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...
When to Call the Doctor About Your COPD Symptoms
The keys to managing COPD are to stop smoking, take your medications, avoid irritants and infections, exercise, and see your doctor frequently. Frequent visits, as often as monthly, will help you and your doctor closely manage your condition. Ask your doctor how often to schedule appointments.
If you are having any of the symptoms described below, don't wait for your next appointment to call your doctor. Report these symptoms promptly, even if you don't feel sick. DO NOT wait for symptoms to become so severe that you need to seek emergency care. If your symptoms are discovered early, your doctor might change your treatment or medications to relieve your symptoms. (Never change or stop taking your medications without first talking to your doctor).
Note: Remember that warning signs or symptoms might be the same or different from one flare-up to another.
Non-emergency care
Talk to your doctor on the phone within 24 hours if you have these changes in your health:
Shortness of breath that has become worse or occurs more often. Examples:
Unable to walk as far as usual
Need more pillows or have to sit up to sleep because of breathing difficulty
More tired because you're working harder to breathe
Need breathing treatments or inhalers more often than usual
Wake up short of breath more than once a night
Sputum (mucus) changes including:
Changes in color
Presence of blood
Changes in thickness or amount (more than you usually have or more than you are able to cough out)
Odor
More coughing or wheezing
Swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs that is new or has become worse and doesn't go away after a night's sleep with your feet up
Unexplained weight loss or gain of 2 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week
Frequent morning headaches or dizziness
Fever, especially with cold or flu symptoms
Restlessness, confusion, forgetfulness, slurring of speech, or irritability
Unexplained, extreme fatigue or weakness that lasts for more than a day
Emergency care
Go to your local emergency department or call 9-1-1 if you have:
A life-threatening emergency
New or worsened shortness of breath that is not relieved by your medicines or prescribed treatments
Important:
Know how to contact your doctor after hours and on weekends. Always keep the following close to your phone for easy access:
A list of your doctors' phone numbers, a current list of your medications and dosages
Any allergies you have
Copyright 1995-2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved
This list helped me over the weekend, thought it might help you too.
Its good to know when to call and when to go.
Breath Easy Everyone,
Hugs and Love,
Holly
The keys to managing COPD are to stop smoking, take your medications, avoid irritants and infections, exercise, and see your doctor frequently. Frequent visits, as often as monthly, will help you and your doctor closely manage your condition. Ask your doctor how often to schedule appointments.
If you are having any of the symptoms described below, don't wait for your next appointment to call your doctor. Report these symptoms promptly, even if you don't feel sick. DO NOT wait for symptoms to become so severe that you need to seek emergency care. If your symptoms are discovered early, your doctor might change your treatment or medications to relieve your symptoms. (Never change or stop taking your medications without first talking to your doctor).
Note: Remember that warning signs or symptoms might be the same or different from one flare-up to another.
Non-emergency care
Talk to your doctor on the phone within 24 hours if you have these changes in your health:
Shortness of breath that has become worse or occurs more often. Examples:
Unable to walk as far as usual
Need more pillows or have to sit up to sleep because of breathing difficulty
More tired because you're working harder to breathe
Need breathing treatments or inhalers more often than usual
Wake up short of breath more than once a night
Sputum (mucus) changes including:
Changes in color
Presence of blood
Changes in thickness or amount (more than you usually have or more than you are able to cough out)
Odor
More coughing or wheezing
Swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs that is new or has become worse and doesn't go away after a night's sleep with your feet up
Unexplained weight loss or gain of 2 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week
Frequent morning headaches or dizziness
Fever, especially with cold or flu symptoms
Restlessness, confusion, forgetfulness, slurring of speech, or irritability
Unexplained, extreme fatigue or weakness that lasts for more than a day
Emergency care
Go to your local emergency department or call 9-1-1 if you have:
A life-threatening emergency
New or worsened shortness of breath that is not relieved by your medicines or prescribed treatments
Important:
Know how to contact your doctor after hours and on weekends. Always keep the following close to your phone for easy access:
A list of your doctors' phone numbers, a current list of your medications and dosages
Any allergies you have
Copyright 1995-2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved
This list helped me over the weekend, thought it might help you too.
Its good to know when to call and when to go.
Breath Easy Everyone,
Hugs and Love,
Holly
Just don't ask me when I am having trouble.........LOL I might change my mind......a girl can do that you know...
Call my doctor that is too funny!!!!! First my doctor has a phone system in fact I think all the doctors here have this system.
YOU listen for a few min. trying to fig out which button to push........then after that you might get a "real" person....if you do then they only will put you thru another machine........then you can leave a message..............you might get someone back that day.............but more likely it will be 48 to never hearing back....last time it was a week, then why bougher right ?
So go to the hospital that is what they want you to do anyway.
If it is bookkeeping or something simple the Asst. will call in apx 2 or 5 days.
Thats all folks...............true for me anyways
Good information as usual. I had some of the symptoms you mentioned and I was admitted to hospital in July, 2010.
Sorry you had to use the list. Hope you are better now.
HUGZ,
Jean
Hope you are feeling better today.
You too Jean - hope you are feeling better too.
Jo x