What are stages in c o p d

[Navydad1]

I didn't know there were stages in c o p d

[Hidden]

hi navydad1 , stages are 1 mild, 2 moderate 3 severe, 4 very severe. take care . phil

[peege]

Hi, I believe the 'stages' are dependent on your hospital lung function tests - for instance, look at 1968's recent uplifting post. His Fev has gone up

[Offcut]

From what I understand there are different stages of COPD info below.

healthline.com/health/copd/...

However from the many posts on here they do not always seem to work in the way that you would expect. There are people that have very bad COPD and do many wonderful things without many problems. It is infections etc. that floor them, so keeping away from bugs as best you can is a good way forward. PMA is by far your best way forward.

Be Well

[ptliverpool in reply to Offcut]

I have just read your link and although my consultant says I have mild COPD and mild Bronchiectasis I meet the criteria for moderate on this link. I can only think that because I don't caugh up any sputum I come under a different guide. It also says that long acting inhalers are not given until stage 2 and I have had mine since the first diagnosis I was also given the jabs that this link says are not given until stage 3. maybe this link needs updating.

[happyfeet59 in reply to ptliverpool]

As you have Bronchiectasis you also come under their protocol which advises long acting inhalers and flu vaccines for all broncs, I assume regardless of 'stages'.

[ptliverpool in reply to happyfeet59]

Thanks for that info happyfeet. everything becomes clearer now.

[phillips1]

You are so right Offcut. Officially I am very severe but I manage to do many things. Ok, I need to use my oxygen when I start anything like housework but I get by. To be honest I feel a bit of a fraud when I see how much others suffer at the same stage. It's just pot luck I suppose.

Bobby

[dwitt]

I have moderate COPD. My pulmonary doctor said the disease keep getting worst (it is a fatal disease) unless medically kept in check. I gather that is what you mean by stages. I use Spiriva & Advair, but getting your useable brochials and lungs to be the most efficient requires cardio exercise

[memah]

Interesting peeg, as my new Dr has told me he will give me my copd results next week after he has done a spirometry test, surely that alone cannot give him the stage my copd is at, can it?

[Hidden]

A think its just luckof the draw i do belive there is a thing Destruction and Dieased

To be honest a dont know what stage am at BUT according to articals if you have copd and bronchitesis your classed as having server copd what ever that means.

I have my doctors saying my lung are totaly destroyed yet when i ask for it in writing they decline and tell me to get people concerd to write to them.

Getting back to destruction v dieased .. Am sure you can have destroyed lungs but retain a good lung function if the not that Dieased .. A think thats why FEV ect can be misleading and why infections floor us

[Hidden]

Hi memah. Yes the spirometry test will give you your lung function result. I was diagnosed with mild copd around 4 years ago and was immediately given symbicort and spiriva as well as the blue ventolin which I had had for many years because of asthma. When you are feeling sob (short of breath) or wheezing you should be given meds straightaway to ease the symptoms. x

[Offcut in reply to Hidden]

My spiro showed I had RLD not COPD. inhalers rarely work for me now I have been on the pneumonia jab from the start (every 5 years and still get it) and flu.

copd.about.com/od/copdbasic...

[bubbles37]

when i was found out to have copd the dr told me i had the lungs of an 80 yr old. i dont take my inhalers any more & im no better or worse of. i think drs talk through a hole in their head. as 4 the spirometry test im due 4 1 this year but wont b able 2 go. take care every1.xxx

[Batbara]

I really don't understand this whole spirometry test. I have moderate to severe copd and asthma. I can walk 2miles on a treadmill at 2.8. My doctor tells me that people with my lung function can hardly walk 50 feet without being very sob. Does anyone else experience this?

[siestasue in reply to Batbara]

Hi, I am so glad to have read your post because like you I do not understand the whole thing about tests. I cannot walk very far but I read about people at our stage who are still working, walking the dog, going for long walks or to the gym. I just don't get it!

[helingmic]

Hi Navydad and welcome. I tell you that the stages are for the doctors to write in their notes. then he'll say to you, "I'll see you in x months!" At least that gives you also a few more months to live!!!

Navydad, take charge of yourself. Do some exercise, get referred to a pulmonary nurse and ask her when the next Pulmonary Rehabilitation is. There your abilities will be assessed. You'll be in a group of people affected with lung disease. The nurse and a physiotherapist will put you through a walking test to see how far you can walk. They also talk about medicine, about problems people might have like shortness of breath. They talk about drugs and they set you through some exercises. This is by far your best introduction to how to manage lung disease. Ask your doctor to refer you. It might take a bit of time, but well worth it.

Sometimes you will feel fine. As others said, it's the infections you have to watch. Usually a doctor will have a preventative pack (Steroids and antibiotics), so you can deal with an infection as it comes.

Your doctors and nurses help you, but you take charge and you won't have to worry about where you stand on the scale of COPD stage. I've been diagnosed in 1994 with bronchiectasis. I have gone through some rough time. But, at the moment, it seems I get out of the rough patches and I keep on the exercises (gym and now a COPD singing group). Keep your head high!

[onamission]

I'm stage 4 I was diagnosed 10 years ago had no problems till I got the flu my GP would not give me meds till I saw him and had to wait 3 weeks to see him that is why I'm stage 4 and going in to the job centre's to claim EAS and DLA and then end up getting turned down for it

[sachmo]

it seems to me that its the length of time you have had COPD so at the moment I am stage3 after nearly 20 years so I think my next accessment will be stage 4.