Newly diagnosed..!

[Noob]

After spending the last twenty years following building work all over the country, I have never had a regular doctor I always used the walk in centres wherever I happened to be, eight months ago I collapsed at work gasping for breath so decided it was time to register with a doctor. Two months later after various tests I was diagnosed with copd, after 34 years of smoking I have now gone for 6 months without a cigarette I am not expecting miracles but I do not seem to be improving at all I am taking two dry powder inhalers regularly, Tiotropium and Salmeterol/fluticasone, my question is does anyone have any experience with these and does one improve or am I going to be unable to work again?

[ingy]

Hi Noob. First of all , well done for giving up the cigs, you may not see improvement but you will certainly slow any further damage. Have you seen anyone other than a gp? If not, then ask if the practise has a respiratory nurse, these are specialist nurses and next best thing to a consultant. Then you need to ask about rehabilitation. Most places have these but there is usually a waiting list, but worth the wait as it is invaluable. They tell you all there is to know about copd, teach how to breathe properly and cope with breathlessness, they show you gentle excercise, and have people in to talk about various things including benefits etc. It is usually a 6 week course going once a week, well worth asking about. Most of us have experience with the inhalers you are on, cant say anything has improved, but may have got worse without them :0( COPD doesnt get better, but there is a lot you can do to manage the condition. Hope this helps, but do go back to your gp , write down all your questions and dont be afraid to ask. Good luck.

[lavender1]

Hi Noob glad you've posted and after the initial shock of diagnosis you will come to terms with this illness. You've given yourself a great chance of slowing down the progress of this disease by stopping smoking. I smoked for 50 years and have only recently stopped (ten weeks going on eleven) when I tried and failed in the past to stop I soon discovered the odd one held back my progress by a mile and did away with the help the inhalers were giving.

I had something similar to your inhalers but someone with more knowledge will be on soon I'm sure to share experience of treatment. I don't know if improving is as much of an option with this as is stabilising and only a doctor can advise you on your continued working capacity. I'm finding more and more on this site that copd is attacking people who want to work and who do work, in my own case I had worked full time for 45 years and was diagnosed when I retired but who's to know if it wasn't there for many years before that and I continued to work oblivious to the fact. There was always bronchial trouble in my family and I put the odd bad day down to that. Having said that I did not do building work.

Take in all the advice you can get on here, it does honestly help as does the BLF helpline.

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Hi Noob. Giving up smoking is the best thing you have done. The second best thing is exercise. Follow the guidance and advice people have given you here and I'm sure you will feel better. If you can't do your previous work ask your employer if there is any less strenuous work you can do.

[Lynne1955]

Hi Noob. You don't say what level your COPD is at and you must remember that we are all different, but I am moderate and I still work and hope to carry on for some years yet.

Welcome to this great site,

Lynne x

[Noob in reply to Lynne1955]

As to the level of my copd it varies from day to day some days I cannot walk very far at all, other days I feel alright still not able to do very much but able to get some shopping done, what is causing me the most trouble is I seem to permanently have mucus on my chest which makes it difficult to breathe, I had always put this down to my smoking, what my concern about going back to work is finding myself with a really bad episode again and being unable to pay my rent, over the last two years have been off of work quite a lot so my savings have all gone and being self employed there is no chance of being put on light duties, my actual job is not too arduous I work with cranes tying up and guiding loads.

[Hidden in reply to Noob]

I take mucodyne now and it really helps to shift the mucus - ask your doctor.

[kimmy59]

Hello Noob

Welcome to the forum glad you found us, I would ring the BLF helpline they are brilliant.

Kim xxx

[Fusion8d]

Hi Noob - welcome to the forum. I think you should ask to be referred to a consultant so you get the best advice, care and medication which will give you the best chance to keep working. There may be a specialist respiratory nurse attached to the dept and they can be so helpful and supportive.

Take care.

[Hidden]

Hi Noob - sorry to hear about your diagnosis - but you will be glad to hear life goes on!! My husband was diagnosed about ten years ago and is now moderate/severe COPD. Life has changed and he does go much slower - but to honest none of us are getting younger (he is 64 now). He does still work full time but has changed some of his jobs. Generally he is OK but doesn't run around very much ! but when he gets a cold etc. it can take some time for him to get better. I personally think one of the worse things he did was not to find out more about the illness earlier. He was just given inhalers and has never been referred to a consultant although he has been in hospital. Eventually we were referred to the specialist respiratory team. Yes it has progressed but I do think he could have slowed down the progression had he been given information about COPD. Good luck TAD xx