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...
Went to a new pulmonologist today. He answered questions and offered information. This is much different than my other pulmy and I am happy about that.
He did give me a sample of Symbicort to take as well as my Spiriva stating he hoped it would help preserve some of my lung function. He said if it doesn't work or if I don't like it we will re-evaluate it in 6 weeks. I am open to trying it, however:
In researching it says to tell your doctor if you various problems, including liver disease and osteoporosis. Now I'm concerned. I have osteoporosis and haven't taken my once yearly infusion for it because my liver enzymes were high this past summer due a non-viral type of hepatitis with an undetermined cause.
My late mother was on prednisone for years because of lupus and the year before her death she was miserable with various broken vertebrates due to the steroids....
Not sure whether to take the Symbicort or or not.....
Thanks for any input.
He did give me a sample of Symbicort to take as well as my Spiriva stating he hoped it would help preserve some of my lung function. He said if it doesn't work or if I don't like it we will re-evaluate it in 6 weeks. I am open to trying it, however:
In researching it says to tell your doctor if you various problems, including liver disease and osteoporosis. Now I'm concerned. I have osteoporosis and haven't taken my once yearly infusion for it because my liver enzymes were high this past summer due a non-viral type of hepatitis with an undetermined cause.
My late mother was on prednisone for years because of lupus and the year before her death she was miserable with various broken vertebrates due to the steroids....
Not sure whether to take the Symbicort or or not.....
Thanks for any input.
You should get in touch with your doc and get his take on what the relationship is between symbicort and the osteoporosis/liver. More generally, we get the chance to weigh these odds and decide whether or not the medicines we take are worse than the diseases we have. It is a fine line we must tread to maintain a way of life that is worthwhile to each of us. You are fortunate that you have a doc that is having a meaningful dialog with you...
Take care,
Dennis
I also have osteoporisis, and am on symbicort. That warning is on any inhaler that contains steroids, because there are problems that can occur with large amounts of steroids and osteoporises, it can actually make your osteo worse. (Did you notice I quit trying to spell it!!)
Anyway, since you had a problem pretaining to your liver, it is a good idea to call your doctor and talk with him about this. I agree with DennyGene that it is great you have a doctor you can actually talk with!!
So call him, or his nurse and she can relay the message, and he can call you back.Or if you are seeing him soon, that is a good time.
I just don.t want you to be off the inhaler to long.
Take a lot of vitamin D, to keep the calcium in your bones, and if your diet allows, double up on your calcium (milk, yogurt,puddings, ect) also plenty of walking or impact exercise, will help strength bones.
I take fosmax but not the way the dotor says, I take it maybe once a month , because sometimes it gives me reflux. But last test my osteo had not gotten any worse.
OK I am tired, and rattleing on !! Get in touch with your doctor, and ask a lot of questions about this so you will feel better.
Good luck and hope all works out all right
BJ
Curt