Meds

[Kad21]

I was diagnosed a year ago with severe COPD and put on Spiriva and Seretide, I dont feel one iota different, neither better nor worse. Should I feel better, or do they just keep you stable?

[Hidden]

Good Morning! I care for my husband who has severe COPD. He is taking Spiriva and was put on it about four years ago (he also takes symbicort and ventolin when needed) - and we have has this discussion about Spiriva. Having spoken to the nurse the Spiriva is used to open the airways for 24 hours.

Yes, the drugs should keep you stable although my husband feels much better when he is on them. In fact he has to take them to stay stable. Perhaps a call to the BLF helpline (click on the red balloon in the corner) might be able to give you some more advise.

Take care, TAD xx

[rick1]

I'm also on Ventolin Seretide and Spiriva, they don't make me feel as I did before I got C.O.P.D. but they do keep me stable!

[longlungs]

Hi again Kad21 its difficult isnt it ?problem is we cant get back to how we once were so we have to accept where we are and do everything within our own powers to preserve the lung function we do still have.Im on spiriva serevent and ventolin cant do the steroid pumps,they keep me at my level and im happy with them,What Im wondering Kad21 if you dont mind me asking is if your technique of using your inhalers is up to scratch? Ive had copd for many years and it was only 3-4 yrs ago being checked thoroughly that my nurse told me I wasnt getting the drugs down into my lungs very well due to poor technique. I now take my serevent and ventolin through the blue spacer and breathe it in slowly and really try to hold that as near to the count of ten as I can, I have to admit this has made a difference the spiriva the same i use the steam inhalator one wouldnt be without it. Janexx

[Kad21]

Thanks everyone, Yes Jane I do take my inhalers through the large spacer, spiriva is through the little gray inhaler. I was just wondering whether they actually do anything as it seems daft to take something every day for the rest of your life if they have no apparent effect.

[Kad21]

Sorry to bang on about this, but many of you mention that your meds give you improvement in your condition, should I see my GP and ask for something else?

[Catnip]

The only real "treatment" for COPD is exercise, which will help to maintain -- and possibly improve -- your lung function. Meds keep you stable, open the airways so that you can breathe more easily. Sadly for us all, COPD is a progressive, deteriorative disease and we will never get back to where we once were. Holding our own is the best we can hope for.

Cheery soul today, aren't I

Catnip

[pergola1]

I cant add to this message, except to say lots of good advice. Thanks x

[Sohara]

Kad when you say you don't feel one iota different.....how did you feel before? Had you been having chest infections? shortness of breath etc?

[Kad21 in reply to Sohara]

I was getting very short of breath when walking and had to stop every 100m or so, still the same on the meds

[snow54flake]

as longlungs said i was using my ventolin inhaler wrong as well my nurse asked me to show her how i used my ventolin when i did she told me to inhale more slowly 2 attempts before i got it right

[longlungs]

Hi Kad21 your seretide inhaler is a preventative one so you wouldnt being feeling an actual direct benefit but it hopefully helps to prevent problems behind the scenes so to speak.Your spiriva helps to keep your airways open to help avoid bronchspasm and your airway clear again you might not particularily notice much.When I get up and take my ventolin once ive then had spiriva i feel my airways are as good as they can be so get on the move,my lungs seem to take a little time to kick in to gear,so once ive been up for an hour or two i then feel more able to get up and do, this then peeters off later in the evening i find.Having said all that ,we are all different and maybe your meds should be changed around a bit.Iwould have a chat with the resp nurse and see what she has to say .I hear what your saying re taking meds for ever etc Ihate the darn things and it seems we all become collectors as we get older collecting more ailments and more medications what a lucky bunch we are. Try not to worry to much Kad21 have a chat with your resp nurse she should be able to help . Janexx

[Steph57 in reply to longlungs]

Spot on Jane good advice. You've just told my condition I'm exactly the same as you. Except different meds. X

[longlungs in reply to Steph57]

Have I Steph its is somehow reassuring that someone feels like you do cos im always questioning myself ,not that im glad your suffering in any way shape or form.Its good to know that it is all part of the same although it affects us all differently some is exactly the same and for me a comfort some how. Does that make any sense what so ever,I feel quite chinese at times lol . Janexx

[Steph57 in reply to longlungs]

I know what you mean and your right it is comforting when someone else is the same if you know what I mean. I wouldn't say Chinese you talk broken biscuits sometimes though. He! He! X

[longlungs in reply to Steph57]

Haha Im very lucky to have someone who can can understand my broken biscuits just great. Janexx

[Kad21 in reply to longlungs]

It was her who put the idea in my head actually, she said to see the doc re reducing my seretide to a lower dose, seretide is the one that worries me the most as it is a steroid/..

[Kad21 in reply to longlungs]

Thanks Jane, you have mentioned something here that happens to me too, I am worse in the mornings, I mentioned this to my nurse and she said I shouldn't be.

[longlungs in reply to Kad21]

Well its not for me to argue with nursey,but i think your find that it does take us lungies a while to kick into gear,there is absolutely no way in this world i would be able to get out of bed and get cracking,we are all different but there are things that we share and that are common amongst us especially when the blumming disease becomes severe to us.I dont understand why she would say that, some may well be ok?Is she a proper resp nurse or not very experienced. " you vill be better in the mornings do you hear me" haha. You know you whatever she says and if she continues to say the same ask her what you need to do so that you dont feel like that in the morning anymore and post on here and let me know cos I would rather not have to struggle so much in the morning.Nice chatting to you Kad21 . Janexx

[out-for-lunch]

I've been on them for 6 or 7 years. I don't feel better, but my understanding is the purpose of both drugs is to ease COPD symptoms, so I'm not going to attempt trying life without them just to see what difference the drugs make.

It is important to apply inhaled drugs correctly .... like most, I wasn't inhaling them correctly until shown at my Pulmonary Rehab course. There are load of short videos on youtube on how to correctly use them.

Here's one for the Spiriva

youtube.com/watch?v=Rp-Q1y9...(Not working as expected?)

Here's one for the Seretide

youtube.com/watch?v=PJNowG6...(Not working as expected?)

Also worth mentioning to keep you blue Salamol spacer nice & clean ...... they say to wash it once a week - failure to do so will retain quite a lot of the meds in the spacer & not where it should be, your lungs. I know it's an annoying accent, but this video explains in simple words of one syllable how to properly clean the spacer.

youtube.com/watch?v=PELVwmf...(Not working as expected?)

Good luck ........