COPD NEWBIE

Hi I'm new to this site,was diagnosed with COPD a couple of months ago after being rushed to hospital with a chest infection that had me on my knees gasping for breath! I've had a few of health scares in the past few years with a couple of DVT's and resultant PE's,but although the embolism's were painfull they were nowhere near as scary as not being able to breath.Am currently using Incruse inhaler which is working fine except for when I get any hint of an infection - luckily I still have my steroid inhaler which works a treat.

[mrsmummy]

Hello and welcome to the site.

[Katinka46]

Welcome to this brilliant forum. I am intrigued by your PEs because of my own history. Were they idiopathic or did they have a cause? When did you have them and are you sure they resolved completely? And are you still on Warfarin or some kind of anti-coagulant? Sorry. That's a bit of an interrogation. But it is subject close to my heart --- literally. The reason I am asking is because unresolved PEs would cause breathlessness and it took an unconscionable length of time to diagnose my Chronic Thromboembolid Disease. Was there a cause of your COPD? (One GP suggested I had COPD. I don't.)

If you would like to tell me a little more of your story please do so. But only if you feel comfortable with it.

All the best

[Hidden in reply to Katinka46]

My first PE was whilst I had surgery for gall stones,I was coughing up blood when I came round from the anesthetic but was still discharged the following day! Was home overnight then had to phone for an ambulance to take me back.I was on clexane and warfarin for a week then just warfarin for a further six months.

The second PE came around two years later and was as a result of a DVT. Started out on Clexane and warfarin but the anti coag' clinic decided that perhaps I should cut out the clexane after I started peeing claret! I was on warfarin for just over a year until they decided it was too much trouble trying to get my INR in range and stable so they put me on Rivoroxaban 20mg which I'm on for life.

I should add that the underlying cause of my chest problems is my history as a smoker,I had my first cigarette as a five year old,but started as a regular smoker in my teenage.I managed to give up ten years ago but was struggling to breathe by then, I didn't realise just how much impact a reduced lung function was having on my health untill after my first session using salbutamol and beclometasone dipropionate and discovered I could climb the stairs to bed in one go without stopping!

[Damon1864 Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Hi and welcome, hope you are feeling ok today . love Bernadette 😳 xxx

[Katinka46 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for all that. Have you been tested for CTEPH? Which should involve a V/Q scan and Echocardiogram? It could be somewhat complex, as COPD can cause pulmonary hypertension as well as CTEPH.

I made a complaint against the surgeon who operated on my hip but failed to prescribe adequate preventative anti-coagulant, in spite of my telling him there was thrombosis in my family. I took it all the way to the Ombudsman and was told by the orthopaedic surgeon they consulted that "it is well recognised that no one gets PEs until several days after an operation." I knew that was wrong but lacked the energy to fight any more. And there was you coughing blood immediately. Hmmm.....

Thanks again.

K

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hello and welcome to the site,it's really great. Hope you are well and will continue to post. We are all friendly here . Love Bernadette 😳 xxx

[levina]

hello big fish 54 I wish you all the best

[levina]

Hallo @ big fish 54

I wish you all the best I am just new here to