Went to my pulmonologist for annual checkup today. I have not been feeling well, although exercising a good bit. Just walking, but sometimes up to 4 miles. Last year my FEV1 was 70. I was sure it would be lower this time, but she showed me the computer reading and FEV1 was 75. I almost doubt her, because I think 75 is good for a 67-year-old COPD patient, but I sure don't feel good. I actually thought I might come home with 02, but the finger gauge read 99 percent. Dropped to 95 after 6-minute walk. I also asked if I was a C02 retainer. She said no. She is so nice and so positive that sometimes I think she is sugarcoating my results. Also, I've been taking prednisone on my own for the past week and she told me to stop. But, I swear, pred is the only thing that seems to help me. I have never once felt any relief from an inhaler. Thanks for listening, and I hope all of you are breathing easy.
First doctor visit this year - Lung Conditions C...
First doctor visit this year
Hope you feel better soon challny and I wish you well. Xxxxx
Hope you feel better soon and well done on your results. Have a good night and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx
Fantastic challny, really well done! I do believe that to try & stay on top of this disease its a case of if it doesn’t hurt it’s not doing you good, within limitations of course! My first annual review is just a couple of months away, I’m getting twitchy about it hoping at the very least I’ll have stayed steady so if I improve as you have done I’ll be thrilled.
All good wishes for continued good reports....
You should be pleased with those results, challny, such good improvement, which is hard to get with COPD. They’re the same as my OH and he seems to be doing well with COPD and a small patch of Bronchiectasis. Four miles walking is excellent.
Bit daft to take preds when you don't really need them,they are not cure alls and should be used with caution ,be pleased with your good results and continue your exercise and healthy eating which will do far more for you than steroids.
skischool I know that my alleged pulmonary visit produced what many would consider positive results, but the truth is I feel worse than at any time since my diagnosis almost 3 years ago. I did walk those 4 miles, but it was not easy. Today, much hotter I could go no further than about 2.5 miles. Then I tried to mow my yard and was unable to finish. I took the pred for 5 days and felt much better. My doc and just about everyone on this forum jumped on me, so I have not taken anything for the past two days. I just don't know why I feel so bad, but I do. I think that 75 FEV1 is a myth. There is no way my lung function is as good as it was a year ago. Thanks for your response, Skis; this forum continues to provide with so much good information.
It's not a myth mate it's real and the fact you can walk so far is testimony to that,just try to have a little more faith in your own ability as you can do it.you are using preds at the moment as if you had an exacerbation every week and maybe your body and mind are becoming too dependent on them.Your O2 stats also indicate that pretty much all is well so no more lectures from unqualified me just carry on and be a walking superstar. 
skischool I appreciate your lectures, Skis. I just don't know what's going on with me.
Whats going wrong is that you have labelled yourself as a 67 yr old copd sufferer.people without copd would love to have your fev1 of 75% O2 sats in the mid to high 90's so whatever is going wrong as you say is not in your lungs.
Have you had cardiac investigations to rule out the breathlessness,if so and they were negative i can only think that Health anxiety may play a large part in your symptoms,whatever i can only wish you well in the future and hope you get this sorted.
skischool when I was first diagnosed almost 3 years ago, they performed a heart cath on me after a stress test looked odd to them. But the dye flowed cleanly through all my arteries, so home I went as soon as I came to. Skis, I can FEEL my aching lungs. I guess what I'm searching for here is to find whether other COPD sufferers feel as I do. Maybe I just don't handled the disease as well as others. Also, I have never once used an inhaler that brought me any relief at all. I have stopped using a couple of them, because, what's the point? I feel the same with them as without them. I'm sorry to be such downer, but I can only vent on this forum. My partner gets really upset if I even mention COPD, and I don't know a single person who has this disease, other than myself.
Challny,if it's any consolation my inhalers do nothing for me but that is because of the nature of my emphysema,no amount of bronchodilation is going to help dead alveoli that can not transfer oxygen to my blood supply.
But you on the other hand must continue to use them as although you don't feel the benefit they are secretly working in the background and opening your airways to help feed your relatively healthy alveoli with that wonderful O2.
i think others have come to terms with their diagnosis,put it to the back of their minds and just carried on with life to the best of their ability and i am sure with a little more positivity you will do the same.
To be able to walk four miles is but a dream for me! Four hundred yards would be a great achievement.
But, Prednisolone is a wonderful support at time of flare ups. 40mgx2days: 30x3/5days: then reduce by 5mg daily then stop. This is probably a monthly regime.
Can then manage a few yards with help of ventolin.
Then back to bottom of roller coaster!
(O2 normally 96:7 whatever.).
Take care, all the best-Ian. (80).
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