What exactly do you mean by exacerbation.

Exacerbation is mentioned many times in these posts. Now before you all start jumping up and down I know what exacerbation means. But what does it mean to COPDers. It cant be the same thing to everyone surely.

What I'm after is a description of your different exacerbation's. IE: shortness of breath, mucus build up etc. what you think causes it,(cold weather, dust, pollen) and how you deal with it. Keith

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HI, My husband suffers with COPD and we were told by the respiratory nurse that an exacerbation is a sudden worsening of symptoms - more coughing, more sputum, more breathless that continues for a few days. In his case he was told to take antibiotics and steroids immediately in case it is the start of an infection. The extra meds. usually have him sorted but sometimes it can take 2, 3 or even 4 courses of antibiotics until it is completely sorted. Take care, TAD xx

[scrobbitty]

Good question Keith. For me, my chest feels tighter and when I move around the breathlessness is more noticeable. Normally I don't have a problem with mucus but then I find it starts building up but only in the mornings. When I check the finger oximeter my sats drop to 93/94 and stay that way whether I am resting or not. For me the triggers seem to be fine particle inhalation ie. emptying the Vax or being near someone sweeping up, mold exposure, viruses/colds or within a week of stopping steroids (but have recently been diagnosed with Lupus so that may explain the steroid thing). I immediately start the rescue pack and within a couple of days start feeling a bit easier. The whole process starts again within three weeks but sometimes on a greater or lesser scale. I have learnt through trial and error that the sooner I start the meds the better otherwise I get almost to the point of needing to be hospitalised, which I am avoiding like the plague. I can deal with exacerbations better now than a year ago and they clear quicker because I don't delay with those meds. I hope this answers your question a little. xx

[peege in reply to scrobbitty]

Reply to Scrobbity, which antiB is in your rescue pack please? Ta

[scrobbitty in reply to peege]

Hi peeg - normally it's doxycycline but had a problem last time fulfilling the prescription because I take the soluble ones and they were not able to get them until the end of this month! Disaster - so tried Amoxiclav and got thrush, so never again on that one. Hopeful that I won't need any in the near future but do have some doxy capsules which if the worst comes to the worst will have to pull apart and grimace a lot ! xx

[grandadbrian]

nail on the head scrobbity thanks.

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Thank you for your responces. I learn something everyday on here. Keith