Might as well go and live at the GP Surgery

[Sparkywoo]

Feeling really down today. I live for the sunshine and now it’s here I just can’t breathe. Out of the blue 10 days ago on came the wheezing and the brick on the chest feeling out came the dreaded Pred. Been on 40mg a day since and it’s not settling. Back to see the GP again shortly but I just don’t know where we go from here. My flare ups are less but when I get them they take forever to settle and I go crazy thinking this is it. This is how my lungs are going to stay forever. This is my life. I just want to run through a field or up the stairs or dance for hours. I hate having lung disease it affects my mental health so badly 😥. Sorry to rant x

[sassy59]

Hello Sparkywoo, you’re not alone and yes lung disease is bound to get you down.

Things can and do improve though with the correct diagnosis, meds and taking good care of yourself. This combination makes all the difference.

Suggest a referral to a lung specialist and see how things go from there. Don’t despair, you are amongst friends. Xxxxx

[Sparkywoo in reply to sassy59]

Thank you x

[Candyred]

I hear you and I feel the same .. it’s exasperating I try so hard to do things as my mind says do it! But my lungs stop me at every turn ..try to do things as slowly as you can .. I know that’s a pain to but it helps me..

[Sparkywoo in reply to Candyred]

Thank you x

[sheila1kerry in reply to Candyred]

That is my big problem, i still try to go at 100 miles an hour. I need to learn to do what you do and slow down.

[sheila1kerry]

At least you still have good sense of humour ( even if it is a bit black ). It is awful when you have a reasonable spell and then out of nowhere you get struck down. I sit here for hours trying to workbout what has brought it on. The pollen, the weather, the dust , the dog or a million other thoughts, really my lungs are reacting to anything. Sometimes i think my exacerbation is never going to end, it always does thank goodness, and yours will no doubt be over soon. There will still be sunshine for you to enjoy .

Takecare and i hope you feel better soon. X

[Sparkywoo in reply to sheila1kerry]

Thank you, you sound just like me 😂😂. The weirdest thing happened at the GPS. He examined me and reassured me no Infection, temperature or wheezing (which I knew) just feel like a brick on my chest and very short of breath. He has stopped the steroids. I get really anxious around my lung problems and he thinks the prednisolone helps for a few days then gets me so hyped up and more anxious that it triggers a ‘rapid breath response’ in my brain and we’re then stuck in a vicious circle - almost like a perpetual panic attack. All sounds reasonable so going back to meditation again. What can possibly go wrong 🙂

Hope you soon feel better x

[sheila1kerry in reply to Sparkywoo]

I had similar issues over steroids, i would finish the course and still not be quite right. In the end i got my consultant to double the dose, my GP had to agree. Now i always have some for emergency situations. One night when i was really bad i had a night doctor out to visit me. He said that as soon as i even think i am getting worse to start steroids and abs as the longer it is left the more damage is done to the lungs. I know my body, i know when i am getting bad ( even if everyone else thinks i am barking mad and go on google too much ) . It works for me. I too get into panic mode, ~ open the back door, drink water, take tablets, cough sweets, turn up air puifier, take inhalers, set up neb, ALL AT ONCE ~

Like a mad woman, my nephew says “ slow down, you don’t give anything a chance to work”. I just look at him as much as to say “ what do you know”

Take care, I hope you feel better xxx

[SquirrelsHolt]

Oh hi there. I can understand you worrying about an infection and both you and I can run and jump around like we were youngsters......but the simple truth is our lungs just won't allow us. Maybe a waltz or gentle line dancing(although I think that would have me gasping in under 5 mins!). If you can get on the correct meds that suit you,it makes everything seem far better and takes some of the worry away. All very easy to type,a wee bit harder to even get a GP who knows anything much about our conditions. I hope your Doctor can help you - do come back and tell us won't you?

Best wishes.

.

[sheila1kerry]

PS. I know i am crazy, it’s how this COPD makes me feel. I sympathise with you as it is a frightening illness to have, i get why you go into panic mode, although i am sure that meditation would do both of us far more good than steroids and antibiotics.

All the very best, wish you well ❤️

[Susan1200]

I understand Sparkywoo,it is horrible having COPD , but we must not give up ,I don't have anyone to talk to,I am sure if I had, I don't think they would be interested.

Have you tryed a hand fan,I find that helps me ,also taking deep breaths in the morning , is it possible if you could talk to your doctor how your feeling,he might be able to help you regarding your flare ups.

Please take care if you don't feel any better don't hesitate go to the doctor.

Never ever dispair,we are all here for each other.

[Sparkywoo in reply to Susan1200]

Thank you. Unfortunately any type of fan or air con makes my breathing ten times worse. I think my big challenge is in my head. I was so so ill for a few years and have a fantastic consultant. I gave up work and have been so much better then when something goes wrong now I really really panic and convince myself this is the end. Madness I know but anxiety is an awful thing x

[Susan1200 in reply to Sparkywoo]

That must be awful for you ,is it not possible your doctor can give you something for your anxiety,I know it's a terribly thing anxiety,I have learnt my self to try and control panic attract.

I wish you all the best 🐘

[Linnie13]

I know how you feel ,I also hate it, it gets me down having to carry canisters with me when I'm out they are heavy and don't last long ,I feel embarrassed when people stare , and I've actually heard people say, I bet she is sorry she smoked, that really makes me angry as I've never smoked in my life

[Sparkywoo in reply to Linnie13]

Linnie that is awful for people to say that and I can imagine how you must feel. I say to people the problem is there is little respite from this. If you had a bad leg you would move to be comfortable. This is with you every second and I over analyse every squeaky hard borne breath when it’s bad. Our mind is a dangerous place x

[Linnie13 in reply to Sparkywoo]

Yes it is , my sister has bad hips and lives in constant pain from her joints, but she said she would sooner be like that ,than have to struggle with oxygen ,it has really made a difference to my live , I can't go out for long ,or just jump up and go the loo ,without remembering to put ox on , otherwise I feel my heart pound , the only thing is I think that their are people worse than me, I just hope that when I am tested , I will be able to use a small portable concentrator , I think that will make a difference , I am nearly 63 , and was looking forward to retiring, in three years ,be able to walk and travel about ,now I find travelling hard and didn't realise how much I much I miss work ,sorry for moaning I do try not to ,hope you are well

[Ergendl in reply to Linnie13]

(((Hugs))) Linnie13.

[Linnie13 in reply to Ergendl]

Back to you too xx