Infections (copd)

[mahunamoon]

Just wondered, I have managed to steer clear of people with colds ect this year, however I am now on my third flare up, is this good as its only three times,( I mean I know infections are not good) not really concerned, need to know thats all. Joan x

[cowsrock]

It is good thst you have avoided more things, we seem to pick up infections easily, myself I have had infections from bites, reation to the Iodene they put though you when you get a CT scan, Cellulitis and Lympadema on top of flare s, lol but you still keep going, hope that's helpful

Gentle hugs.

[O2Trees]

Hi mahunamoon, (lovely name btw)

The number of exacerbations/flare-ups varies from person to person. I tend to get one a year, but everyone's different.

The more assertive you can be about infection with friends and family, the better. Everyone has to work out their priorities for themselves, e.g. I dont have grand children, but I know some people find it really hard to say no to cuddling a grandchild who has an infection. Family often dont understand especially when you dont see them very often, why you need to keep a distance if one of them has a cold. (6 feet is the recommended distance to avoid picking up people's germs.)

When shopping I keep clear of people and if passing someone in an aisle i time my breathing so I am breathing out when i go past them.

Lots of hand washing after being out etc etc. You didnt ask for advice and I expect you know all this anyway, but I find it useful to remind myself frequently. I find winter very scary; my exacerbations tend to last for 6-8 weeks, during which i can hardly walk in the house, let alone go outside, hence attempts at infection control!

Good luck, jean

[mustcarryon]

It does vary from person to person. I had one this year that lasted over three months, and I still haven't recovered properly. Different things affect people. With me it's steam, just a quick warm shower in the morning, dust causes real problems for me and, I try as much as possible to avoid smoke especially around bonfire night. You will in time find weaknesses that may cause problems for you. Good luck

[Hidden]

Hi, it depends on the person. My husband tends to always get one in April/May time that seemed to go on forever this year - four courses of antibiotics and so many steroids he started to react to them! As we start to go into flu/cold season I go into panic mode! and everyone in my house carries their own hand sanitiser! Having said that the exacerbation/infection this year seemed to come from nowhere and I am just wondering if its the change of seasons. Just do your best to build your immunity, keep fit and learn to know what are your triggers. Hope that you recover quickly. With love and best wishes TAD xx

[CornishBrian]

The biggest problem with me is getting rid of an infection. Sometimes they are reluctant to leave us, I think. It is more likely that you are keeping the infection going yourself and so I have a few other things I do. I keep an old inhaler tube of each sort and a spare volumiser. Every evening, I scald my volumiser and inhaler holders to ensure that they aren't carrying germs. If I had a microwave, I would probably use that. Never dry the items with a cloth. That is why I keep the old ones as spares because then I still have one to use. Plenty on anti bac hand washing and even take some wipes out with me. I try not to use the bus because they are air conditioned of sorts so bugs and germs live in an ideal culture, I prefer to use my mobility scooter even if it means an extra layer of clothing or waterproofs. It's not how many infections you get but how long they last for.

[Hidden]

The fewer the better as far infections go, its important to act quickly when you have one, the longer you leave treating it the worst it gets, the more difficult it is to shift and there is a higher potential of further lung damage. So it doesn't pay to delay treatment.

There are many things we can do to help avoid infection, all covered on the pulmonary rehabilitation course, all have been said before. Smoking is the absolute worst thing to do if you want to try and have fewer lung infections. We all have to get through every winter where we are more vulnerable and I always have a feeling of being victorious when I can manage to get through it without a cold or infection, its no easy task for any of us.

Its a pity the search is still not working as there are several posts already about things that can help preserve our lung health and avoid infections.

You may be interested in reading this one, or someone else may find it useful:

healthunlocked.com/blf/post...

Its concerning a self management plan.

Take good care of those lungs.

Best wishes BC

[mishawaka]

I am new to all of this and having no support/advice from my GP and there being no COPD rehab courses or Breath Easy groups in NHS North Wales, I have with the help of a counter assistant at Boots, cobbled together the plan to use of COLD DEFENCE nasal spray ( 3 times a day) and using FIRST DEFENCE hand santizer every time I need to handle money, hand rails, etc etc etc. With fingers crossed, I hope this helps me and you too.. good luck

[mahunamoon]

thanks everyone, yes I must admit I do care, re germs, other than this flare up I have at min, the last one I caught it at my one a week art class, made me not want to go anymore, however I thought must build up my imune system, but actaully with the cold damp windy wet weather on its way, I think maybe i wont go back until next year, I am going to meet a breath easy group soon (fingers crossed) must keep positive, but there last meeting is nov, then back again untill feb, because of the weather. but I have to say I felt this coming for 3 weeks tried to fight it phewww never mind, I dont have them long mabe 10 days, doc told me yesterday as long as I dont have a hight temp, I can still have my flu jab on the 11th so thats good news. and just a word for mishawaka

my nurse doesnt tell me anything, and last time I saw her had to really push hard for some info, so please keep on asking, lots of very kind people on this site will have ideas aswell, and also lots of advice on blf pages, hope this helps you a bit.

bless yurs all. Joan x

[naturelover]

Hi everyone, yes there sure are a lot of frustrated and ill people on this site. It is good to be able to talk to one another and everyone understands how you feel. I personally am sick of antibiotics, even the strongest ones don't work, and as for steriods.....keep them away from me. Even my consultant understands why i won't take them, especially ongoing like some people do. I have osteoporosis and steroids take the minerals out of the bone....I literally watched my own mother crumble away on permanent steroids. One of my neighbours now has osteoporosis due to steroid use, she has bad asthma so that is what they give her, she is in a catch 22. I decided to go alternative with meds, there is no medical cure anyway, and all the side effects. I am taking lungwart native american herb in a tea form, already I do believe it is working, the book I have claim it attacks the inflammation in the lung. I got this from a very reliable herbalist and took advice first. I have got nothing to lose folks. I am sat here with my oxygen on just now. Took the small canister to bed last night, first time for that, breathing pretty bad. It did help.

[Hitchcock]

I was diagnosed with COPD 4 years ago. I quit smoking 4 years ago. I've no exacerbations/flare-up's since then. My advice: Exercise daily, get flu and pneumonia shots, eat more vegetables and fish and less meat. Drink green tea with honey. And, yes, try to avoid obviously sick people.

[mahunamoon in reply to Hitchcock]

thanks yes I do try all the things you suggested, although unable to do many physical exercises, cheers Joan x

[rick1]

Children are germ carriers, I have no children so I don't come into contact with them much but for people who have there isn't much you can do about it.

[onamission]

I was told about 10 years ago I had COPD I have had my flu injection every year since. I have had the flu three times since but this last flu I had made me really bad. I avoid places like shopping centres more so when the kids are off school, good luck I know the flu jab is not 100%

[becraftygirl]

hi joan yes you can keep on having flareups im afraid i had three nasty ones then on the fourth they told me it was airbourne infec so had to have anti in pake line no pain at all by the way just incert tube down to your lungs nurse came in three times daikly four ten days

[mahunamoon]

Yes I actually felt this one go up my nose it was like a pinch and an itch at the same time grabbed a tissue and sneezed thought I may have stopped it tut noooooooo it beat me, however I do have a small kind of gadjet that I can put olbas in it with water and it actually kills airbourne bugs it a electric thing sorry cant remember its proper name tonite due to my tiredness, but I will find out tomorrow and add to this post.... thanks for your response Joan x

[Venture]

Hello Mahunamoon,

I would be happy if I could keep infections down to four a year - I average seven every year, which tends to spoil

things a bit! I'm a bit down in the dumps as I was told yesterday that my bronchiectasis ( which I have had for 15 years ) is actually mild emphysema. I stopped smoking 38 years ago and hadn't expected this! With bronchiectasis I could pretend that it wasn't my own fault - I can't now!

[mahunamoon in reply to Venture]

Hello Venture so sorry to hear you have so many flare ups, I was actually down in the dumps 3 weeks ago, so I knew something was amiss, I am always positive but not at that time, it seemed like the end of the world was nigh, tut silly me, well I do really hope you pick up soon please dont dwell on it, easy to say I know, lots of cyber hugs to you,