Hi everyone. My partner has been diagnosed with stage 3 COPD. We do not have good support from our GP so are learning as we go along.
The last few days Peter has been extremely cold. There is no reason for this , weather is warm and warm inside house. Is this a symptom of COPD and if so why?
I value any comments.
Barbarax
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I haven't been having that problem, it would worth asking your GP about that as there are other possible reasons.
There are people here who will be able to tell you more.
Morning barbara, Ive been feeling cold past few days and have had the heating on, which is unusual for this time of year. I put mine down to an underactive thyroid which I've had for a canny few years now. Since Ive found out I have copd and doing exercises I have been much better than I usually feel. Im sure other members will come along with more experience than I to guide you better than I could for now. Ive only known Ive had copd these past 5 weeks.
best wishes and welcome to the forum
xx
Does your surgery have a COPD nurse specialist? If so speak to her they know a lot more about the condition than the doctors. Jan x
Hi Jan. No, we have the most rubbish surgery. Only has one doctor and being overseen by another surgery so never see the same doctor. Getting an appointment is a nightmare. Looking at other surgeries.
Try you local hospital they may be able to put you in touch will a nurse specialist. Mine is also attached to the. Local hospital I only have to give her a call and she comes out to me. Jan x
How very lucky you are Jan_m to have access to a nurse specialist, I see the oxygen nurse maybe every 6 months, the practice nurse at the doctor`s surgery once a year . The respiritory nurse will usually only call after I`ve had another spell in hospital with pneumonia. I think many an ambulance ride to hospital would be avoided if we had access to someone instead of 111. Keep well, Sheila x
Hi Barbara, if your partner's copd is chiefly emphysema, that causes weight loss. I have stage 3 (severe) copd and struggle to keep my weight up. Having so little padding seems to make me cold a lot of the time. Also Ive been told that the body's thermostat is less effective when you have copd, and that lack of oxygen affects its efficiency.
No idea if either of those things are relevant for your partner since we're all different.
Worth talking to a copd nurse specialist as Jan suggests, or call the BLF helpline who give great advice.
Hi O2T. I'm Stage 4.
This is how we all differ. I have only emphysema but I maintain a good weight and and mostly always feel warm.
Yes, no one-size-fits-all. Glad weight and warmth are good for you puff.
I've even got a bit of a paunch. I blame the Pred though ! 
Thank you for that. Peter was a smoker and a ceramic tiler so had lots of yucky stuff going into his lungs. He has always been skinny so can't see he is any thinner. I think we def need to change the surgery where they have a specialist nurse because we are floundering in the dark at the moment. Only advice we got from doctor was if breathing gets too severe call an ambulance
I had to change my doctor as he was next to useless. The one I have now is excellent.
You need to demand that you want an appointment with a pulmonary consultant so you can get a proper diagnosis and correct medications.
Don't take no for an answer !
I try and go with him when he goes to the dr but can't always and I am the one who asks the questions unfortunately Peter doesn't . Think he may be worried about the answers
Hi Barbara,
I do hope you are able to find another Surgery. You definitely need to be seen by a nurse. I am amazed your surgery doesn't have one.
As the others said a call to the BLF would, I feel, be very helpful.
Azure x
Not something I've heard of with COPD, but other drugs/conditions cause this:
Heart condition can cause it, and blood thinners (warfarin), beta blockers, etc for heart condition?
Thank you everyone. I am so pleased to have found you all. We know nothing about COPD so it is wonderful to you you all have a wealth of information to share.
It makes it easier knowing you are not alone .
Hi TeachUk, I'm sorry to hear your having a tough time with your GP and your husband feeling cold. My Father experienced the same at first.
Feeling cold:
We bought thermal tops and bottoms short and long sleeved, microwavable hand warmers and a hot water bottle where he could slip his feet in oh a snuggly throw. Safe to say my dad doesn't use the fire much these days.
GP
We had the same treatment to start. Never helpful, always brush it aside. It came to the point the me and my sister started a complaint with the surgery. They soon stopped sitting on there laurals!!!! You should have a local COPD team hun at the surgery if not your local hospital would have them. So please look into this. COPD can at times be confusing and daunting and I'm sure the last thing you want to hear is "call an ambulance".
If you need anymore information check the nhs website about it or call BLF hotline. Plus we are here to help if you have an questions
I hope some of what I said helps?
Take care both of you xxx
Hello Teachuck,
I have severe COPD, and I often have 'hot flushes, and also cold and shivery feelings when my husband tells me the temperature has not changed. I put mine down to the many and varied medicines I take, and my mood at the time.
Look for your local respiratory team...usually hospital based but they then attend ocal clinics. You can self refer....brilliant folk. They are the true specialists in lung functions. They will make home visits, call in other health care professionals etc. I had one visit from them and from that point on, life became hectic for a for a few weeks.
Your partner may be feeling cold due to sitting around too much. It's easy to think that because we have COPD, we can do nothing. Nothing is further from the truth. I had to give up my allotment when I got to stage four but sometimes I think it was more because of other allotment holders fault than mine. Some one always seemed to have a smoky fire going or causing dust. Still, now I grow my veg at home in containers and beds on legs to bring them to a more convienent height. Just a matter of adjustments....
I feel the same as you ,been so cold, I'm always cold have been for years,except when the suns out, also after years of mild asthma turning into emphsema,not treated,or told I had copd, is abuse .....fear??? Or no training? Dreadful doctors didn't learn about lungs eeerrrr?? They still do not know as much as we do, we experience living it, so that's why they have to get used to us treating ourselves was the latest news I read,we study find out from pulmonary staff where ever we can ,other people with copd ,until you start to feel better, well that was my plan anyway,I must say, 2 yrs ago I felt bad, today I feel brilliant !! So don't go for the neg.people say" you only get worse" - not true,I've proved to me with advanced emphsema I feel as good as I did without it,it's harder, but no one said it was easy!!!!!hope this helps you understand more.
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