I was very grateful for your advice when my husband had his first serious flare-up a couple of months ago .......

and have tried not to bother anybody since but I need some more advice please. My husband has been making steady progress over the last two months - until about last Friday when he began to get short of breath. Not enough to be really worrying but enough to concern me. He works on the principle of "I'm OK" and I know he finds it hard to admit that he needs help. This morning he's more breathless and has now gone back to bed. I've checked with the advice paperwork given to us but can't make up my mind whether I ought to persuade him to start his antibiotics. I don't want to delay starting them but I don't want to over-react either. Any help please would be so good. Thank you.

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Is he bringing up phlegm ? If he is and it's green then it's probably a sign of infection. Even if it's only slightly green. I'm no doc but I've always used that as a sign of an infection that may be starting.

[pollyjj]

Hi jannan, does he have a respiratory nurse you can contact, failing that why not give the doctor a call either should be able to give the correct advice.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

polly xx

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Thanks for your replies. Yes, he occasionally sees the COPD nurse at the hospital and, in actual fact, has an appointment to see her Thursday afternoon this week. It's just that he won't admit he's got a problem and I'm worried that by the time he's seen the nurse on Thursday, he'll have developed a really nasty flare-up. He's still having problems so I'm hoping to "persuade" him to start his antibiotics today. Unfortunately he had a REALLY

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sorry - I pressed return by mistake!! I was saying that his mouth was so sore following the course of steroids that we were hoping to discuss this with the COPD nurse to see if there's an alternative. Hopefully the antibiotics will start to help before we see her Thursday.

[Sohara]

Have you got an oximeter at home? if so what are his sats?

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No we don't - although he was diagnosed many years ago, the flare-up he had a couple of months ago was the first time he needed immediate attention. Could we get one from his COPD nurse or should we buy one privately?

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Hi Janann,If your husband is getting more breathless and coughing up phlegm(which usually changes colour),he may have a chest infection..Its a bit of a dilemma really as to weather antibiotic treatment should be started or not,and a check up with the copd nurse will put your mind at rest..I hope he will be ok.....

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I put off antibiotics after even sputum test proved clear ....big mistake ... now on second week of them and steroids and not yet clearing it ! Message is don't delay. X

[Eve3066]

Don't wait, start on abs and steroids now... It just takes linger if you delay, even a day can make the difference to getting through it or ending up in hospital.

[FarmerD]

I got my oximeter from amazon £17.95.Just been to doctor and she said it,s a good idea.Change in colour of phlegm is a good indicator of infection but we are all different.Good luck to you both.D.I don,t think the NHS supplies them free.

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Thank you to you all for your help - again! He's taking antibiotics as a precaution and I shall go onto Amazon and get an oximeter. Anything to help with diagnosis and to help stop me panicking!!

[glo38]

Please don't delay giving him the steroids, I delayed and ended up in hospital with fluid on the lungs and in the cardiac ward for 5 days with a NIV mask on most of the time. I will NEVER delay again, the slightest sign of a cold I will take the emergency pack without delay.

Don't risk it, it's not worth it ...... take care x