Emphysema and Inhalers

[Bilbo69]

What advantage does using inhalers give you when you have emphysema? Do I really need broncial dilation? Thoughts please

[RoadRunner44]

Well there are short term and longer acting ones. They are primarily used to open up airways allowing you to breathe easier. I assume you have difficulty getting your breath and if so, would find one useful.

[2greys in reply to RoadRunner44]

I have almost pure Emphysema (stage 4) and produce just a little over the normal amount of mucus. I take 3 different inhalers and would not be able to manage the way I do without them. Even those with Emphysema can suffer with inflamed airways which close down when confronted by pollutants and other volatile chemicals like air fresheners and even perfumes. When having inflamed airways a bronchial dilator is essential.

[RoadRunner44 in reply to 2greys]

Your helpful personal experience has helped me to understand the difficulties both my Mother and Father experienced in their lifetimes.

[Bilbo69 in reply to 2greys]

Thanks. I have no mucus problems and at the moment I'm on Trimbow which seems to have more side effects for me compared with the seperate Fostair/Spiriva combo. I'm going to try reducing the dosage and see if I can cope without inhalers on a daily basis.

[anng18 in reply to Bilbo69]

Hi Bilbo,

I have very severe emphysema and like you decided to reduce the dose of Spiriva I was taking. It did me no good. Apparently taking the full dose protects and maintains what lung function we have left and does help us.

I was on Spiolta, which I found quite good, but at my last meeting with nurse she put me on Fostair and told me to take more salamol. Not finding this wonderful at the moment. Even had a half dose of spiolta, which was great!

She did measure my ability to inhale and I wasn't very good, so I hadn't even been getting the full dose of medication, that I was meant to be having. I am now using a spacer.

Initially when you come of the inhaler, you are ok, as it still keeps working, but then your breathing goes dramatically downhill!

Although I quite understand why you want to reduce your dosage, I would think twice, as I've tried all these things myself and probably made myself worse!

Take care.

[jackdup]

Do you know what stage you are? If you are mild the benefits of inhalers are likely much less apparent. The worse you are generally the more the inhalers help and the long term ones can also take several weeks for the benefits to be fully realized. If you are on Trimbow then it is likely you are not mild. If you found more benefits from the Fostair/Spiriva combination then you should discuss it with your doctor and explain that to him/her as it seems what works well for one does not work for someone else.

[hallentine47]

I have COPD Ashma Emphysema and get along with Ventolin and a spacer sometimes use a nebulser and samubutomol , Spiriva and Symbicort. This combination along woith 3 times a week antibiotics have redued my infection and exacerbation rate.

[lKeith]

Bibo69

Hi, Yes you need these inhalers, they help to keep airways open which you may not altogether realise at the time of taking them. They also keep you off other drugs, assuming they are doing the job. You could talk to the local respiratory nurse who could advise you of the best inhalers and whether these are best used with a spacer. You are not a doctor they should know better than you.

You may find that a second opinion provides more meds that may have a slightly better reaction but watch the side effects.

IKeith

[skischool]

My consultant agrees with me that my long term bronchodilator is doing next to nothing keeping airways open that suffer little inflammation with my emphysema diagnosis,hence it doesn't contain steroids to assist in that action but in saying so they do no harm and may help in a polluted environment or perhaps should i fall victim to an infection.?

[Bilbo69]

Thanks for all your comments. I would like to cut out steroids if I can, I'm trying just the ventolin to see if I can exist with just that. I'm seeing my GP next week so I'll see what she says...