COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
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John Hopkins
friend
One Flare-Up May Lead to Another
If you have a flare-up of COPD, there's a chance you'll have another one within two months, a new study suggests. The study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (Volume 179, page 369).
Researchers looked at daily symptom diaries that were kept for at least one year by 297 COPD patients. They found that 27% of initial COPD flare-ups (as opposed to a relapse due to failed treatment of an exacerbation) were followed by a second event within eight weeks. These recurrent flare-ups occurred despite full recovery from the preceding event.
The researchers also found that exacerbations were more common in the winter than in the summer and that "isolated" flare-ups (an exacerbation that was neither preceded within eight weeks nor followed within eight weeks by another exacerbation) tended to be about 25% more severe than the first of a series of flare-ups.
COPD exacerbations can lead to hospitalization, serious complications, and lung function decline. Many patients never fully recover the lung function lost during a flare-up. The eight weeks after a COPD flare-up appears to be a crucial time for monitoring and follow-up to prevent or minimize further events. If you experience a COPD flare-up, stay in close contact with your doctor over the next two months, and quickly report any signs of a new exacerbation to your doctor.
John Hopkins
friend
One Flare-Up May Lead to Another
If you have a flare-up of COPD, there's a chance you'll have another one within two months, a new study suggests. The study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (Volume 179, page 369).
Researchers looked at daily symptom diaries that were kept for at least one year by 297 COPD patients. They found that 27% of initial COPD flare-ups (as opposed to a relapse due to failed treatment of an exacerbation) were followed by a second event within eight weeks. These recurrent flare-ups occurred despite full recovery from the preceding event.
The researchers also found that exacerbations were more common in the winter than in the summer and that "isolated" flare-ups (an exacerbation that was neither preceded within eight weeks nor followed within eight weeks by another exacerbation) tended to be about 25% more severe than the first of a series of flare-ups.
COPD exacerbations can lead to hospitalization, serious complications, and lung function decline. Many patients never fully recover the lung function lost during a flare-up. The eight weeks after a COPD flare-up appears to be a crucial time for monitoring and follow-up to prevent or minimize further events. If you experience a COPD flare-up, stay in close contact with your doctor over the next two months, and quickly report any signs of a new exacerbation to your doctor.
I can't even tolerate the steroids in inhalers. Tremors within 3 days. In a way I'm glad. Knock on wood, but haven't had an exacerbation in 4 years. This will probably be my year. LOL Got kidney stones though & they're wonderful!! Been drinking vinegar:>)
I had my first flare up over the weekend. Ended up in the emergency room. They gave me a breathing treatment, 60 mgs pregnosone, antibiotics, morphine, perciset, iv, and took a ton of blood. I was able to go home but have been really weak and shaky since. I just now read that possibly I could have another, even worse, in a couple months. That is not very encouraging. Breathing gets tougher and toughter and I find I am housebound more and more.
So...while I am waiting for my insurance company to do an exception for the new antihistamine my doc put me on...I'm blowing the nasties and headaches and then this morning I woke up feeling like somebody punched me in the right side of my jaw and my throat nearly closed up from dried mucous matter. its making me nuts! the worst part is that my daughter is having her c-section tomorrow afternoon and I'm getting sick again.
I've been doing so good on my new diet, I've lost nearly 15 pounds. I'm beginning to wonder if its from my breathing problems instead. Ugh. I know I need to stop smoking for good but daggum it I'm afraid I'll gain all that weight back if I do.
Steroids help me breathe...I'm scared of trying the new stuff...so many drug recalls in recent years, it makes me nervous.