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...
About six weeks ago, I posted that my husband tried the VEST and felt like it was helping him. He felt like he was bringing up more, and it was easier to cough it out. Then after about two weeks of using the VEST, he said he did not like it, it was too hard/shaking on him and he felt worse after he would use it. So I sent it back. I know that once he says he does not like something, it's useless to try to convince him to try it more.
So about 10 days ago, he says he is having a lot of problems breathing and that he is more worn out more than ever and ANY exertion just wears him out, makes him terribly short of breath. So I get him to his pulmonologist and the doctor gives him a new medication for his nebulizer, one that he has have never tried. After a few days of using the medication, he says he feels he is having good results, and breathing better. The doctor said to use it twice a day. Now he is not using the medication, and tells me that he will use it when his body tells him too. He is now complaining about being extremely short of breath again and he has not used the medication for three days.
I just got off the phone with him and he's telling me his oximeter is reading 93 (which I know is OK) and he's complaining about not being able to breath well and when I ask him if he has used the nebulizer with the new med he tells me no, but he might use it in a half hour or so.....
My questions is why does he stop using the new medication and I practically have to hand it to him to use it or else he won't use it use it, and I get so frustrated....... He does not have dementia or memory loss, it's like he just won't use it, even though he has gotten some benefit out of it.
I'm looking to those of you that have severe COPD as to why he might do this, maybe some input on it from you might help me understand what's going thru his mind.
Appreciate your input, because I am so frustrated at trying to understand this!
So about 10 days ago, he says he is having a lot of problems breathing and that he is more worn out more than ever and ANY exertion just wears him out, makes him terribly short of breath. So I get him to his pulmonologist and the doctor gives him a new medication for his nebulizer, one that he has have never tried. After a few days of using the medication, he says he feels he is having good results, and breathing better. The doctor said to use it twice a day. Now he is not using the medication, and tells me that he will use it when his body tells him too. He is now complaining about being extremely short of breath again and he has not used the medication for three days.
I just got off the phone with him and he's telling me his oximeter is reading 93 (which I know is OK) and he's complaining about not being able to breath well and when I ask him if he has used the nebulizer with the new med he tells me no, but he might use it in a half hour or so.....
My questions is why does he stop using the new medication and I practically have to hand it to him to use it or else he won't use it use it, and I get so frustrated....... He does not have dementia or memory loss, it's like he just won't use it, even though he has gotten some benefit out of it.
I'm looking to those of you that have severe COPD as to why he might do this, maybe some input on it from you might help me understand what's going thru his mind.
Appreciate your input, because I am so frustrated at trying to understand this!
i quit using my rescue inhaler because it didn't seem to help.
then I was prescribed a nebulized form of it; it seemed to help me a couple of times, but then it just seemed to make me shakey & not help so I quit it.
I finally told my dr there was no reason to renew my prescription for it because i wasn't using it.
I feel sorry for someone that had to live/love me. I have loved ones, but not that have to live with my every day idiosyncrasies.
Sometimes I stop a medication just because "i'm tired of taking this" or "it doesn't seem to help so why take it" or whatever my head tells me.
However, i will say, the medication i take that i know helps, i don't stop taking---if i do stop taking it when i get worse & start it again!
My only suggestion is that if your husband is capable of handling his own medication, then let him & try to distance yourself from it somehow. Having been a caretaker, i understand how hard to is to love someone that has a chronic illness, sometimes it is easier to be "the distant relative". .... lot of help i am huh?