Advice from COPD suffers

I was told I had COPD in 2000, am now on full time oxygen which helps to keep me going. I do get very dry and have to drink loads, I also get very tired which means I can fall asleep anywhere, which sometimes can be embarrassing.Does anybody else have the same problem.

[Sherry44]

Yes Christine but not all the time. Like you I have a dry mouth but mostly in the morning. As for tiredness, I have that a lot. I'm sorry, I don't know what the answer is to these problems. I have had COPD for four years, and finding it is a gradual illness which has got slightly worse each year.

[Hidden in reply to Sherry44]

Thanks for the reply ,I know that over the years every time I have had a chest infection my breathing is effected for the worse even though I am on oxygen my sats never seem to go up more than 92 if I am lucky . When last time I was in hospital someone turned my oxygen of by mistake I woke about 5 in the morning and really was breathless and found I had no oxygen coming through my sats were 74 no wonder I was breathless. At least we can keep a sense of humor in our lives to keep us going

[butterfly31851]

I am still unsure as to it being tiredness or fatigue - there is a major difference, fatigue I can try to sort through with just taking lots of rest periods. Tiredness, nope, have to have a nap or two. zzzz

[PastMeBest]

Hi Hidden I have IPF and mild COPD/Emphysema and I am an Amblatory Oxygen user. I suffer with a dry mouth at times but always keep a bottle of water to hand and sip it. If I am out and about I'll suck a sweet to ease the dry mouth, something like wine gums.

As for falling asleep I don't know what to suggest. I suffer from Fatigue rather than Tiredness. I find with fatigue I am still fatigued even when I wake up on a morning after a sleep. If I am tired and have a sleep I feel like l wake up more refreshed. Do you think that falling asleep could have anything to do with any of the medication you are on?

I do hope you can get to the bottom of it. It must be very frustrating for you.

Regards. John

[Shona68]

Hi ' I find this all very interesting for years before I found out I had copd iv suffered dryness since being diagnosed iv come to realise the weird feeling in my throat may be because I'm breathless, no sure if any o u guys feel the same would be interesting to hear thanks xx

[doublecee]

Hi Christine, I've had emphysema since 1989. It has deteriorated slowly over time. I can get-up in the morning and hardly put one foot in front of the other. Breakfast followed by a 20 minute sit-down helps. As the day rolls on I become more active. However if I sit down I will quite often "drop-off. for short while.

Fortunately I'm not yet on oxygen. but I think it will be necessary sooner or later.

worry not, I think most of us with breathing illnesses have pretty much the same symptoms.

Cheers.

[jjnanna]

Hi, yes at the moment I am suffering with a dry mouth especially during the day if I am out but I got some pastilles from Boots and they encourage saliva in the mouth and they are brilliant. Also due to having inhalers I do get a lot of thrush but use Nystan with the dropper and an orange flavoured Gel whose name I have forgotten ... both are very effective in getting rid of the thrush I too also drink a lot which helps of course but then means a lot of visits to the loo which can be very tiresome with or without oxygen on ..... hope I have helped a bit x

P.s. Also a sucker for Rowntrees fruit gums ... find they help too x

[Hidden]

Hello Christine,

Sorry you have these worries - it must be the oxygen making you dry - have you tried drinking water through a straw so you aren't gulping it down quickly and not getting the full benefit? As I have always been able to have a 5 minute cat nap at the drop of a hat, I can't offer advice on that. I hope someone has the answers.

All the best to you.

x

[Fordgirl81]

I went to the dr back about four year ago and they done a cheat X-ray and told me I had copd but done nothing for me I then told my regular dr later on that o had been diagnosed with copd and he asked if I had been given other tests as well as the X-ray and I said no he said I didn't have it well I've been short of breath quiet a few times and went to their numerous times over it and nobody seems to want to find out what it is ... I went back to the we today and my oxygen levels were at 100% but yet I was having sob I don't understand why ... They prescribed me albuterol inhaler and that's all.. I don't know where to go from here but I'm tired of not being able to breathe is anyone out there that can help me?