Hi Folks I have recently just finished a course of antibiotics and pred's after gp said i had an exzaparation.
i have just finished them yesterday. all day today i have had dreadful heartburn also i have been waking up suddenly for some months gasping for air.
i bought a new oxy meter the contec cms 50e kindly recommended to me last week by a member and found my old cheap little black one had been reading my oxygen wrong at 97 during the day and 87 at rest and the pulse was 145 bpm.
my gps have not been very good in explaining anything too me. the new meter is reading that my oxy sats are going down to 82 at night so i rang the copd nurse who said keep an eye on it and sleep upright until they can get me in for tests after Christmas. they think i have sleep apnea.
I stupidly dropped my brand new oxy meter in a glass of milk this afternoon now it doesn't work and i cant keep an eye on my oxygen at night now. i haven't been getting much sleep anyway.
i still feel very breathless and a bit panicky now, i don't know my fev because i could do it recently because of cosocondrosis but i was fev 2, when i was diagnosed 2 years ago and lung age 95, that's all they told me, apparently i wasn't even on there copd register for a year, I'm very worried and don't feel safe totally exhausted ill and tearful and because of liver disease i have had a runny tummy since Sept, and can only eat sloppy foods so not really been eating right, they have also given me 5 lots of different antibiotics since Sept, I'm sorry to be so needy here but i am afraid now. can i get any advise from anyone here please. Ive sent of for a new meter i will get on the 24th hopefully from amazon. is there anything particular i should be aware of without a meter i cant tel cos i feel so unwell.
thanks for reading love peace sue_55
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sue_bun55
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You are not needy, you just need advice I am sorry I cannot give it. 3/4 bottle of red wine - I feel better because tired before but now have a reason!!! You will get helpful replies tomorrow or before if somebody is having a bad night and comes on to forum. You will get help. Kaye
Oh Kaye thank you its nice to hear from you helps me not to feel alone anyway.
cor wish i could join you in the wine lol not allowed anymore my livers crap, bought loads of food for visitors and my partner Jim, and i will be eating tinned soup all xmas ohhh yuck, i might break the rules and have an eggnog whoopdedoo i try to remember that there's plenty worse of than me, im just a mizzy mouth just now. Ha Ha keeping me chin up Kaye thanks your a lovely, lady i can tell :o) love peace Sue_55
a very regal name Kaye, my hero too xx most of the time Ha Ha
say happy xmas to yours from mine love Sue, ps he calls me Bunny hence Sue_bun te hee x
Suebun you poor thing. Could you get to your GP tomorrow? If you could get checked over it might relieve your anxiety, or you will be worrying all over Christmas. Otherwise phone the BLF telephone helpline 03000 030 555
Come on the forum whenever you're worried, there is always someone to listen and chat.
Hi Hanna thanks but when i spoke with the surgery's COPD nurse she said i would be OK if i slept upright i have a bed lift, she has copd herself, mild i think
I'm afraid Hanna my GPS and Hospital behave as if they are fed up with me but i understand now it was because i had a dodgy oxy meter originally and they thought i was having panic attacks, i will phone the BLF tomorrow though thanks for the number, I'm afraid in my experience we have very bad health care in my part of Hants,
hospitals on black alert every weekend. i waited 10 hours in ambulance and halls for an A and e bed 2 weeks ago and left feeling worse off in the morning. i will feel better when i have a new meter they take seriously lack of education is a really bad thing i need to get a bit braver with them cos they always rush me
i will only buy ones that are cc and eec approved now it does make me feel safer. if i get worse i will phone 111 in the night tho, 2 hours wait last time tho.
hey ho, im gonna try and shower now, feeling clean always helps LOL thanks again Hanna peeps are so lovely here wish i hadn't been so shy for so long id be better educated for sure..
I feel you really ought to telephone and get an appointment with the GP tomorrow. I know it's very near Christmas but you have lots of health issues and you may feel more settled and confident once you have seen them. Explain you are SOB. I hope this doesn't sound harsh - it is meant well, but you need to be your own advocate - now is the time to start being brave. 'Phone them as soon as the lines open - usually 8am. If they don't have an appointment as for a telephone consultation. Go girl - you can do it. I have every faith in you.
Hi cofdrop you are right of course, i have been thinking about it this evening i worry that oxygen depletion through the nights may damage my liver more so i will be brave and phone, i just get put off with these drs who have this thing about multi illness anxiety and offer me antidepressants also bad for my liver. thank you for the little push cofdrop not harsh at all my lovely new friend very sensible.
I'll keep you updated tomorrow hope you have a restful night
Hi Mandy thankx for reply i got a phone consolation with my gp this morning she said because i was waking when my sats dropped so low at night and doing my breathing exercises to bring them back up i didn't need oxygen over hols because there not too bad during the day, but if i felt i needed help to call ambulance, and tell them she has ordered an urgent overnight tests but she does admit it needs investigation so has ordered an urgent overnight hospital consolation that they do in these situations (cant remember the name of the overnight tests for sleep apnea and and low sats, she said if i need overnight oxygen she will arrange everything with the hospital, and the lack of sleep 9 hours in 3 nights and my other probs have made me anxious. however i rang the nurse Francis at the BLF this afternoon too and she said i should be asking about tachycardia too as my pulse is way high just moving short distances,
nurse Frances says these tests take about 4 weeks in my area if there urgently requested by GP, she was lovely and i feel much less scared today now things are moving along, you cant change the batteries in my O.M lithium or something so its all about getting lots of rest now and trying to eat well i do have a ECG on the 31st
and getting a new oxy meter delivered via amazon tomorrow one o'clock. I'm glad cofdrop pushed me (thank you cofdrop:o)
i did have a bit of a polite go at my gp and was amazed how her attitude changed, oh! she also gave me omapromazol for the heartburn which has helped so far so all looking a lot better,
wishing you a lovely wunderful cristmas and thankou for your help.
Hi Sue_bun, please don't worry alone. We're all here for you. If we can't solve your problems we'll certainly try to give you advice.
I think you should get in touch with your GP in the morning & even visit the surgery for a chat.
What about your local chemist? Would they sell oximeters? I know they are handy to give you peace of mind. I have one I use occasionally, especially if I feel unwell.
Remember your GP will be closed on Friday/Saturday/Sunday this week. That's a lot of days to worry!
So get some help so you're not anxious all during Christmas.
Come on & chat to us if you feel like a blether, there's always someone here.
Hi Jess thanks, I think ive got it under control now, just posted Mandy thanks for you kind words and i have a new meter coming tomorrow cost a fortune on amazon prime but its my Xmas gift to me, imagine guys dropping your meter in a glass of milk, i feel like a total twit, im chuckling at it now what a ding bat i am sometimes:o)
i'll be a bother of a bletherer in the new year don't worry!
Try putting a new battery in your other oximeter it may be just that causing wrong reading but my friend who is an ex nurse says you need to see the doctor.
Hi Sue, I know how frightening it is to wake up gasping for air with the awful heartburn too. Over 3 years ago I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea and before that gerd and copd, you are doing the right thing by sleeping more upright but try not to let your head fall forward by using too many pillows coz that can cut off your airway. It took me a while to come to terms with it all. It's no wonder you're feeling scared with all the other things going on and not much sleep either. You need to speak to your gp if only to put your mind at rest. Have a good Christmas and an even better New Year. By the way I am now the healthiest I have been in several years x Geraldine
Wow Geraldine so you already have the t shirt then , i have a bed lift the omapromazole helps with the heartburn so i probably will sleep better tonight, and thanks for the advise, very valuable I am so happy to hear that you are healthier than you've been in ages, proves it can be done, very inspiring, I'm definitely gonna be after tips from you Geraldine lol
merry merry Christmas sue_bun x
I do really wish you all the very best, knowing how to relax and take one day at a time is the best way to deal with the issues life throws at us. Try and live in the moment and you will start to see the better things in life. Merry Christmas x
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