Increased Shortness Of Breath While Out Walking For Last Week

[Eireann]

Hello all, I was diagnosed with COPD in 2006 and told last year that I am now stage D and in the very severe stage. My breathing has worsened over the last week while out walking and I have to stop every 5 minutes, should I take an antibiotic, because this is very acute and I never had my breathing so bad. Hopefully one of can advise me

[Bevvy]

Have you got a rescue pack?If is acute then really need medical advice. Strongly suggest you contact 111. We are now heading into a weekend and guess unlikely you can contact own gp.

If necessary 111can send someone to do some checks and advise you further.

[Eireann in reply to Bevvy]

Thanks Bevy, I do have a rescue pack and I would prefer to take an antibiotic first before any drastic action, I do appreciate your reply though.

[Trishe in reply to Eireann]

I think you should contact your GP and get checked out, before taking antibiotics needlessly, they then can advise you to take them if needed, I don't mean to sound harsh, but I think see your gp or out of hours dr.Good luck

Trish

[Eireann in reply to Trishe]

Thanks for that advice Trishe

[CDPO16]

Being severely breathless in itself doesn't indicate a need for antibiotics. You need to contact your doctor or phone 111 as Bevvy said.

[Eireann in reply to CDPO16]

I am sorry if coming across wrong, it is only happening when outside walking and not inside, I think I may have a pneumonia of some kind and will try the antibiotic, I just wanted to see if one of you tried this. Thanks for reply

[CDPO16 in reply to Eireann]

If this is a recent event it may be the cold weather causing increased breathlessness when out. It's your choice but I would really not take antibiotics without definate signs of a chest infection.

[Eireann in reply to CDPO16]

I will try the antibiotic because I am not prepared to go to the hospital and catch COVID, if it doesn’t work then unfortunately I may have to. I do feel like my body is fighting something. Thanks so much for your reply

[MELNEL]

If you struggling this much better start taking steorids from your rescue pack and seek immediate medical advice if it worse.

If I struggle breathing I take immediate steorids they do help pretty quickly. I never had to call an ambulance, but this would be the next step for me if I still struggle.

Please be careful and don't wait this long when you still struggling. Hope you get better soon again. 🌹🌹🌹

[Eireann in reply to MELNEL]

Thanks so much for that reply, I am baffled by this because I walk 40mins each day and although I pace myself I have never had to stop at 5min intervals, I am okay walking upstairs here and also in my house plus when I got inside the supermarket I was fine too. This has only happened this week so I was hoping maybe if it did happen to someone here they might have tried an antibiotic , I am a coward at best of times regarding this illness and have only been in hospital when diagnosed 15 years ago.

[Gloria_L in reply to Eireann]

Hello ! Are there factors outdoors that may affect your breathing? Pollen? Pollution peak ? Might you be having some sort of exacerbation caused by allergy (as opposed to a bacteria) ?

[Eireann in reply to Gloria_L]

I am hoping that is the case, there was a lot of grass being cut all over and I find that daunting at best of times, thanks for that suggestion Gloria and It makes more sense to me because my breathing is better indoors.

[Dizzart in reply to Eireann]

PS , I suddenly had horrendous hay fever arrive and could hardly walk agains the wind last year for first time ever and like you fine running up stairs. Then I finally worked it out 👍🏻👍🏻 So I do pray I’m right as I had no idea it could be so severe as I’m a gardener it was odd it was so sudden. Again bucket loads of best wishes XX

[Dizzart in reply to Dizzart]

Me again as I was so very bad one summer day the asthma nurse said to take a high dose of antihistamines and then I found Montelukas so now I ask for both and take them all the year ⛄️🌻🐣

[MELNEL]

I struggle to walk 5 min outside ☹️ my stamina is very bad ATM and since shielding. I really hope that I can get some of it back when the weather starting to get better again that I can go out more often. 5 years ago I was struggling extremely and my partner drove me to my GP I hardly could walk, extremely breathless. A doctor saw me immediately and told me that I should have called 999 he injected some steorids and I felt a bit better, he still called an ambulance and I was 1 week in hospital. I had an asthma attack and I never forget this. Since this day I have my steorids and antibiotics in reach. I also had no attack since. But I know that I would not wait this long again and would call 999 when this happens again with me.

I have severe eosinophilic asthma with COPD overlap. Don't wait call it could safe your life.

You take care ok and stay safe 🌹🌹🌹

[Eireann]

I do hope that you improve after shielding, you certainly should once you start moving, I know if it gets too bad I will have to call for help. You have a lot to be getting on with having asthma plus copd but you are managing it well. Thanks for that Melnel and keep safe👍

[MELNEL in reply to Eireann]

Thank you 😊 yes I know that I really need to going again. Hope that this rainy weather will be going soon LOL

[Aingeful]

As advised above I would seek advice asap. The cause needs to be found. I find that sometimes windy weather can affect my breathing.

[Eireann in reply to Aingeful]

Thanks Aingeful, that is most helpful advice.

[MoyB]

If you phone 111 and tell them your symptoms they may not need to send you to hospital. In my recent experience they are trying hard to treat people at home .

I don't think you should be asking us for advice on this as we don't know your medical history or anything about you that could be relevant and there are all sorts of reasons why people can become suddenly breathless - some being more serious than others.

Instead of faffing about on here, just phone the medics and see what they say.

I hope they are able to give you proper advice and that you soon feel back to normal.

xx Moy

[Eireann in reply to MoyB]

My medical history is well known on here to people I asked advice when of when I first became ill, I do not care for your attitude and there is no need to reply to someone if it irritates you.

[MoyB in reply to Eireann]

I am so sorry my reply came across that way. It wasn't meant to. I am concerned about you, that's all. I agree I could have worded it better.I think I am extra sensitive to sudden breathlessness just now as my husband, who thought he was fit and healthy, started to be breathless in a similar way to what you have described and has been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and heart failure.

Please do seek medical advice.

This is a wonderful support site but we can only offer suggestions and not diagnoses.

Please accept my apology. I didn't mean to offend. Xx Moy

[Eireann in reply to MoyB]

I accept your apology, yes, your words should have been considered before replying and especially the word -Faffle- you maybe should look it up in the dictionary lest you might use it again. I have never asked for a diagnosis on here, only advice and I am sure that you don’t have permission to speak for all here when you say... I don’t think you should be asking us...very bad taste indeed. I am well aquatinted with heart failure because my mother died aged 53 with copd and heart failure.

Kind Regards nonetheless

[MazzM in reply to MoyB]

What a crappy response

[Meme50]

I find if I eat smaller portions of food and try to eat natural fresh foods without additives helps me. If I eat a prepared meals that contains spice/ bottled or tin foods/or pre-prepared that contains additives affects my breathing. Of course we need to exercise in short stints too to maintain our level of breathing.

Take care and good luck.

[Eireann in reply to Meme50]

Thanks for sharing that Meme

[Dizzart]

Do you think it could be Hay Fever , I know it seems silly but even in towns it can be quite severe these days infact it’s possibly tree pollens . I’m taking 180 Fexofenadine and Montelukas, both combined work wonders. I am not a seven as you but it 50/50 hay fever /copd

[Eireann in reply to Dizzart]

Thanks for reply Dizzart, I wish it was only hayfever but alas, I feel a deterioration in my condition this week and it must be natural progression and that alarms me, I will certainly phone my doctor on Monday and if it wasn’t for Covid the clinic would be open too in the hospital.

[Lunus in reply to Eireann]

You have had COPD for a long time my friend. My sister recently died after struggling with it for many years. Are you managing to eat ok as my sister struggled towards the end and her weight plunged to under 6 stone. I’ve just had a Pulmonary Fibrosis diagnoses and I have to say I’m in the scared camp with you. Im new here but just wanted to offer you support in your battle.

[Suzie42 in reply to Lunus]

Yes I have IPF and came as a huge shock to me too, especially as no cough

[Lunus in reply to Suzie42]

Sorry to hear that Suzie. Hopefully we can support each other in our battle. You take care x

[Suzie42 in reply to Lunus]

Yes we can now give each other support, take care x

[Aingeful in reply to Suzie42]

I have IPF as well,I was diagnosed three years ago.

[Suzie42 in reply to Aingeful]

Gosh I didn't realise Aingeful and you have had so much to deal with, the recent loss of your beautiful daughter....take loads of care xx

[CaptainPugwash in reply to Lunus]

Lúnus Welcome I Hope You Are Ok I Still Get Scared Any Lung Condition Is Scary I Have COPD And So Scary When You Can’t Get Your Breathe At The Moment It’s Cold Still And Has Affected Me Like It’s Winter Time .. I Hope You Are Not Struggling At The Moment U Just Take Care Keep Safe 🖤🖤

[Eireann]

Hi Lunis, I have never been overweight or under with this disease and my appetite is quite normal, I know that I have this 15 years now and it is progressing, I still like to be able to control it myself as I have always done, self management is the key for me. I am still on Ventolin, Spiriva and Seritide and they are the ones that suit me, I am not on any oxygen. I wish you well with your illness and I understand why you are scared.

Keep safe

[Dizzart]

I do wish I could offer better advice although I will say allergies attack weak areas , lungs and in my case my right eye so Montelukas really cleared my breathing quite a bit but other than that you do at least have experts to ask at the British Lung Foundation and they could prove a greater help to you than anyone. Try to be positive and put up a fight and loads and buckets of best wishes and luck xx

[Eireann in reply to Dizzart]

All any of us can do is offer our best advice and thanks so much for yours, I was always a fighter and we all have to be fighting this illness. Thanks for replying Dizzart xxx