COPD

[Outdoors]

I don't understand my husband went for his COPD check a week ago the nurse said he did better this time than last time I was hopeful as She asked him to use a peak flow as well and he blow 400,500,600 , wow I thought I can't get that far but when she put it in the computer this time it came back as moderate not mild ?

[corriena]

dont worry about the mild moderate ect the fact he has improved is good his pf is exalent. so i would judge him on how he feels and what his illness will let him do. some times we get to hung up on the numbers. im glad he is doing so well, good news.

[O2Trees in reply to corriena]

Corriena, some people really do need to know. It's a way of managing their anxiety (whether carer or patient). I am not 'hung up' on knowing my results - I just want to know them. There is no right or wrong way to manage our conditions and our feelings about it. I know when people come on and say things like 'it's how you feel that's important' they are doing it with a good heart but it really doesn't work for many - like myself. My anxiety would be massively increased if I wasn't told the whole story, knowing is part of my self-management.

Many are like me and many are like you - as I said above, there is no one right way to manage.

[corriena in reply to O2Trees]

yes, very true. i think i dont take much notice of mild, moderate and sever as i was first diagnosed as sever and am still sever and my health and wellbeing has fluctuated quite a bit in the maney years iv been unwell. and apart from oxagen levels the other numbers dont seem to make much differance. but i totaly understand how it is important to know and understand how things are progressing.

[O2Trees in reply to corriena]

We're all different arent we? Many thanks for your response Corriena.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to corriena]

Hi Outdoors, I am diagnosed severe copd fev1 43%, and can't blow past 120 on the peak flow!!, however I can ice skate for 4 hours solid, walk 5 miles or more when I want to, etc. I think the main thing for me is to just get on with your life as normal and try to improve on what you can do, rather than what you can't do. Pulmonary rehab certainly benefited me, i took in board all the information provided and have made the most of my opportunities and lifestyle changes that were needed xx

[O2Trees]

Did your husband have a spirometry test as well as using the peak flow meter? I ask because they measure different things - spirometry test measures lung VOLUME, this is the fev1 measurement which means forced expiratory volume in one second, i.e. as much as he can blow out in one second. This would be where your nurse was getting the 'moderate' from.

Whereas the peak flow measure air FLOW rate. It's a test for asthma not copd.

If you want more information you could ask for a telephone appointment with the nurse and ask her to explain. But those peak flow results are excellent so he should be really pleased about that.

[Outdoors in reply to O2Trees]

Yes he had the other test as well two of the blows wasn't good the third was better. But I'd have thought if his COPD was moderate boarder line then surely the peak flow would be effected as well because it's still his lungs.

[hypercat54 in reply to Outdoors]

The peak and flow test measures asthma not copd. So his asthma could be moderate whilst his copd is mild. I depends a lot on where the damage is in his lungs. Asthma is the airways whilst copd can also affect the aveloi at the bottom of his lungs. Whilst the two overlap in many areas there are some differences.

If you still aren't sure then why not make an appointment with his respiratory nurse or his doctor?

I will say whether he is mild or moderate he still has many good years left to him. Whilst copd is progressive it rarely progresses quickly especially at the mild and moderate stages. For those who are severe or very severe it can be a different story but there are many on here in those stages and have been for a long time. I don't think any of them are planning to go anywhere soon! x

[Fennella02 in reply to hypercat54]

That’s interesting because my GP used my PEF as a measure of my Obstructive small airways disease.

[hypercat54 in reply to Fennella02]

The whole subject is quite complex and I am not sure I always get it. Even when I have asked for explanations I often don't understand it.

I am like you though as I want to know everything as power is knowledge. x

[Fennella02 in reply to hypercat54]

Yes, sometimes we know more than our care providers and that can bring its own set of problems!!

[hypercat54 in reply to Fennella02]

Well the only thing I am expert on is my own body and my triggers. I find it frustrating when I get a medic just quoting the company line.

I wouldn't say I have more medical knowledge than any of them though. x

[O2Trees in reply to Fennella02]

PEF I think stands for peak expiratory flow - i.e. pretty much the same as a peak flow metre. And your GP says it can measure small airways so I would think there's an overlap there with measuring asthma. Definitely not the same as the alveoli which are measured with emphysema. Ive always wanted to know more about how the PEF works.

[Outdoors in reply to O2Trees]

I'm scared of losing him scared it getting any worse I would us both to grow old together I want him to see his children and grandchildren grow.

[O2Trees in reply to Outdoors]

It doesnt sound like he's going anywhere soon but talk to your GP or nurse to get more information. Has he done a pulmonary rehab course? This is a course of exercise and education about managing copd - loads of us have done it and benefited. It's imperative that he exercises as much as possible and as regularly as possible, both aerobic - walking etc - and resistance training, weights, to stop his muscles deconditioning. The better muscles function the better they can use what oxygen is available to them. Eating a healthy diet is important too. Maybe you've had all this info already in which case please ignore but just keep him exercising as this slows progression.

[Outdoors in reply to O2Trees]

Hi he's been on the pulmonary reabilitation program and the bloke in charge said he's 200% better than he first went in. It's hard to tell my husband to do more exercise and eat more fruit and vegetables because he's stubborn

[O2Trees in reply to Outdoors]

Men!!! Keep trying with the kale and apples anyway Outdoors.

Glad the PR worked. In most areas you can do a further course usually a couple of years later - the courses are so motivating but unfortunately people dont keep up the levels of fitness they gain from the course unless they continue to exercise.

[Outdoors in reply to O2Trees]

I've pleaded with him to continue with them as they said he could carry on but would have to pay I was hoping he was going to keep going but he's not says he going to do them at home but I don't think he will

[O2Trees in reply to Outdoors]

I go to a PR weekly session which sounds like the same thing your husband has been offered. We pay £5 each session which compares well to other classes like fitness, yoga, etc.

It's been well established that exercising with other people is more motivating than exercising alone. Maybe he's a bit shy or reserved? That would make it harder I guess. I exercise regularly at home but when the session is sometimes cancelled I find it harder to motivate myself at home - I seem to need the structure of having the regular session and seeing my mates there.

I hope he will come round eventually!