18 months ago it was upgraded to moderate and I was put on Spiriva as well as the Symbicourt inhaler. I have been trying to ignore this illness for years but it is finally starting to impact on my life and forcing me to take notice.
Due to exacerbations my employers are now at the point were they can no longer justify my absences from work and rather than dismissal are investigating ill health retirement but because of my age this route may not be an option.
I have always tried to stay active but it is becoming more difficult. My question is my specialist Nurse believes that the Spiriva should show amazing improvements is anyone else on this medication and have you seen credible improvements in your condition
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janetj1963
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hi janet, i can reiterate your post, and find i am somewhat in the same position, i hate to answer your question with another, but would be very interested to see your replies
over a year ago when i was doing reasonably well, they took me off spiriva, due to prostrate problems, which have been rectified now ,i have had quite some bother since,, i have seritide, rescue inhaletr, nebulizer etc, but recently had more infections , the resp doctor at my local hospital put me back on spiriva about a month ago, in conjuction with the others, although i am going through an infection just now, i dont think i have given this time to work properly, once this infection clears up, i will gladly get back to you in a week or two, and let you know any benefits i hope to find in starting this again.meanwhile i wish you well and hope this spiriva helps you,
what is Qvar is it a different type of inhaler and what stage is your COPD mine is moderate and even though been on Spiriva for 18 months am now having more breathlessness when walking. Thanks for replying
I've just felt worse in last few months before that could manage to do most things reasonably ok but maybe have pushed too hard and my body is making me slowdown
Hi janetj1963, welcome to the site. I have been taking spirava for quite some time and for me it has helped along with the other inhalers, but other past posts suggest it does not work as expected for everyone, so I would say try it for a while then if no help return to your GP and see what they think. Hope that helps.
You have done well in the 8 years passed, wishing you well with the early retirement options. You may find your condition can become more stable with less exacerbations once you are away from the working environment with more control over avoiding contact with people who may be infected with a cold or the flu virus.
It is important to keep active and whilst there is no way we can do as much as we could when lungs were without damage, we still can do as much as we can even with lung damage. If you think you have de-conditioned a lot, ask your GP for a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation course, this will help you achieve an improved level of fitness and make you more aware of the many ways we can help keep the condition stable, the course is of great benefit for all lung patients I feel.
Spiriva has helped me a lot to be more active, it allows me to achieve more, bend over more easily without too much discomfort and breathlessness. Spiriva won't improve our condition, but you will see an improvement on how much you can do. For those that the drug suits, it does help us achieve more mobility and activity, this has been my own experience and I have heard others say the same thing.
Give Spiriva a try and see, some notice benefit within 2 days others it may take longer. Keep in mind it can take up to a month to notice benefits with some medicines. I hope you find symbicort suits you also.
Hi Blakey thanks for your insight the Symbicourt I have taken for about 7 years and the spiriva for about 18 month. I think that were I pushed myself to appear normal for so long and ignored my condition is now causing the issues. Might see if there are any pulmonary rehab courses in my area as finding it difficult to get back into exercise after latest chest infection and couple of bouts of pleurisy in the past year.
Hi Janet, I have been on Spiriva, it was ok for about 2 years and then I found myself like you struggling to do a lot of things, my resp nurse changed me to Seebree inhaler once in the morning and it was amazing the difference, I am also on Seretide twice a day and a reliever, I also found the PR course very helpful too, exercise is one of the best things we can do with this condition, please try and get on one if you can,good luck to you.
hi Janet I also have been on spivia for 7 years but this year I changed doctors and after a chest infection I have been put on Seritide 500 and this is working for me Spivia did work for me for a long time. and I did feel well and was able to carry on with my job I am still working I am 66 in march.and I have a very understanding boss. spanners 12
hi janet, i posted earlier about the spiriva, my infection seem to have cleared somewhat, and i feel a wee bitty better now, but i think the spiriva is actually helping , like you i take it with other inhalers seritide 500 , nebs, rescue inhalers etc, but i can certainly say, its doing me no harm anyway, good luck with it, and hope your feeling better by now jw
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