New case!! Looking for basic support and information

[IRISH1916]

Hi all! Great to find this forum! I am a 60 year old retired Reg Nurse. I retired in 2016 due to spinal probs. I broke my femur in Jan of this year and have been plagued by various ailments since. Not going into the 'other' conditions as they are not applicable to this forum. I have had an ongoing chest infection for 8 weeks, had the usual antibotics twice plus on a course of steroids. I find myself short of breath esp in the evenings- i have a dry cough which is non productive- its a vicious circle - the more i panic at this shortness of breath the worse it gets Finally returned to my GP yesterday who sent me for a chest x ray- it was clear however he seems to think i have COPD and has given me an inhaler which i am loth to use as once dependant on these its hard to cope without them PLUS i dont know how he has just 'decided' that its COPD without any test although on reflection to my nursing days i dont think there is a blood test to cover COPD I am feeling pretty scared as i too have been at the bedside of a patient dying with this condition and its not pretty! How firstly do we know that its COPD we have? Have you all had extensive tests to clarify this ?? How can we be sure that it is COPD? Maybe i am clutching at straws in a vain hope!!!! I can not say that this chest condition has debilitated me to any great degree to date but what is the future ? Anyone just on the start of their journey like me? I would so appreciate an answer!!! Thanks Maureen Leathem

[Bevvy]

Welcome to the forum.You are 100% accurately that you can’t just tell by looking at someone they have COPD. There are specific breathing tests for COPD although many gp surgeries are no longer carrying these out due to Covid.

However according to your information you are in United States so tests may be easier to obtain there…..

It sound very much like your chest infection is still an issue and it probably is a reasonable idea to try inhalers to see if they can calm things down.

Once better you can have a discussion with gp whether to continue inhalers. It isn’t that difficult to come off inhalers if they are not required if that is your main worry. It would then be appropriate to have tests for COPD. Whilst you are in midst of chest infection it probably isn’t a great idea because any results are likely to be skewed.

[Tia4209]

Most people who are diagnosed with COPD at an early stage die with it rather than of it if they give up smoking and live a healthy lifestyle. It seems strange your Doctor has decided you have COPD based on one chest infection. You need a spirometry test to confirm your Doctors diagnosis but these are not being done at surgeries because of Covid. Ask for a referral for a PFT as a hospital outpatient.Also there is no evidence to show addiction or dependancy on an inhaler used to relieve a tight chest and breathlessness in a patient suffering from a lung infection and once they have recovered they can stop using the inhaler.

[sassy59]

Welcome to the forum, you’ve come to the right place for helpful friendly advice. I’m carer for my husband Pete who has COPD. He was diagnosed in 2010 and is doing well. I can’t recall how he was diagnosed. Wishing you well. Xxx

[Troilus]

Hi Irish. I will just second what other people have already said. You cannot diagnose COPD from blood tests, and a clear chest X-ray isn’t an indication either! Have you ever smoked? Sometimes a prolonged cough is misinterpreted as copd in smokers and x smokers.The blue inhaler you have been given opens the airways for 4 hours and will help you to cough up anything phlegm sitting in your airways.

The way to get more information is to have spirometry (as others have already said)

Spirometry simply involves blowing into a tube, nothing scary or invasive, but when your breathing is “off” it can be hard work.

Here in the U.K. GP ( your local practioner) usually can perform simple spirometry in the surgery; however, most here are no longer offering it due to covid.

Hospitals offer a more complex analysis involving lots of different ways of breathing into the tube, which gives a lot more detail on how your lungs are functioning.

Does the blue inhaler help?

You can also monitor things at home using a peak flow meter. This, in its simplest form (and cheapest) is just a plastic tube. You breath into it really hard (one blow) and an arrow shoots up the tube. This is called your peak flow. ( You take the best out of three readings)

Peak flow isn’t usually done in copd as, as far as I understand it, it does not change much. However, in asthma, it does, especially about 20 minutes after you have taken the blue inhaler.

I mention this, as asthma can develop at any age.

One last thing, a spacer can be useful when taking your blue inhaler. It’s yet another tube! You put your inhaler in one end, and suck/ breath it in out of the other end. Makes it easier to take your inhaler as it can take a bit of practice getting the correct technique without it.

Just editing to add another last thing😁 You cannot become addicted to the blue inhaler. The usual dose is one or two puffs, but you can take more than that if necessary and still not be addicted. A blue inhaler will work for some and not for others. If it works for you, do not be afraid to use it.

Long post, sorry about that, but I hope some of it is useful.

I just wish drs would be a bit more informative! They sometimes are inclined to stick a label on us and think that is enough!

[Katinka46]

Welcome to this very friendly and supportive group. The majority here have COPD. I think the diagnosis depends on a variety of things. History, exposure to damage from inhalation of smoke or fumes, frequent infections. The tests are usually spirometry or a full pulmonary function test that includes —as well as spirometry — gas exchange and lung capacity. These tests may show an obstructive (or restrictive) disease. COPD is very common so doctors can be tempted to go down that easy (lazy?) route. If there is a diagnosis ask for the evidence of it. And push for answers,All the best

Kate x

[O2Trees]

As others have said, spirometry is the usual test which can diagnose copd. The way asthma is distinguished from copd in a spirometry test is that after doing the test the first time, you are asked to take a couple of puffs of your salbutomol inhaler (the blue one), then wait 20 minutes and repeat the test. If there is a significant difference in the results, you are likely to have asthma rather than copd. This is called reversibility. Though when you have mild stage copd, there can still be some reversibility (from experience). I hope you get some answers. Good luck.

[MoyB]

Welcome! You have some pretty good replies already so I won't add to the advice/info given.

I just wanted to say that I completely understand how anxious you say you are after nursing people with COPD at the end of their lives.

When I was diagnosed with COPD it came as a complete shock. I was handed a print out from the internet with the advice, 'Don't bother to read the last page. You're a long way from that yet.' What was the last page? End of life Care!! Well, of course, I read it.

The thing I couldn't shift for a very long time was the image of my father who had emphysema, coughing his guts up, going red - and almost blue- in the face when we visited him. For ages, I was very low and expecting to be the same.

I found this forum and discovered that most people with COPD can live well for many years!

Treatments have progressed - 40 yrs ago, all my Dad was given was a Ventolin puffer until he eventually had home oxygen - and there is recognition of the need to keep fit and active. It was Dad's heart that gave out in the end, not his lungs! He was right at the end of a lovely holiday in Italy when a massive heart attack took him. What a way to go!

I eventually got past picturing his struggle with coughing and breathing and realised that it's something that doesn't have to be so awful anymore.

Just make sure you look after yourself and seek medical attention when you need it. And find plenty of things to fill your time and keep your mind of COPD if you can. I am certainly better when I'm busy.

All the best, xx Moy

[JJ_7]

People answering your question have been very thorough and informatiive. I won't repeat the excellent advice. I would like to say that you will manage life well with COPD and the appropriate treatments. Best wishes and Irish luck to you

[Otto11]

Hi & welcome. I’m interested in your post as I have Asthma since childhood & once about 6 years ago went for my yearly review at GP’s surgery with the nurse. She said I had COPD which like you I found quite disturbing. No tests nothing at all other than peak flow test. . However the following year at my Asthma review with a different nurse she said your notes say you have COPD but I don’t think you have so my diagnosis returned to Asthma. My point being that possibly you could speak to another GP about it as without specific tests your diagnosis may not be valid. Go with your gut & ask again if unsure x

[Dovecote6]

Hi and welcome l can only explain from my experience and condition of having Asthma and a lot of chest infections . l had many chest xrays but nothing persific showed up. I was yet again given antibiotics. 3 to 4 months later l was back at the doctors with a chest infection this time l was sent for a scan which showed a chronic condition of Bronchiectasis and a scaring on one of my lungs the consultant said at some point l had suffered phumonia I was given medication and of course l am on inhalers Trimbow and Easi breathe because l also have Asthma but they also help with my Bronchiectasis . I am on a nebulizer with antibiotics Colomycin which helps with my condition and l also send regular sputem samples to the hospital . Although Bronchiectasis isn't COPD it still comes under the same umbrella. With nothing showing on your XRAYS could you not discuss with your GP to see if a scan could be done. Hope reading this helps Good luck and take care

[Davegt in reply to Dovecote6]

A link to a detailed explanation of COPD which is an umbrella term for emphysema, chronic bronchitis and some doctors include asthma as well although it is different. It explains the difference with bronchiectasis as well. You may find this helpful.

[Davegt in reply to Davegt]

The link.

smartvest.com/blog/understa...

[Dovecote6 in reply to Davegt]

Thank you for the link Davegt l found it interesting helpful and learned from it Take Care

[dunnellon]

Welcome to the forum, Irish. You've received a lot of good advice already. I'm in the States also and I had a PFT last Sept. at the height of Covid at a teaching hospital (Shands in Gainesville, FL). Your doctor should refer you to a pulmonologist and that doc can arrange a PFT for you once your infection is cleared. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[Tugun]

Hi IRISH1916,

Which inhaler did he give you?