Had 1st Spirometer test today

[Peter3357]

Have had 1st spirometer test today and have mild to moderate COPD, Feeling a bit down as have many unanswered questions, ie do I have to notify my place of work, is there any breathing exercises I can try. Don't know what my reading was for test, but have to go back in 4 weeks for another spirometer test. Was asked if I wanted flu jab but refused as have had bad reaction to jab in past.

I have a inhaler to take 2 puffs 4 times a day.

During test was constantly lectured on smoking, I know my COPD is due to smoking for past 40 years and have tried to give up numerous times and don't need constant lectures as I know the damage smoking has done, useful advise would have been better, given a booklet titled Breathing Matters to read.

Don't know if I am being over reactive but feel the constant smoking lecture was a bit much.

Peter.

[cabrio]

hi,i don't have much information to give advice , except the no smoking part , I am not quite ready to give up just now, I tried and tried and you will have plenty of advice to stop, have been told I have Restrictive copd, low blood oxygen and sleep apnea , and I don't know what to think, I have little information and no treatment from doctor, copd has been going on now for 4+ years, low blood oxygen and sleep apnea this year. I get massive pain in my head with my coughing and sometimes have pins and needle type numbness all over any advice would be great, I am a newbie on this site and I scared. hope your ready for more no smoking advice, I get plenty of that daily.

[Pugs4love]

How long did you wait for the for the results of the test I'm having my first one Wednesday been asked to go for it before but never bothered

[Peter3357 in reply to Pugs4love]

Was told at appointment from nurse, but not told what readings where from print out!, Test is ok takes approx. 30 minutes in 2 parts, 1st part breathing through tube into machine, 2nd part given inhaler and waited 15 minutes before breathing out into tube again.

Test is easy, All the best for your test on Wednesday, and thanks for reply to my post.

peter.

[Caspiana in reply to Peter3357]

Hello Peter. I am sorry you were lectured a lot. I am not a smoker and don't quite grasp the difficulties in stopping, but I have had friends that have stopped and understand the struggle to a degree. I am sorry it's hard and hope you can get some support to help you. Let friends and family know you are trying to quit. They will be supportive I am sure. I wish you the very best of luck. Take care of yourself.

Cas xx 🌹

[diesel12]

Hi and welcome to the site. It's always a bit of a downer when you get told you have copd but it's not the end of the world, if you are mild to moderate you can slow progress down and carry on doing what you're doing.You don't have to tell anyone about having copd but sometimes it can be helpful at work but that would depend on if things can be put into place to help you avoid chest infections etc.

Now for the bit you don't want to hear, smoking. You've said you know smoking has caused your copd, well it will also make it worse if you carry on and quicker too. The way I look at it is, do I want to be attached to an oxygen tank in the near future? no? well the only thing to do to slow it down is stop smoking.

I smoked for over 40 years and stopped by using an e cig others stopped by different ways but the bottom line is, carry on smoking and things will get worse with your breathing and there will be no turning the clock back, it'll be too late.

There are breathing exercises on you tube which are helpful and I'm sure someone will come along soon who has more information.

I hope you don't think I'm being too harsh about carrying on smoking but it is the single most harmful thing in your life at the moment.

Take care

Shelagh x

[soulsaver]

Hi Peter -

1) You're in the UK? You can ask for a copy of the results, and they MUST give them to you. They're yours.

2) Work - You don't have to tell anybody anything... But if you work in an environment that may affect your breathing, you may wish to seek advice. Or if you're a deep sea diver etc.

3) Yes smoking has already done the damage.. the bad news is it will continue to make the damage worse... quicker.

4)What inhalers did they prescribe? Why do you have to have another Spiro in 4 weeks, have you been on antibiotics and/or Prednisolone?

Best wishes

[gingermusic]

Hi Peter and welcome I was like you when first diagnosed with COPD over 25 years ago. I was of course also advised to stop smoking being told it was the most necessary thing ever and I thought yea yea and carried on. However as the breathing got steadily worse and worse and I found I was able to do less and less I realised it made sense and I did manage with the help of my other half to stop and that was around 12 years ago. OK nothing has improved but it has kept me steady and no worse since giving up. Oh how I wish I had listened to sound advice at the beginning as then maybe I would still be able to garden, dance and enjoy my grand children more, but when do we ever listen to sound advice.

We expect kids to but as adults we feel we know best - but in this instance please listen to your doctors. Yes I would advise work and there are exercises you can do to strengthen your lungs ask your GP about Pulmonary rehab well worth going to.

Best wishes Ruth

[Burghy]

Me too today how embarrassing got yelled at because I couldn't do what the test required nearly gave up and walked out.