COPD and it’s meaning

[Julier1955]

Hi everyone, hope you are all well. So, it looks like I may have COPD I have an appointment with consultant in May so guess I will learn more then but in the meantime can anyone offer a bit more info into what it all means in terms of carrying on normally or is it going to gradually wear me out so I end up with an expiry date 🙂

I’m all confused at the moment as they upped my O2 to 2L last week but it sent me a bit hot and giddy so dropped back to 1L now and feel better t(en she rings me to say she’s chased up my last appointments and I have COPD although not sure what stage. I’m a bit scared to be honest help !

Cheers

Julie

[stone-UK]

Hi

Love the phrase “expiry date” just checked bottom of my feet non there so I must be alright for a while.

COPD is a Chronic incurable condition. Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema you can have a element of both, worth Asking your consultant for clarification. But with a few changes and knowing and understanding your limitations. It can be managed.

Have you been referred to pulmonary rehabilitation, a one hour exercise, one hour education twice weekly for six week. Invaluable for anybody with a lung condition. You meet and speak to people face to face, the staff will answer any queries or concerns you may have,

Knowing your stage is not always a good thing, but as some say knowledge is power, and it will allow you to make adjustments to your lifestyle.

I presume you no longer smoke, there are several other triggers which can impact on your breathing. Household cleaners, sprays, scents. If it makes you gasp or takes your breath away, it’s most likely to be or will become a trigger.

For information stick to the NHS website or the BLF website.

nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-o...

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

Google usually as many negative articles.

Rember breathlessness although a bit scary is not necessarily life threatening. Learn to control your breathing.

Keep asking questions there are many members at different stages with plenty of advice.

[BrianTaylor in reply to stone-UK]

That’s probably the best reply you will get JulieR. Stone-uk has summed it up really well. 😊

[Julier1955 in reply to stone-UK]

Hi, thanks so much for that very informative information I am so appreciative. I have not been referred to anything yet as it seems after my discharge on 28 Dec with home oxygen my referrals got ‘lost’ with the secretaries so thank goodness my O2 nurse has some common sense and checked it all out for me and blow me, an appointment came through 2 days later!!

So far I have a home concentrator, I’ve had more bloods than Christopher Lee has had, echocardiogram, an advanced lung function test, sleep test, I’ve not had a spelling test yet though 🤣. Got to laugh 😂

So, when she said this morning she’d looked at my notes and I have COPD I was like oh right so what’s this am I expiring, am I going to be housebound, am I going to be able to breakdance again 😉 so as usual you lovely people have helped once again. Thanks so much and I will keep you updated and thanks to Brian Taylor too for replying x

[soulsaver]

Welcome Julie, you'll realise there's enough of us long standing on here to testify it's not a death sentence, albeit usually a bit frightening at first, but I admire your apparent attitude.

However I'm intrigued - I don't know how you could get to the stage of needing oxygen without prior symptoms leading to a diagnosis, usually years, before?

What's the background story Julie?

[Julier1955 in reply to soulsaver]

Hiya, not much really if I’m honest. I quit smoking 6 years ago and was fine for 2 years then started getting breathless but it came and went so I kind of ignored it because I was managing it. However, it did get gradually worse but not to the point that I went to docs ( because I’m stubborn and hate docs). So, went to Scotland to see granddaughter and was travelling back Xmas Eve and my throat was getting sore so I called doc and asked if I could have some anti biotics as I didn’t was it over Xmas. He said call in on your way back and I’ll have a look. Jeez, as soon as I walked in he said what’s the matter with your breathing? Obviously I was used to it so never took much notice but he rang a&e after taking sats and had me admitted. That was for 4 days until 27 Dec.

Had bloods from arms, wrist, ear, you name it I had it. They gave me ecg, put me on 3l of oxygen. And said I’m going to miss Xmas.

Since then had Echo, lung function test and they sent me home for my birthday with home oxygen for 15 hours a day and now it seems I have COPD.

That’s exactly as it planned out. I’m having an Ellipta sent to me, and I’m on ventolin and seeing consultant on 16 May.

Julie x