knocked , back a wee bitty, and breathing a bit dodgy over the weekend.

[jimmyw123]

doctor called friday, gave me pnumonia jab, flu jab,and took sputum sample, i cant say i was too great over the weekend , waking every couple of hours, wheazing etc, oxygen level very low, resp nurse here today, so i explained things to her, shes going to phone me up tues. or wed. with the result of the sputum test.took some notes ,gave me a prescription for an "aerochamber plos" device, said shed call friday.

but anyway, the thing that knocked me back a wee bitty, was the doc told me on friday, i am at stage 4 of copd. i was only diagnosed about a year and a half ago, but since then had a bad car accident last feb,punctured lung, cracked chest ribs etc, i then shortly after that suffered a collapsed lung and pnumonia., and had many infections in the last year.

seemingly these "stages" go by the amount of infections, how serious they were,how many exaceberations, hospital admitancies etc. and any underlying illnesses. [i have advanced ankylosing spondylitis]

surely, these "stages" cant be 100pc. exactly right, and really, only a doctors opinion .based on "scores" etc,,, i,e points for this, points for that . its not particularly worrying me NOW, im the same man i was last thursday, but i do know ill need to be very careful now with many things.

i just wondered what the members thoughts were on these "stages",,,, thanks in advance,,jw

[socalgal]

hey jimmyw123, just about to log off............read your post..........moved to respond. i am sending a prayer to the uttermost for you this hour. lovetheuks

[jimmyw123]

oh thats really nice of you socal girl, much appreciated, you keep well now ..jw

p,s im glad peeg answered your post on that old joke,, "the licence" , yes it takes a bit of explaining, but as peeg says, here we need a licence for many things , even keeping a dog ,,,,xxx

[rick1]

I'm now at stage four C.O.P.D. is there another stage or is that it?

[jimmyw123 in reply to rick1]

hi rick , as far as im aware theres another stage, stage 5, but that ones not so good,, best regards rick,,jw

[rick1 in reply to jimmyw123]

I understand !

[grandadbrian]

No one has ever mentioned what stage I am at Rick. Did you ask or were you told. Can you work it out yourself ?

[sassy59]

Good luck to you jimmy123 whatever stage you are at. Everyone is an individual and doctors are not always right about things either. Hope you are on the up now. Take care. xxxxx

[grandadbrian]

Your Doctor and Nurses seem to be looking after you Jimmy even so it must hard being on your own. Hope you soon improve Best Regards: Brian

[Suzy6]

When I asked my Consultant what stage I was her reply was "we don't do stages here".

[jimmyw123 in reply to Suzy6]

i think thats the best suzy, your consultant will treat you, as you are, and at the time, and really thats all that matters jw x

[Suzy6 in reply to jimmyw123]

I think so too Jimmy.I don't worry about stages only how much I can achieve. People have been good to you but I must say you sound a very appreciative person, maybe that's why they go that extra mile.

[jimmyw123]

yes, i think your right sassy, everyone,s an individual and the doctors are not always right, i think its really the doctor who is treating you "only his or her opinion" another doctor could easy say grade 3, or even different again, when you think of it, there are periods when you feel bad, but then there,s periods you feel better, these periods can be longer or shorter, so how can a doctor give you an exact grade.

but as grandabrian says, i could not ask for more,a great doctor, speaks straight,and deals with things quick, a great resp nurse who can take a joke. the lass from the red cross[through the hospital occupational therapist] absolutely great,she got a volunteer to do my shopping[,a lovely lass training to be a nurse] she got me a computer course with a great guy, 1hour per week for 8 weeks,so that i can shop online,she got me bus pass, taxi card got the council to put my wheelie bin out [it goes out more than me now lol], organised the wiltshire meals through the council,and a free fridge freezer,and many many other things, so who could possible ask for more than that. i thank the lord above for such lovely people and that includes the forum members,

we see a lot of bad in the world, but there are many good people, the strange thing is,, the good people rarely get a mention,,,jw

[grandadbrian in reply to jimmyw123]

Gods truth Jimmy the help you get is unbelievable you must be surrounded by folk who have great affection for you. Nice to hear of such kindness. All The Best: Brian

[jimmyw123 in reply to grandadbrian]

thanks brian, i dont know about folks who have great affection for me lol, but i have had nowt all my life, never asked for anything in my life, yet these people are absolutely amazing, and i am truly thankful for that,, best regards bri,, stick in my freind ,, jw

[longlungs]

Hi there Jimmyw123 I kinda agree with the numbers thing,I've had this for over 20 years now and up until a couple of mths didn't know my numbers not to much benefit to me knowing except to worry me alittle questioning how long left?? Well stuff the numbers!!life is to damn short I'm doing the best I can for myself and going along pretty well in my opinion.But we are all different ,courses for horses and all that,and that's great .You have a wicked sense of humour and some good people wrapped round you lucky man,enjoy life look after yourself the best way you can with diet exercise and positivity keeping away as much as poss from those germs flying around.And I will see you when your 100 and crack open a wee drinky poo! Happy days :). Janexx

[jimmyw123 in reply to longlungs]

jane i agree with you 100pc,i couldnt have put it better myself , the only numbers well be worrying about, is the number of glasses we can down, when were 100, god bless you , for a great post,,,,jw x [see even a kiss jane ha ha]

[jimmyw123]

feeling much better this morning, managed 5 hours complete sleep, the first time in a while,,, so the stage i am at now is,, well, might treat myself to a wee nap later, whenever i want too , a better stage to be at that lol,,jimmy