Ive just been told, by my GP, following lots of tests, that I have moderate COPD. Ive been given a prescription for inhalers and told to come back in three weeks. Thats it!! What on earth am I supposed to do now? Any clues please?
OMG!!!: Ive just been told, by my GP... - Lung Conditions C...
OMG!!!
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omg11
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Hi OMG, firstly dont get yourself too upset. You have had your tests and this has shown that you have moderate COPD. My advice is take the inhalers as prescribed and give them a chance to work. In three weeks you can go back to your doctor and tell them what you feel after you have used the inhalers. If you are not satisfied you may ask to be refered to a Respitory nurse at your surgery or local hospital. I appreciate how upsetting this can be, however you are with friends on this site who have been through the same. Try to be strong and let us know hoe you get on. We are all here to help. Regards Berwick xxx
omg11 in reply to
That is so sweet. Thank you. Now im crying again. I just got married a month ago, happy at last and now im going to die because im 4 stone overweight and have COPD!!
in reply to omg11
ow your not going to die,get a grip,you take control now,at 1st the news is a shock to all of us,we learn to live and deal with it,now come on you have copd it doesnt have you,,keep on hear talk to us eh,yes we cry yes we love yes we care we are human,and we live,you will also,come on now,what we cant change we go fourth and live,have you support of husband and your family,as lot of people have no one,and they do ok,bernice
omg11 in reply to
Sorry im such an idiot!! Normally so in control. Grt a grip is good advise. Am now gripped :)))))) Thank you xx
You are not a idoit, we are all made different,as to how we react to certain things, wouldn't do if we all coped the same, Cannot say that I have found any of this easy, not at all what I had planned for my retirement, Take a big breath and go and have a nice cuddle off your hubby. All will look different tomorrow. Heather. X
in reply to omg11
Hi omg11, I am going to be serious to you, firstly you are not going to die. You have said that you got married a month ago and at last your happy. That is not going to change. Your health and your partner is the important things in life. I am 62 years old have angina, critical heart failure, COPD, Bronchiectasis and I am on oxygen 24 x 7 my blood does not produce any antibodies and I go to hospital every three weeks for Immuglobin Replacement therapy or in lay person terms an infusion of antibodies this is why I get constant chest infection as I have nothing to fight it and this is for life but I will not see any difference for about a year.. If you read the Daily laughter each day, that is me I write chapter and verse, why because everyone needs a bit of laughter in their life each day and I feel that if I can give my friends on here a bit of laughter each day I have given something back to those whom are worse than I. I have been in hospital a few times now and my friends on the site were concerned why I was not doing my blog. What a welcome I received when I came back. These are friends who you might never see but here to help you even though it is a shoulder to cry on. Sorry for being serious but it is just to show you that you will be OK and not to worry about it. About your weight I myself is 16 stone and I am trying to get it off, but one thing at a time. One step at a time omg11, take the inhaler and hopefully you will see an improvement. Remember there is someone special in your life who married you for who you are not for what you have got. Please please keep smiling and laugh at least once a day as laughter is the best medicine. Regards Berwick. xx
omg11 in reply to
So kind, thank you. K x
First thing is not to panic. Everybody who uses this site has to some extent COPD so there is plenty of help to be had. Don't be afraid to ask your Dr's questions that's what they are there for. Don't forget the BLF helpline.
My GP is much the same. I guess not a lot to do other than use the inhalers and report back to him as he has suggested. I am not sure what measurement that moderate is? My spirommetry (sp) measured 44% and although it is not good it is not half as bad as some further down the line. Just have to look after ourselves and pray that not too many chest infections come our way. Get flu and phenm jabs and steer clear of using chemicals for cleaning, otherwise get a vapour mask to protect your lungs.
xx Ros xx
I wasnt told my reading I have blue inhaler and prescribed seretide 250 whatever that is. Thank you for responding. Kay
Hi, I cannot believe you've been given inhalers without instructions of how to use them correctly - which is vital if they're to help you.
I take Seretide 250 too. It's to use daily to help keep inflamation down in the airways enabling better breathing & more of the oxygen we need.
Mine is flatish disc shaped with capsules of powder, one puff morning & night. Do you have the puffer type? If so then it's best to use a spacer, this administers 50% more of the medication.
The other one is for times when your breathing is poor or you're short of breath (s.o.b). I have asthma so use mine before hill walks as well as when I'm sob.
There should be a respiratory nurse attached to your practice, ask to see her/him. When you do, ask if you can be referred to do a Pulmonary Rehab (PR) course. If they wont, tell them you've heard that nowadays people are doing PR on early diagnosis to prevent further damage & hence high costs to NHS.
On the PR course you will learn a lot about the condition, how to use the meds, how to exercise for optimim lung health, how to eat healthily for weight loss. (I've recently lost 22lbs and feel soooo very much better). It is fantastic, a great help in learning to stay well.
Call the BLF asap for advice, come & have a read of questions, answers & posts, learn as much as you can and you will stay well, bury your head in the sand and you wont.
All the best to you - and congratulations on getting married 
peeg
Thank you for responding. Im a bit calmer now I have spoken to others. Xx
What can happen if you dont get fit and lose weight and take drugs?
in reply to omg11
ha omg11 hows it going,i dont understand ur post on weight and drugs,?
Hi, DONT PANIC THIS IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE!!! I have pasted below a post I did about a month ago. I care for my husband who has severe COPD BUT he works full time is active, does enjoy life just a bit slower than others!!!!!
There have been a number of posts from very frightened people having just been diagnosed. I have been answering posts and putting in my thoughts when I think they could help. But it occurred to me that the most worrying thing about COPD is the chronic element. Usually we go to the Doctor and get a tablet which makes a vast improvement or cure (simplified but you get the gist!) - COPD is a different beast altogether.
Each patient is different, each patient has to become an expert patient by listening to their bodies, learning what triggers an exacerbation or makes you more breathless or starts the coughing and to keep asking the doctors. If you don't feel right go back to the GP - our lovely doctor agrees that my husband and I know more about his illness than she does.
If you have been diagnosed please talk to the BLF helpline and ask questions of your gp and nurses. If you think the medicines aren't helping go back and ask them to be changed. Come on here and ask questions. If you don't feel well ask for advise. These would be my top tips:-
1) Stop smoking
2) Keep fit - ask for a referral to pulmonary rehab. from your doctor/nurse and keep asking!
3) Get a flu jab
4) Get a pneumonia jab
5) If you think you are starting with an infection - go to the doctors don't wait
6) Take you meds. If you are having side effects go back to the doctors, if they aren't working how you hoped - go back and ask. There are lots of meds available.
7) Listen to your own body and learn - you will know best
AND
8) ENJOY YOUR LIFE - things may change and alter but they would anyway - enjoy each day. The good memories will keep you going when things aren't as good!
Take good care and enjoy your new married life! How exciting! . With much love TAD xx
omg11 in reply to
I will take your sound advice, thank you K xxx
peege in reply to
great advice from Tad - as always 
Hi OMG and a very warm welcome to you. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but glad you have found BLF. Sound advice from your friends above. I cannot add as I don't have copd but have bronchiectasis and asthma but I wish you well and would urge you be your own advocate and ask your medics to explain anything you want to know or are unsure about.
Hope the inhalers help.
love cx
Thank you so much. Everyone has been so kind. I really appreciate all yourcomments, thank you all. Kay xxx
HI and welcome omg11 the replies here are brilliant and please do as TADAW says, i,m a mod copd sufferer with rhumatoid arthritis thrown in for good measure,,but i am one of the luckier ones as i don,t suffer lung infections,,yes my breathing is rubbish,but take things slow and i,m fine,,did your doctor give you a rescue pack for emergencies,,ie steroids and antibiotics,,having these is handy for suferrers(spelt wrong i know) as they know when they are going to have a flare up,,you will soon learn how to handle your symptoms,,,and on that note please try to stop worrying,,its not a death sentence, many are still working, good luck on your recent marriage,,and remember we are always hear for you,,xx
Hi Kay, Tad's advice above is excellent. No 1 being give up smoking if you do smoke, and possibly can give it up.
I am making a huge assumption that you are fairy young ie under 40? If so, and your COPD is moderate, I would say you have a long long life ahead of you, with many other highs and lows to cope with!
I have a different condition which affects the lungs, which I have had for 60+ years. All through my 20's, 30's 40's and most of my 50's I lived a perfectly normal life - fun, work (35yrs full time) marriage, family, holidays.... All I had to do for many years was to BE AWARE of my condition and TAKE MY MEDS (mainly inhalers with the odd antibiotic) and do my physio when necessary. I saw a consultant only once a year, until recently, and I basically GOT ON WITH MY LIFE You will do this too. Enjoy this new and exciting stage in your life x
Of course you are in shock and confused by lack of advice and care. Great advice here especially Peeg's and Tadaw's. Pulmonary rehabilitation is essential - I think this is in the NHS NICE guidelines for copd treatment, NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) being the standard NHS protocols for treatment of different diseases and conditions.
Also, this is what I've found very important, learn to be very assertive about infection. Keep away from people with colds and flu etc and explain to friends and family why this is important and get them to help protect you from infection. Apart from the hideousness of getting a chest infection and the extra time it takes to resolve for us copd-ers, we can sometimes experience permanent loss of yet more lung function, and we need to hang on to whatever we have left!
Call the BLF helpline and ask them to help you with information that you need before you go back for your follow-up appointment in three weeks.
And let us know how you get on.
Hi omg11 a warm welcome to you and many congrats on your recent happy event wonderful.There is nothing I can add you have been given some great advice above.Of course this all sounds a daunting prospect,but just give yourself a little time to absorb everything,write down what you want to ask about when you nx go to the docs.All will be well, learn to love and respect your body. see you soon Janexx
Check out KOTC, poemsgalore, mahunamoon and others for your daily humour tonic.
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Can't add anything else to all the good advise from everyone . So just a big welcome to you and remember we have all been in your position My first time on here I was panicing too.
Big Hugs to you
Hello and welcome
I can't really add anything to the wonderful advice you've already been given, please don't panic don't google and come on here for a laugh, to uplift those when down and when you need a lift.
And by the way, I'm far to underweight so you can't win.
Kim xxxxxx
Kimmy I was underweight when diagnosed in January. Consultant wouldn't tell me mod or severe said she doesn't do stages and numbers. I think it is severe. I weighed 6st 12lb then and have managed to go up to 8st. You can't win can you.
Hello Suzy
I've never been more than 6st 6 my whole life. I was really tiny when a little girl my mother worried sick apparently my skin was so pale and thin but I wasn't unhealthy, my parents were both tiny and I was constantly tested and this is before I discovered cigarettes. When I was older I was sent for more tests in London again I was fine just supposed to be tiny, what always amazes me is how people think it's fine to tell me how painfully thin I am. No it doesn't hurt.
Anyway last year after PR I worked really hard to build myself up got to a whole 6st 11 was like it for 7 months until I was hit with Pneumonia again, back to square one now.
Kim xxxxx
Hi OMG
I had a very bad lung infection that put me in ICU for 32 days I ended up with a paralysed diaphragm and a lot of scaring to my lungs I have now about 70% physical lung capacity and a heart problem with arthritis to help things along. I am overweight and do not eat more than I would if I was on a controlled diet but not active which might not help.
I always look at life as tomorrow is a new day why not enjoy it. You might want to cry, you might be down But there is always tomorrow smiles are free yesterdays tomorrow is today.
Wow now that was profound for me 
Hi OMG I remember it well like you I was given inhalers told to stop smoking I have never had a CT scan or been to hospital to see a specialist. I came home cried then got up took my dogs for a walk joined the gym I go swimming lost weight not quite enough though but most important I gave up smoking that was 8 years ago I have my flu jab every year and I have been very lucky I have only had the flu 3 times in 8 years good luck
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