Background: COPD is one of today's major diseases with at least half a million sufferers in Sweden. COPD is a disease that develops slowly and the symptoms are insidious at first. The symptoms of COPD are breathlessness, cough, phlegm, fatigue, and sometimes weight loss. The disease can't be cured, only symptoms can be relieved. Smoking cessation is the most important treatment. Living with a chronic disease can cause suffering, bringing a sense of life being unfair and create a sense of alienation.

Aim: The aim was to illuminate person' experiences of living with COPD

Method: Literature-based study in which 12 qualitative research articles are reviewed and analyzed by both authors. It has been under Friberg (2012) recommendations for analysis. Articles that are used from Cinahl and PubMed are published between 2005-2015.

Results: Seven major themes were identified: "To feel that you can´t get air", "To feel weakness", "To feel socially isolated", "To feel guilt and shame", "To feel fear", "To feel dependent" and "To feel meaningfulness and affinity".

Conclusion: Living with COPD have a big impact on daily life. This means that persons often become increasingly socially isolated in their homes. They experience a shrinking life-world, they adapt life after the disease.