Chest infection

[GayleM]

Hi everyone,

Just getting over a chest infection on antibiotics and steroids. This time the nurse gave me (Braltus) tiotropium to take I don't understand why I'm on this now and have to take it for life... didn't really say why just cause I keep getting chest infections... I hadn't had one for 6 months...

Can anyone help or advise? Thanks

[Breatheeasy]

Hi GayleM.

Tiotropium has been around many years, used to be named Spirava if I recall when I took it. It is used for maintenance treatment rather than acute exacerbations. Perhaps the nurse is seeing a slight increase in occurrence or symptoms and feels a maintenance dose would assist? Nurses have better measuring devices now, which can even advise them to change or add in more medication.

The main point, if you don't mind my advise, is never feel afraid to ASK your clinician, consultant, GP or nurse what you are taking and why. We tend to be in awe of the medical profession and reticent to ask questions. You will find, if you do ask, that they are always, happy to explain, knowing that longer term this will assist them in helping you. They understand better nowadays that we are the ones with first hand experience of how our bodies react, feel etc. And we are of course all different!

Hope this is of help

JE

[GayleM in reply to Breatheeasy]

Thank you for your response very helpful.

I'm going to have another spirometry test in 6-8 weeks and just feel I need to know more about what I should be taking and doing to help my condition was diagnosed with moderate copd in January and wasn't prescribed anything. I'm just confused if inhalers help or weaken the lungs / condition...

[Breatheeasy in reply to Breatheeasy]

Hi GayleM,

Sounds ideal if you have a spirometer appointment due in 6-8 weeks as it will give you a chance to interrogate the result with nurse!

Don't worry, try not to do too much (pace out the tasks for the day with a rest in between) and keep your breathing as calm as possible.

JE

[judg69]

Hi Gayle, Tiotropium (Spiriva ) is one of the major maintenance medications used in the US. In my view anyway, it is one of the best medications for COPD. Have a good evening, judg69.

[thewheezyone]

I started on spiriva a few months ago... best thing I ever did. I no longer feel like I'm on the edge of an exacerbation all the time!

[GayleM]

Thanks everyone for your responses 👍