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...
Just a quick background on me, because I don't post here very often: I believe my husband has COPD. He continues to tell me it's sinus problems, even though he has a really bad deep cough and coughs almost constantly, gets very short of breath with minimal amount of exertion, is on all kinds of inhalants and nasal sprays, and eats lozenges like candy.
I've noticed something "extra" in my husband's cough for the past couple of days. I don't know how to explain it, but I'll try. At the end of the normal cough there is a raspy, wheezy sound that sounds like he's trying to expel something else. I've never heard anything like it before. It comes out at the every end of his coughs, especially the last one in a series.
Any ideas what that is? It worries me a lot. It doesn't sound good at all.
Thank you in advance for any information you can share.
I've noticed something "extra" in my husband's cough for the past couple of days. I don't know how to explain it, but I'll try. At the end of the normal cough there is a raspy, wheezy sound that sounds like he's trying to expel something else. I've never heard anything like it before. It comes out at the every end of his coughs, especially the last one in a series.
Any ideas what that is? It worries me a lot. It doesn't sound good at all.
Thank you in advance for any information you can share.
I can say your husband needs to get honest with you. It sounds like those damn man rules are getting in his way. I have the same problem at times, trying to protect my wife from life - not realizing it makes everything harder and increases her frustration level. It doesn't make one any less a man to admit they have a problem, just less the fool later.
I pray he comes to his senses and allows you to help him...
Hugs,
Dennis
I have followed your other comments, and for some reason even had you on my mind today, because i had not seen anything from you for a while.
Is he useing his inhalers like he is suppose to? I can not say what his problem is with the cough, it could be his lungs are closing up, or he has a lot of phlegm, or his disease is progressed more since last doctor visit.
Put your foot down in a loving but firm way and tell him you know what he has, even tho he refuses to admit it, and he needs to go to a pulmologist really soon.
Tell him you love him but refuse to be told nothing is wrong when you can see and hear the changes in his cough and breathing. Ask him does he have a death wish, because if he don.t seek help soon he might get there before he wants to.
Your husband sounds very stubborn and very selfish. Stubborn because he refuses to understand the seriousness of his disease and do something about it, and selfish because he is causing you undue stress and worry by not manning up and going for help.
I will keep you in my prayers, as I have been doing, but only HE can change this situation . You are just going to have to tell him enough is enough.
Good luck, and God bless you both
BJ
Sorry if this comment sounds harsh, it is not meant to be, and it is not personal, I just get upset at stubborn men. I have two here at my house that I have to threaten wih instant death just for them to get a flu shot, and both know my problem!!
It could also be that your husband knows exactly what is wrong and is scared, but does not want to appear weak to you. Honey, if you want him around for a longer time, you have to take charge here. You have been dealing with this for some time now.
My husband is a very stubborn man -- the most stubborn I've ever met. He doesn't do anything that he doesn't want to do -- ever. I've said to him a dozen times in the last week, "You REALLY need to get to the doctor." His response, "I know. I will." He doesn't like going to the doctor because they always tell him he should stop smoking. He doesn't want to hear that.
I've wondered about the death wish myself. He just doesn't seem to be very interested in taking care of himself. He also has macular degeneration which is causing him to slowly lose his eyesight. He has stopped going for treatment for that. His reasoning? They aren't doing anything to improve it, so why put myself through it (the shot in the eye every month). He also has an ankle and leg that is badly swollen. Last time that happened, he had a blood clot -- a piece broke off and traveled to his lung. I've been nagging him about the swelling for two weeks, and he keeps telling me he'll get to the doctor soon.
We haven't been able to sleep in the same bed for almost three years because his coughing is so bad it was keeping me awake all night. He prefers to sleep on the couch because he can keep his head up on the arm rest and breathe a little easier. (I love having that big king-sized bed to myself, so I don't complain much about that.)
I haven't given up. I am trying to find out as much as I can so I can recognize if he's in really serious trouble. I might not be able to get him to a doctor, but I can get an ambulance to him if necessary. I think it is going to take a major scare for him to do something. I just hope whatever causes the major scare isn't so serious that it kills him.
*Sigh*
I have only known one man as stubborn, and he became weak and crying like a baby when he was almost dying.
I hope he has not just given up, because of so many problems. He said "They aren,t helping me", well it takes time to fix anything, and it takes cooperation from the patient.
I remember you said once before he has no male friends that you can get to intervene, and he has made himself almost a hermit . (Unless I am getting my people confused),
I would imagine if you suggested mental therapy for depression he would really get stubborn!! But can that be it? Could he be so depressed he has given up,? This man is to young for this, and there is a lot that can probably be done for him if he would get up and go.
He may be getting pneumonia also, the way that cough sounds...(Or the way you said it sounds!! I act like I can hear it!!)
All I can say, judgeing from what you have said ,is you have to take action somewhere. Telling him to is like talking to a wall it seems.
I know this is really worrying you and it is not fair that all the burden is on you. But if he is in a deep depression, that is a whole nother story.
Can you call his doctor? But still a doctor can not force a patient to do anything,
He is really in need of some medical help and I hope you can figure out a way soon. Maybe call an ambulnce and say he has trouble breathing? But then he can refuse the ambulance.....but if this keeps up, he won.,t be able to refuse because he will be trying to breathe. Keep a close watch on him, and if that breathing sounds worse, or he starts having pains, I would say call the ambulance and hope they don.t let him talk them out of helping. I have no other ideas, my friend
Let me know how it is going..
BJ
My heart goes out to you and may God bless you...