Copd

Well been confirmed that X-ray shows early diagnosis of emphysema. Now been put on spiriva capsules. Came home charged round house with vac dusted and about to start ironing and not out of breath. Am I missing something or are many people not breathless until infected with a cold

[coastal1]

Hi Tissam ,

I was diagnosed 9 months ago with copd ....lower end of moderate ( 55% lung capacity ) Was pretty shocked as I had never really suffered sob. However for the previous 2/3 years I had suffered from frequent chest infections and a very bad cough. I had not sought medical help as I wanted to avoid the smoking lectures......clever or what ? Had smoked for 48 years . Finally went to the doctors when I was coughing , spluttering and wheezing day and night .

Quit smoking with the aid of champix and prescribed spiriva inhaler. Amazingly the cough disappeared within about 3/4 days. Touch wood I am now pretty much symptom free. The doctor says that although the lung damage can never be repaired the fact that I have always been fairly fit is now helping to compensate for my lack of lung function .

I'm no Olympic athlete ......but can walk on the level for 4/5 miles , do gardening , housework and moderate exercise classes without any sob.

I agree that breathlessness does seem to be a very common symptom of copd . However I intend to keep off the ciggies , continue the exercise and "touch wood "often.

Cheers Coastal.

[Hidden in reply to coastal1]

Thank you coastal1, reading that is like talking about myself. That's just what I went through. Only went to docs if I knew cold was going on my chest, only to be turned away and told I was fine, then had to go back week later when my chest was bad and they then had to prescribe antibiotics and sometimes steroids aswell. Have to go back in 3 weeks to see how I am doing. Had a cold last week but took 7 days of echinacea which surprisingly shifted it without need for meds. My meds corner is looking full lol. Never had to take so much stuff in my life. Now 60 but plan to be around a lot longer, have got 4 grandchildren to run round after Once again thank you for your reply. Wishing you well

[1968]

HI

The single biggest thing is keep away from the fags. Keep a well balance diet and do regular exercise.

[dwitt]

Taxing one self makes you breathless. With COPD you get there sooner. If not on medication to curb the disease from getting worst, you get breathless sooner and sooner until there is no time left.

[Hidden in reply to dwitt]

Hi 1968. This is what I can't get in my head. When been on meds for my infections, as soon as course of meds has finished I just got on with my life as normal. Never had the need to take anything when infection cleared up. Very confusing but I suppose this has happened to most of us Copd,ers

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

Count your blessings and as 1968 said, no fags, good diet and exercise should maintain the status quo of your illness. so be it that it's not worse! You are doing fine and need not worry yourself if you feel well!

Of course, if an infection comes, antibiotics an prednisolone are part of the treatment. But may you live well!

[dwitt]

Taxing one self makes you breathless. With COPD you get there sooner. If not on medication to curb the disease from getting worst, you get breathless sooner and sooner until there is no time left.

[letys]

My symptoms were very like yours Tiasam, however over the last two years my breathing and therefor my mobility has become much worse. Any activity, although I do try to do things about the house and garden, really wipes me out. One thing I've learned is to get in touch with my doctor the instant I feel an infection coming on for the relevant medication. Often saves having to go to hospital. The thing is not to let copd take over your life. A non-smoker, I was fit and very active until my mid sixties. I am now 75, and like Jimmy who still manages to do his beautiful garden, and many others with breathing problems, I take every day as it comes and don't worry about tomorrow. Everyone of us is different, but being aware of how your body reacts to certain things, such as the weather and medication, helps. Wishing you and everyone a breathe-easy summer, Letys x.

[coastal1]

Hi Tissam ,

Didn't mention in my previous post that on medical advice have now been off spiriva inhaler since the middle of May . I last saw the doctor in January when he suggested waiting until the "bug season " was over and then trying without spiriva until November .( apparently it can take up to 3 months to fully lose its effect ).

I had managed to obtain "rescue antibiotics " which you are allowed to keep at home and self medicate at the start of a chest infection........rather than wait 7/10 days for an appointment. These I have used on two occasions .....at the very start of dark phlegm and slight fever . As a result symptoms were mild and only lasted 3 days. Nothing like the 6/8 week full blown nasties I had when still smoking . So far so good and no sob.

Not all doctors are prepared to give rescue meds but I think there are some guidelines ....if you do a search in the top right box there will be other posts giving more detail. ( There are 2 copd /prescribing nurses at our surgery ....I got flu jab , pneumonia jab and rescue meds through them......so feel reasonably prepared )

However I am not on any regular medication at present.....and think this is probably unusual with fev/fvc ratio of 55% , but seem to be managing ok .

Cheers Coastal

[Hidden in reply to coastal1]

It is the chest nurse I see at my docs, and she has said next time I go to see her18/8 she will sort out a medical plan so I will be able to have a prescription at home with me , so when needed I can get antibiotics without having to wait for an appointment. My fev is 54% and she said everyone is different. Part of me wishes they hadn't labeled me because today I have had to turn down having my 16 month old granddaughter for the first time, as she has a virus not eating or drinking and a bit laboured breathing. Feel so bad but at the same time she only wants her mum, which children do when poorly. If I hadn't have been labelled I would have still gone

[jackdup in reply to coastal1]

Why would they take you off of Spiriva as I understood it is a medication that helps to maintain the tone of the small airways and keep your COPD from getting worse or progressing?

[coastal1 in reply to jackdup]

Hi Jackdup .

This is Tiasam's post and I think she is still on spiriva. Iwas taken off spiriva because at present I am pretty much symptom free at largely due to quitting smoking and quite a lot of exercise. So far as I know spiriva is a long acting brochodilator which acts to widen the airways and assist breathing. Can walk 5 miles on the flat at a fairly brisk pace .....with no sob . I was initially surprised at doctors suggestion so I talked it through with the pharmacist. He too thought it a good idea . I have a stock of spiriva at home and will not hesitate to go back on it should the need arise.

Thanks for your concern..........Coastal

[jackdup]

Just curious what your FEV1% is, and that is sure great for you. I quit smoking and my COPD seemed to get worse when I was expecting the opposite and expected some improvement as you have seen. How long ago did you quit?

Thanks

[coastal1 in reply to jackdup]

Who are you asking? I quit last November. Tiasam more recently . My fev % 55%..Tasam's 54%.

Sorry you haven't had an improvement .

[Hidden in reply to coastal1]

Think jackdup talking to you lol. I am getting confused

[jackdup in reply to coastal1]

Hi Coastal

I was talking to you as you had mentioned being taken off of Spiriva which I found quite interesting. I hit reply on the bottom of your post assuming my message would go to you but it doesn't really appear that it did, so sorry for the confusion, and thank you for the replies.

Do either of you know if your FEV1% has changed since you quit smoking or just that your breathing has improved? I guess you would have needed a spiro before and after to know for sure and not sure if the FEV1% you mentioned above is before or after quitting smoking.

Anyway thanks again for your reply, and information and congrats on doing so well, it is always great to hear.

[coastal1 in reply to jackdup]

My fev/fvc % was 52 % on diagnosis in October last year . Quit smoking in November .Doctor agreed to a retest as I had a chest infection during first spirometry . Also I could walk miles without sob , so physically fitter than the reading suggested .( was hoping they had got it wrong )

Was retested in January....55%.......very disappointed ....but doctor says he treats the person not spirometry numbers !

However my really bad cough ..had totally disappeared ( this had been my main symptom......see previous posts for more graphic detail )

I firmly believe that exercise is vital and doctor says that my general fitness level is helping to compensate for the poor lung function .

[jackdup]

Thanks again for the reply and additonal information. I'm not sure if there is some confusion between FEV1% and FEV1/FVC ratio. My FEV1/FVC just before I quit smoking was I believe 59% however my FEV1% was 67%. It will be two years tomorrow that I quit smoking and will be going for another Pulm function test within the next month to six weeks so will no better then where I actually stand, at least by the numbers.