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...
Had to look this up to be sure I understood this word correctly.
Last night at dinner I was seated next to an old friend.
She was the wife of a neurosurgeon and had been an operating room
nurse for many years. However she told me she is now doing palliative care mostly with cancer patients but when I mentioned having COPD she said of course that too. I asked her if they gave morpnine and she said oh yes and went on to describe small doses. She also mentioned the benefit of a fan blowing on the patient, how it alleviated the breathless feeling.
I found that very interesting and had not heard it here.
Last night at dinner I was seated next to an old friend.
She was the wife of a neurosurgeon and had been an operating room
nurse for many years. However she told me she is now doing palliative care mostly with cancer patients but when I mentioned having COPD she said of course that too. I asked her if they gave morpnine and she said oh yes and went on to describe small doses. She also mentioned the benefit of a fan blowing on the patient, how it alleviated the breathless feeling.
I found that very interesting and had not heard it here.
so now i have a fan blowing in each room to keep the air circulating & it is much more comfortable. i even found a little one that i have by my chair.
my kids noticed i was fanning myself with at newspaper when they were here & their last visit my daughter in law brought me a hand fan from thialand that i just love & it works even it the electricity goes out.
i was curious about the palliatative care compared to hospice and found this interesting site for those that may be looking toward "future" care.
http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/caregivers-resources/grp-end-of-life-issues/hsgrp-hospice/hospice-vs-palliative-care-article.aspx
the main difference i see is that with hospice you are cared for in home & chose no treatment, just comfort care (which would of course include pain med (i know with hospice they had morphine & ativan drops for my mother to keep her comfortable at the end)
--and with pallititive care you can have treatment (like chemo) & be in a hospital or nursing home???