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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About Me
Member since July 01, 2015
I am going to be 69 in September 2015, and was diagnosed with COPD in 2013. I had stopped smoking 20 years ago, and now that I look back, I probably had COPD for some time. At that time I was told it was a slow progressing disease, but mine has seemed to worsen quickly after some exacerbations. Had a hard winter this year and still have sob, cough and mucus. Going through mourning period for all the things I used to do and can't now. Trying to accept what is and move on. Seem to have problems getting information from pulmonary doc...can't see too often. Therefore am grateful for this group. This is my biggest problem right now. I would like to be able to make an appointment with the pulmonary doc to ask questions that are bothering me, but if it's outside the 6 mo. visit, may as well forget it. There are not many pulmonary docs in my area, and their time is limited, I guess. Sorry for this long first post. My anxiety is showing. I look forward to speaking with the real experts....fellow sufferers!
About Me
Member since July 01, 2015
I am going to be 69 in September 2015, and was diagnosed with COPD in 2013. I had stopped smoking 20 years ago, and now that I look back, I probably had COPD for some time. At that time I was told it was a slow progressing disease, but mine has seemed to worsen quickly after some exacerbations. Had a hard winter this year and still have sob, cough and mucus. Going through mourning period for all the things I used to do and can't now. Trying to accept what is and move on. Seem to have problems getting information from pulmonary doc...can't see too often. Therefore am grateful for this group. This is my biggest problem right now. I would like to be able to make an appointment with the pulmonary doc to ask questions that are bothering me, but if it's outside the 6 mo. visit, may as well forget it. There are not many pulmonary docs in my area, and their time is limited, I guess. Sorry for this long first post. My anxiety is showing. I look forward to speaking with the real experts....fellow sufferers!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/08/us-health-copd-early-adult-idUSKCN0PI2MW20150708
Another thing we need to be aware of is antibiotic resistance. This is a major problem due to antibiotics used in cattle, pigs and chickens and dairy products. It is also due to doctors overprescribing antibiotics to nearly everyone, whether they are needed or not. It also matters if we have a fungal or bacterial infection.
If we are given a round of antibiotics that don't work, we should ask our doctor for another type or class of antibiotic that has a better chance of working due to antibiotic resistance. This will help to reduce our number of exacerbations.
Once again. Good luck.
You shouldn't see this on facebook..
Daily Strength (DS) has a facebook site, but it is seperate to from this website.
in fact just out of curiosity, I just went into facebook & did a search for "Daily Strength" that brought me to a generic topic type site.
then i did a search for Daily Strength COPD/Emphysema and it took me to COPD site on facebook that one of our members started, to excersise & stuff, but a total separate entity than DS.
So you are safe from facebook here. :)
It might be better to introduce yourself & ask your questions by starting a new topic. This topic is getting old so some members may not see your post here.
I am not familiar with the Qvar you mentioned. I googled it and it seems to be a steroid inhaler used daily to reduce inflammation. (and mainly said it was used for asthma)
You mention that you are on a blood pressure medication. Is it a Beta-blocker type? some of our inhalers are "beta antagonists" so it is not recommend to mix them.
Unfortunately, as with so many diseases & medications finding the right inhaler is kind of a 'try to see if it helps" approach.
I also have reactions to many medications so I understand that "fear" of trying new ones. I have reactions to steroids so I had to stick with an inhaler that didn't contain a steroid component, even though a combination of a bronchodialator with a steroid seems to be more effective.
Spiriva worked well for me.
However, any of the ones that have "Albuterol" (a common short acting inhaler medication that comes under several names) I got shaky & jittery like you describe.
anyway, (i do have a tendency to ramble on ) welcome to the board, feel free to start a new topic & tell us more about yourself & ask as many questions as you like. We are not medical professionals, just people living with this disease (dx)
Welcome.
.
Since I got sick,I've learn to weed out the crap in my life that upsets and makes me angry it is helping to have good life despite COPD>Hugs Jade
I agree with everyone else esp. the need to exercise, which i have lost interest in lately.....
Take care and hope you find a good Pulmo....
Pete