COPD

[raptor]

HI Folks,, my old gp told me my lung capacity at 43% was classed as severe,,nurse at new practist says at this level i am moderate.Who is correct ????? thanks..

[Hidden]

Hi Raptor

I am no expert ....so I have no idea who is correct ....but

I think I am moderate COPD ... (not moderate in much else however)

My practise resp nurse said that she was always surprised by the difference between patient's quality of life compared to their 'scores'

ie some 'moderate score' patients felt very limited by their condition but other 'severe' patients reported as feeling mainly OK

I think how you feel is probably more important than the label that some scores attach to you

Hope this is an OK idea for you

It always pays to be positive

Izz x

[raptor in reply to Hidden]

No worries,i was just curious,,copd lives with me i dont live with it...

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Numbers mean nothing. I'm classed as very severe but I seem to be better off than others who aren't classed as bad. A positive attitude helps.

[Lynne1955 in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

A positive attitude is essential!

Lynne xx

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Up and at 'em Batman !

[Lynne1955]

Hi Raptor. Puff is right. Numbers don't really count. I am moderate at 55% but it really doesn't affect me too much at all. We are all very different.

Lynne xx

[sillywitch]

Hi raptor, I havn't a clue what score I,ve got, just know I have good day & bad days, some days I've no idea who I am, so don't worry be happy as the song goes

I think worrying about the numbers just adds stress & that does no good so just take care to avoid any thing that sets you off & keep well

Karen xxx

[raptor]

HI Puff and Lnn,,i was just curious,,me crazy possitive,,i used to post as id2409,,till a massive technical error on my part = insanity and being a computer dunce,,i deleted most of the stuff on the computer ,,hahahahahaahaah

[phillips1]

Hi Raptor.

Being insane is one of the criteria for being allowed on here. My last Fev1 was 31% which is apparently moderate/severe. More than that I cannot tell e zur. Bob

[Hidden]

Hi, I would say - don't worry about the numbers just see how you are. My husband is now classed as severe with FEV1 at less than 28% BUT he is actually no worse than he has been for the last 8 years. In fact unless he gets a chest infection he is OK. So take good care, gets lots of information and make sure you have the right medications. Ring the BLF helpline for advise if you need it, they are very good. Good Luck TAD xx

[Gordon57]

To give the 'actual' answer, according to the NICE guidelines ( nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/... ), 43% would be stage 3 - Severe. But, as people always point out, they can be above or below the same level readings as someone else, and not be affected as much. It's a really strange illness !

My last hospital test was 44% and they were concerned at a decline over the previous year. I've to go see my COPD nurse/pharmacist in a few weeks and she will no doubt do a spirometry test while I'm there. She uses a different type of device and her readings are always higher than the hospital ones. I was Moderate - Stage 2 last year on her readings, only just at 50%

I've no doubt that I will have different readings on different days as I go through a cycle of chest infection, treatment, feel better, start going down again, chest infection... I've slowed down the frequency, in my opinion anyway, with the Vitamin D3 supplement. I don't know of anything else I've done that has given me a bigger break between the infections.

If the hospital see me as I'm going downhill and the surgery test when I'm on the up the results are bound to differ. From memory that's how it seems to be as I have to re-book appointments through being on antibiotics and steroids. The hospital take longer to rebook, so chances are I'll not see them until I'm about to get another infection, hence the lower reading. That's my theory anyhow !

[raptor]

Thanks gordon,,going back to see the nurse on the 10 of may,, have found now that eyeryone has different reactions to copd health wise,,, Will just keep up the exercise and walking whatever the result,,

[binlid]

i was diahgniosed 44 and classsed as moderate hope this helps xxxx