for this disease. Therefore, the aim of the treatment is for the patient to be able to live a life as normal as possible and to slow down the progression of the disease. As the disease is increasing those patients will be encountered in all sorts of health care. Therefore it is essential that every nurse knows how to take care of these patients and the prerequisite is that the nurse understand the patients' experiences of living with COPD.

Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate the lived experiences of patients affected by COPD.

Method: A literature study was conducted and 11 articles were analysed. The analysis was based on the five-step method by Friberg.

Result: Three main themes and seven sub themes emerged. The three main themes are experiences of fear, experiences of limitations, experience of wellbeing.

Conclusion: Living with COPD and the symptoms results in a lot of suffering. Despite the suffering the patient also experience hope and wellbeing.