I'm 53 years old I was told I had COPD 8 years ago I'm looking in to seeing if I can have a op to remove the bad tissue from my lungs
Jo ward: I'm 53 years old I was told I... - Lung Conditions C...
Jo ward
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Joward
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46 Replies
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I read the only do that if risk of pneumothorax or getting constant infections
Hello Jo, and nice to meet you. You haven't said a lot about how you are, and I don't think I can help much but someone who can will probably be along soon.
Surgical procedures for COPD aren't that common and it's a long road checking that patients meet the criteria etc. You would need to speak to your GP, be referred to a respiratory consultant if you don't already have one and discuss options with them.
Ask more if you want to! Good luck, Sue
I'm going to the Go next week to see if he will send me to a special clinic to see if I'm suitable for the surgery I'm getting worse every year I'm coughing more and out of breath more I work 37and half hours a week as a housekeeper for homeless people put and down stairs are getting harder I go swimming 5days a week I do 2 miles I walk the dog for 20 minutes I stop smoking as soon as I found out 8 years ago I did do some fun runs and I've been run on running machine but I'm to out of breath love Jo please keep in touch
Hi Joward, look just in passing and please don't take offence regarding your client group, but when you say homeless is it a drop in centre and are the people screened for TB etc. And does your doctor know you are a housekeeper ?
Regards JP
No it's not a drop in centre it's a charity shared houses and I clean the communal areas and bedrooms when they have moved on some are checked for TB and Hep B and C but not all the time my doctor and nurse know that I'm a housekeeper with cyrenians Thanks for asking I no how important my health is to me and my family I'm very carefully with cleaning and clients rooms love jo
Hi Joward, I am glad you did not mind my asking. My husband used to be a social worker (retired) and he used to mention the screening procedures. TB/hep is on the increase and I think it is now the responsibility of your employer to give you a health check.
Best regards
They don't give a health check but I go to doctors if I have any problems or questions we have a health care insurance that the cyrenians pay for but blood test and health checks I ask my nurse for every year to two years it's not to bad the cyrenians are go like with your health they do tell you if someone has TB or Hep C ,B so you don't have to go to that house if you are scared or worried about your health thanks for all your thoughts and worrying about I'm self love jo
Well you're doing really well! I hate to say it but some of this may be age related too as we naturally slow down as we get older (I am 59) You sound pretty fit to me, has your doctor reviewed your inhalers? maybe that would help. Surgery does sound a little drastic at this point maybe slowing down what you do? Can work help you manage your duties better with a bit more support? I would look at all these options first before considering surgery as that may impact your life even more than changing some things you do.
Good luck to you at your GP next week, let us know how you get on x
They have charged my inhaler to a cheaper one I was one around purple one last November they changed it to a cheaper one that didn't do anything so I put on weight one and half stone I was 11.2 and when to 12.7 I've gone to 12.2 but the doctor does not help when you say you can't breath at work he just ignored you I try my best but it's getting me down because I'm on the floor trying to get my breath back I feel tired all the time when I'm swimming I could go to sleep that's not right
Could you see a different GP? It doesn't seem quite right to me. x
If he doesn't send me to the hospital I'm going to change Drs as I think they are playing with people's lives and health they have been messing with my medication for years and they do it in the winter when the weather does not help COPD people because I the only person with this in the Doctors area I think they play at it they are making me worse
Hi Joward, Im interested that you say you're the only one with copd in the doctor's area - copd is so common that seems very unlikely.
Re your question about surgery, as has been stated it isn't often done. One reason is that lots of people with copd have damaged tissue throughout their lung area. I have been told by my consultant that lung reduction surgery is only considered if there is a very clear damaged area, and other "good" areas. LVRS works through removing the bad bits so that the good parts can become less pressured and do their job better. A very lay explanation and someone may have a better one.
If you're unhappy with your GP, ask to change. You're obviously someone who tries to keep yourself in the best shape possible - you need a GP who appreciates this and works with you to help you continue that way. Something isn't right and you need to insist on getting help. Ask to see a consultant if you haven't already, or at least for a second opinion, and take someone with you to back you up. GOod luck 
I go to my doctors two or three times a month and the doctor and the nurse say I'm the only one they have with COPD all other people have asthma live in Walsgrave Coventry the doctor cover all Walsgrave I've lived here since I s was 2 years old I no most people if you read some of the stories you will see that some people have it done twice and up to five times I'm only asking to see if I'm suitable for it I'm not a lucky person so it might be it's not for me but if it is and it helps me to work until I retire then that's a good thing Hope you are ok and your health is good put I can see mine health is getting worse as the years are going on 8 years ago I was told I have COPD and I tried to change my life around I stopped smoking I don't drink I work 37 and half hours a week I go on Sun holiday because we are on a low income That's why if I don't think of me nobody will
Agree with diesel, you're doing really well and sound pretty fit. At the same time all of us here know what the impact of coughing more and being more out of breath is like. It's good that you want to do something about it, but surgery may not be the best option at this stage. I think it's for people who are really quite bad. But ask your GP to refer you to a specialist so that you can discuss it, have lung function tests and get your treatment reviewed. And understand it better.
I'll chat any time, Jo.It's my excuse for sitting here and having a rest while I get my breath back! Let us know what happens. Love, Sue x
Hi sue my Dr is not good they keep changing my inhaler to a cheaper one even the chemist have said so they keep one doing this when I'm ok and they do it in the winter when you no your self it's a bad time to play with people's inhalers as the bad weather does not help COPD so I gain weight and find it hard to lose weight because I your breathing and cough to much
Hi what inhalers are you on. You should ask for a referral to the resp clinic to see if you are on the right inhalers. Surgery should be the last thing you need if you can get the right inhalers. It is quite normal to still feel breathless when you are doing things you just have to slow down. Hope you get some help soon x
A red top ANORO ellipse 55/22 mcg/yg inhalation powder pulverized zur 30 dose Dozen one a day. The one I liked and was on for a few years is. Around purple secretive 500 ACCuhaler 60 blisters twice a day
I go to the doctor and he said to see the nurse Kim that does all the asthma clinics and she says go to the doctor I can't win so I think I'll ask to see someone who might no what they are doing at the hospital
Good idea take care and I hope you get the help you need soon x
I think I've been a bit nieve with my doctor and I think I need to be more assertive and not let them fob me off with things I'm the one with breathing problems and I no if it is helping or not if they had the problem they might do the same thing as I am trying to do live life and go to work some doctors need to breath in and out of a straw and they might see a little of what we get everyday walking and sometimes just getting out of bed is a struggle I've done this to myself so I should not be to harsh with Doctors or nurses love jo
Hi I know that is suitable only for a few people but not most. Eg I have a friend who had pneumonia 5 times who had lung reduction surgery but it was only because she had a large patch of dead lung which was impeding her breathing. This doesn't apply to most of us. x
If I don't try I might revert it later so if I'm not compatible then that's life be if I don't try I've got 13 years before I retire so and my job is very physical as I work as a housekeeper for the homeless it's running up and down stairs I don't drive so it's carrying the stuff with you I'm dyslexic so I can't get and sit job it's all I no it got me and hubby our owe house and all nice thing so if I'm being silly so what it's my life all my love to all that has tried to help this weekend love jo
in reply to Joward
Hi jo....i sence you are a determined proud women..as far as fitness goes your doing better then most on this forum. .
Tell the nurse the doctor said to ask you.
Tell the doctor the nurse said to ask you.
I don't know much about medications. ..only that G Ps have been told to cut cost...but if the one that given you doesn't work for you...you should make that very clear to them....and that you want your old one back...
Joward in reply to
Sailed I've done that and got old one back and then in a week or two they start again they have done this since November and now the old purple one doesn't work I done no what to do the weather to day is wet and my breathing is shit I've got work tomorrow and don't what to go put I'll get up go swimming go to work come home walk the dog and s couple of times ill be on the floor gasping for breath or sitting on toilet hoping nobody hears me . I push my self to do things because the doctor and the nurse think I can do it love jo
in reply to Joward
Hi jo .....I am sorry your going through so much stress...
If you are having difficulty breathing you should phone or get your husband to phone for am ambulance. ..
Has you doctor not referred you to a specialist yet....
Take care.
Joward in reply to
I'll be ok thanks for listening to me only nobody around my and knows how I feel only people that has COPD some days are harder than others love jo
I think I'm having little panic attacks because I'm not breathing well
Have you taken your ventalin inhaler try to calm down first then take your inhaler if you don't feel any different. Phone NHS 24 and get advice. Or just phone 999 if you are really struggling to breathe take care let us know how you get on xx
I suffered copd for many years and was then offered a transplant which I had two years ago, I now feel great. Go ask about it. Good luck Sue x
Thanks seyre I just need to know if I suitable if not then help with medication because I think the doctor is playing with my health as they keep on changing to a cheaper one I don't think I'm to bad with my fitness as I swim and walk dog I done really good this may holiday at Weymouth I walked all the way down to the sea at durdle door at Lulworth and back up the biggest hill I was so proud of my self love jo
Have you seen a pulmonary re hab nurse or a consultant who specialises? As soon as I was diagnosed my doctor referred me to a consultant (have to say I went privately for my first visit then asked if they would treat me on the nhs).
He tried various medications and inhalers, as time went on that is when he suggested a transplant and referred me to wythenshawe. At the time I was doing pretty well but by the time I got my transplant I was in very poor health. You can never be cured but you sound to be doing good, keep up the exercise its the best thing you can do. Good luck. Sue e.
I seen a consultant and he diagnosed me with COPD he said I had emphysema and a little bit of asthma and had cat scan and xray but that was 8 years old and I shopped smoking with in a month but have not seen any one since just the nurse at the Doctors Yes I do health exercise like swimming but since November the nurse has been playing with my sprays I couldn't do any exercises at all so put on weight about 1 and half stone which is not good for me I've lost 5 pounds in three months by swimming I don't normally go swimming and because I need to lose weight I've got a bit mad on it which is not good for me but the nurse at the Doctors think I can this week because I'm not to well with my breathing I've only gone twice and not done a lot work comes first so tired because it's taking all my energy to do little things like get up walk down stairs and go to work I'm a housekeeper for the homeless so it's up and stairs moving furniture i.e. beds wardrobes fridges and cookers tables sofers shampoing carpets one house a day some house are worse than others so on day is the same shity toilets and I mean shirt walls and toilet seat kitchens some are nice like people who live there are looking after it and some are I call "shit -holes " I would like to say sometimes it's a good job and sometimes it not but I'm dyslexic and the company I work for are quite good with me I've been there for nearly ten years I've always been a cleaner or catering I don't think I can do a sit down job I only found out about this surgery on last Friday 10.6.16 because my husband cousin has had it two weeks ago and she has only had COPD for 12 months she's over weight and 3 years old than me and never been to work why didn't my doctor or nurses tell me about this because they keep on at me about I'm weight and loosening weight I'm not a happy bunny as you can tell I find things out and nobody has told me about them I no life is not fair but it's just the doctor and nurse that I'm post off with love Jo sorry for being a pain
I'm going to doctors today cross fingers and toes he sends me to the hospital or a breathing clinic for help with medication as the one that nurse practitioner gave me is shut you take it once a day and by the afternoon you need some more breathing is not to good today. I'm coffin up green flem today I probably need antibiotic if spelling is bad it's because I'm dyslexic and the spell check is not good love jo
Hi joward fingers crossed for you. Don't bother about your spelling I am dyslexic too. Hope you get sorted out soon and get put on the right medication take care x
Thanks it's not nice when your nurse practitioner keeps changing your medication I'm not to bad like some people on here I go to work it's a action job go going around house cleaning moving furniture walking in different shard houses around Coventry and I don't drive so it's bus or walk I swim most days walk dog but this week I'm breathing bad and I think it's this spray Thanks for listening to me it does help because hubby has asthma but its different for me love jo
I know it not nice having your medication changed all the time. Once you see the consultant and are put on the right medication you will probably feel a lot better. I used to work the only reason I gave it up was I had to move house. I worked as a cleaner. And I have recently been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis so I can't work at the moment with being in pain when I move around and can't hold things take care x
I'm sorry to hear your got a lot wrong with you health it's a shame you have given up a job because it does help keep your mind on other thing hope you feeling better and get out and about met new people we would like to move to Norwich in the next few years as we have nothing keeping us in Coventry so it means that we will have to find new friends and jobs but we lived here for two-year my hubby had a job building the new hospital in 2000 we came back because son died at 20 years old and hubby dad died my mum died later that year so it's not something new we have thought about it and think it's a good idea for us love jo
Hi been to doctors they don't do grade they say the stag estimates are moderate mild severe or very severe and I'm very severe but the nurse practitioner is not there until the 4 July so I've made apartment for 11 July which she can referred me to the COPD clinic in the mean time the doctor has put me back on my old spray seretide 500 accuhaler let's see he doesn't like the surgery option they think it's not there or the way to go I'm still confused about it all just keep on asking and see what happens love jo
How do you now what stage your at when your doctor has said that they do it a different way they do it like mild medium severe very severe please can someone help me understand this please love jo
Before you consider surgery, you should be approaching this logically. You won't get surgery in the UK unless you're severely affected, and only then if you are suitable. You need a spirometry test to determine what condition your lungs are in; if COPD it's severity and appropriate medication, and what options are open to you - pulmonary rehab etc.
With your activity levels you sound like you will be moderate at worst, but when you get spiro results, ask the question.
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