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...
As noted I have a pulm visit coming up soon and when I go to these things I never seem to get to say anything. My doctor flies into the room and is the happiest guy I've ever seen. He listens to my chest - says nothing and I confess I forget every question I want to bring up.
I am having a problem with extreme fatigue - I seem to be able to sleep forever if nobody wakes me up. My blood oxygen levels when first getting up are in the low 80's. I suspent they may be dropping a few points below that at night. In the 8 years I've been with him we have never done that nighttime finger test, nor even an up to date PFT. We just keep increasing my o2 and saying nothing. Also if I am being active - household chores, shopping etc, I cannot keep them out of that level even on my Level 5 lpm.
In the past few months I've developed a mucus productive cough even during the night and this is something new. It happens in the day too but is really a bother at night so I sleep with a lined trash can by my bed. I'm not like others on the site where the cough is so constant as to be painful but it is a nuisance and a change.
I hear people out here on the site speaking about stages of this disease - I have emphysema - but my doctor has never mentioned this. I love him for his pleasant personality but should I press him to get specific? I'd hate to suddenly drop dead while still thinking I've got a long way to go cause there are some days when I really feeel awful? Has anyone out there got any suggestions on how you get a doc who seems reluctant to deal with any bad news to spit out just where you stand?
I'd sure appreciate any advice and suggestions about specifc issues and can print them out and make up a list. I might also add though that it is hard to keep this doctor in the room for very long so I've got to be fast and concise with my questions. Thanks to anyone with advise.
Love you all - Ruthie (aka dollaraudit)
I am having a problem with extreme fatigue - I seem to be able to sleep forever if nobody wakes me up. My blood oxygen levels when first getting up are in the low 80's. I suspent they may be dropping a few points below that at night. In the 8 years I've been with him we have never done that nighttime finger test, nor even an up to date PFT. We just keep increasing my o2 and saying nothing. Also if I am being active - household chores, shopping etc, I cannot keep them out of that level even on my Level 5 lpm.
In the past few months I've developed a mucus productive cough even during the night and this is something new. It happens in the day too but is really a bother at night so I sleep with a lined trash can by my bed. I'm not like others on the site where the cough is so constant as to be painful but it is a nuisance and a change.
I hear people out here on the site speaking about stages of this disease - I have emphysema - but my doctor has never mentioned this. I love him for his pleasant personality but should I press him to get specific? I'd hate to suddenly drop dead while still thinking I've got a long way to go cause there are some days when I really feeel awful? Has anyone out there got any suggestions on how you get a doc who seems reluctant to deal with any bad news to spit out just where you stand?
I'd sure appreciate any advice and suggestions about specifc issues and can print them out and make up a list. I might also add though that it is hard to keep this doctor in the room for very long so I've got to be fast and concise with my questions. Thanks to anyone with advise.
Love you all - Ruthie (aka dollaraudit)
I'm afraid with Obama care coming on us poor health care is only going to get worse. More patients then trained medical personnel to handle everyone I would think there would be a lot of burn out in a pulmonary doctors and their staff. I had a gal tell me the other day she applied for nursing school and there was a 400 waiting list. They can only take about 25. They need nurses to train nurses.
Copied this short statement from Wiki;:
'Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a shortage of almost 4.3 million nurses, physicians and other health human resources worldwide - reported to be the result of decades of underinvestment in health worker education, training, wages, working environment and management.'
Note on self:
I survived a pulmonary arrest in March. It is no fun. I live close to a medical hospital and was able to get help fast, taught me some valuable lessons.