How Do You Know When You Are In COPD Crisis?
88What causes COPD?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a respiratory disease process that is actually the result of both chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema.The damage is the result of repeated episodes of infection and respiratory distress that results in scarring of the alveoli in the lungs.
The lungs look like and upside down tree with the main trunk, the bronchial tubes that split to form the right and left lung. The right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two. The heart takes up a lot of space in the left side, which is why the right lobe has a middle lobe, and the left lung does not. Each lobe of both lungs contain tiny air sacs, or alveoli. In a normal lung, these little sacs are elastic and expand and constrict with every breath.
However, with the disease process of COPD the air sacs lose their elasticity and they can barely open or close, and the walls of the lobes also become thick and inflamed and the lungs fill with thick fluid and mucus. Sometimes this leads to severe respiratory distress and sometimes the person with COPD can function fairly well. However, once diagnosed with COPD, the disease process progresses and worsens gradually over time.
Some of the causes of COPD are something the person breathes into their lungs over a long period of time that causes continued irritation and inflammation to the lungs. Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of COPD and unfortunately, is often diagnosed years after the person has stopped smoking. Many times this can be traced back to the amount of cigarettes that person consumed during their lifetime.
Even persons who are secondhand smokers are also at risk of contracting COPD as well as pipe and cigar smokers, if they inhale the smoke. Although many improvements, thanks to OSHA , to the workplace have been set in place in the last several decades, exposure to workplace lung irritants are also a risk factor in the causes of COPD.
There is only one form of genetic COPD, a rare condition diagnosed at birth calledalpha-1 antitrypsin deficiencyAplpha 1 is a protein found in the liver and it is felt the lack of this protein may play a part in children who are born with COPD. However, the majority of persons with COPD are or were smokers over their entire lifetime.
Please! Stop Smoking NOW!
What are the Signs of COPD?
COPD is diagnosed by the persons medical history, the physicians assessments, consults with pulmonologists, chest x-rays, spirometry, arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry. Signs and symptoms of COPD include chronic productive cough with sputum that is usually white and frothy and is often called a "smokers cough" and shortness of breath with exercise. Exercise is misleading as exercise for a person with COPD may consist of getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom. If this causes shortness of breath, tight feeling inside the chest, extreme coughing fit lasting nearly two minutes and wheezing, your physician needs to see you.
If, along with any of the above signs and symptoms the persons also has swelling of the legs or difficulty breathing in the middle of the night (or whenever asleep laying flat on the bavck) or if increased urination occurs at night, this is another reason the person must see the physician. Sometimes COPD is not alone. Sometimes the person with COPD also has Congestive Heart Failure and the above are a few warning signs of CHF.
Persons with COPD may have these signs all at once or just one sign now and then, such as with a rise in the barometric pressure, increase of summer temperature, or with heavy pollen count such as in the fall and the spring of the year. Some persons with COPD are not as affected by outside forces as others, some persons may show these same signs and not have COPD at all! That is why consulting with your physician is so important. Only your physician can properly diagnose, refer you to appropriate physicians and monitor your medical care. It is extremely detrimental to your health to attempt to treat yourself.
How is COPD treated?
Your primary physician will be the one to oversee your care, however, many times the person will be closely followed by a pulmonologist, who is a specialist on all lung disease processes and can make sure the person is receiving the best treatment of choice. Most of the time, depending on the severity and if there is an acute infection involved, the treatment involves inhalers and oxygen that may or may not be used daily or only as needed.
Some medications that a person with COPD may have to take on a regular basis include:
- Bronchodilators These are also called "puffers" and are in a small aerosol can that fits in the palm of your hand. The person receives the medication such as albuterol or pulmocort or both by placing the mouthpiece in their mouth, closing their lips tightly around the mouthpiece, exhaling a deep breath through their nose then depressing the chamber of the small aerosol can and breathing the misted medication in through their mouth at the same time.
- Inhalers are not uncommon, many children with asthma are in charge of their own 'puffers' but often the person who deals with COPD on a chronic day to day basis makes the error of not using their inhaler exactly as it should be handled. This results in the person not receiving a full dose of their medication and before it is time for the next dose the person is already reaching for their inhaler again. Eventually, this creates an imbalance in the lungs and can lead to some problems such as increased shortness of breath.
- Oxygen Often the person with COPD will not have to remain on oxygen at all times. Oxygen, used correctly, can often assist with the relief of both shortness of breath and of the anxiety that often accompanies it. However, used incorrectly, oxygen can lead to increased carbon dioxide in the blood which then causes mental status changes, chest pain, irregular heart rate and left untreated can be fatal. The most important thing a person with COPD can remember is that if their physician says to leave their oxygen set on 2 liters per minute by nasal cannula and the use of a oxygen concentrator then that flow meters little black ball needs to float exactly in the middle of the line for 2 liters, not above it, certainly never more than that for an extended period of time.
- Sometimes a person with COPD will receive steroids by mouth (prednisone) and this medication must be taken exactly as the physician orders it. Prednisone or any other corticosteroid is very effective way of relieving the feelings of inflammation and irritation of the lung fields. Sometimes, with an infection (persons with COPD are prone to infections) the person is treated with antibiotics.
- The most important thing to remember about antibiotics is to take them exactly as the physician orders. Taking antibiotics until you feel better or stopping because they make your stomach hurt is not acceptable. The cause of resistant infections, such as methicillin resistant staphylcoccus aureous is because bacteria have grown used to being killed only a little bit, never completely eradicated. The bacteria grows back and it grows back smarter than the humans who created the antibiotic! Now the bacteria know what will kill them so they build up a wall to that antibiotic. The researchers develop stronger, more powerful antibiotics, we get sick, we take them until we feel better, not for the whole course and the whole thing starts all over again. And for all you healthy people out there giving yourself a pat on the back for not being a part of this? You do not get off the hook so easily. Bacteria doesn't care who did or did not cause them to get smart! They will come after all of us, its really just waiting for a really juicy infection to come along!
- So, Take All The Antibiotics!
Will I always need medicine and oxygen?
COPD is a chronic disease process. This means it will never go away and will progresively worsen over time. However, it does wax and wane. In other words, some days will be much better than others. The way to manage COPD is simple.
- Follow all of your physicians orders for medications, exercise, hygiene and diet. "Exercise" you ask? Yes, as strange as it sounds, it will actually help. Of course, you must use common sense; no fair walking when the smog or pollen count is sky high, no fair walking when the temperature is extremely cold or hot and absolutely no fair overdoing it! Do NOT compete with younger persons! Let them pass right by on the YMCA gym balcony walkway! Walking will help with your lung capacity as long as you can do it without damaging your already damaged lungs! The worst thing anyone with COPD can do is just go from bed to chair and that is it. That raises that person's risk of infection and decreases their quality of life. As long as possible, keep on your feet and keep on a schedule! There will eventually come a time when the person with COPD will not be able to manage any of their basic day to day activites without total assist but for as long as possible, stay independent and as healthy as possible.
- DO NOT SMOKE NOR ALLOW ANYONE TO SMOKE AROUND YOU!
That said, Also remember that a person with COPD must NOT challenge or compete with their OWN body! Exercise must be done in short, frequent intervals. exercise and diet both must be done alternately. A person with COPD burns calories much faster than other people because it takes more calories just to try and breathe. Therefore, short, frequent meals and short, frequent bouts of energy. Makes sense. Eat, walk, rest, eat, walk and so on.
When do I know I should call my physician?
You must learn your own bodies "yell" for help. Your body will tell you, if you listen quickly. The problem with COPD is it involves oxygen. Not the oxygen in the O2 concentrator but rather the oxygen in your bloodstream! When you are in the midst of a COPD crisis, that oxygen level drops. Without adequate oxygen in your bloodstream your brain will not be as "quick on its feet" so to speak and you will get fuzzy headed and not even realize it
I think everyone has this little red button inside their brain. If everything is fine and kosher, it just sits there, but if something starts to "not feel right" that red button starts to throb, then glow then finally its going off like a fire engines siren and bursting out with strobing red lights all through your brain!!!! Pay attention to that little red button :) It is hard to turn off if you let it go too long!
Signs that say "Call your Doctor" are as follows:
- Increased shortness of breath and anxiety
- Change in the color and or consistency of sputum
- Unrelieved coughing
- Chest pain
- Tightness of chest and or painful respiration's
- Coughing up blood
- Increased temperature (persons with COPD usually run a lower temperature than the rest of the population. So if a COPD person has a temp of 99 F this is a low grade temp and could mean an infection
Some things that are worth posting on your refrigerator are:
- Emergency contact numbers, such as family or friends
- Physicians names and numbers, including what type they are such as "family practice" or "pulmonologists"
- Current list of ALL of your medications even the ones you take that are over the counter and or vitamins
- Ambulance services if you have one or the number of the local ambulance service. However, remember the number to 911 is still 911
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Do you have or know someone who has COPD?
See results without votingTypes of Metered Dose Inhalers
Names
| Types
| Side Effects
|
|---|---|---|
Pulmicort
| long acting Inhaled Corticosteroid
| Redness and burning on inside of mouth and gums. Always rinse and spit, do not swallow after using these types of inhalers. Cannister may not be refilled.
|
Albuterol
| Short acting bronchodilator (selective beta 2 adrenergic agonist)
| dry cough, headache, gastric distress and rapid heartbeat
|
Spiriva
| Anticholinergic bronchodilator in Dry Powder Inhaler
| Only used daily! Can cause urinary retention and urinary tract infections.
|
Serevent
| Long acting selective beta 2 adrenergic bronchodilator
| Not to be used as a rescue inhaler! But sometimes used as prevention of bronchospasm just before planned exercise Side effects include palpiutations, nervousness, shakiness, anxiety
|
Ipratropium
| Anticholinergic bronchodilator Long acting
| Often given together with albuterol in both inhaler and nebulizer form
|
Flovent
| Long Acting Inhaled Corticosteroid
| infections, long term damage to eyes, pancreas, immune system
|
Advair Diskus
| Combination Selective Long Acting beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist with Long Acting Inhaled Corticosteroid
| Do Not Take as needed for shortness of breath! Use Albuterol rescue inhalers for SOB Side effects include headache, dry mouth, cataracts
|
Combivent
| Combination Long Acting Anticholinergic bronchoconstictor (ipratropium) with beta-2 adrenergic bronchodilator (albuterol)
| This is albuterol and ipratropium together, hence the "combi" in the name of this inhaler. Side effects are headache, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, cough, gastric distress
|
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I hope she will quit the cigs/I could not stop on my own...yes I know old nurses were the worst ones to smoke...but in '98 I got bronchitits in June! made me so mad cause I knew why I had it...and I took the med called zyban (wellbutrin) worked like magic! now there is one even better/less side effects/called chantix...BUT the person has to want to stop smoking in the first place!
so in the meantime be sure to suggest your mom get the flu vacc and the pneumonia vacc...flu vacc yearly and the pnuemovacc evry 5-7 yrs...and watch out for the warning signs of crisis!!good luck!! and thank you Cagsil
I stumbled on this while looking for info on ways to possible help my dad. He was diagnosed a while ago and seemed to have only gradually gotten worse over time. But the middle of last year it got worse quickly. Where he once would putter around in his shop all day (30ft from the house.) without oxygen, he now can barely leave the office chair in his room. I'm hoping some of these tips will help out. He is on O2, Spiriva, and Albuterol. He's very stubborn and I don't think he has seem a specialist, only his general doctor. So, thank you for the information
you are so welcome BJ..jan and feb and aug and sept are the worst times of yr for copd-ers...hot and cold extremes of both/even living in my heart home of the desert make all COPD patients much worse...add to that if he is not usi g his medicatons and yes O2 is a med/correctly and he will be in crisis horrifyingly quickly...
remember not to let him push the02 above what the MD orders...this will build up CO2 and decrease ablity to breathe/ remember the spiriva can cause urinary tract infections...he must drink water for this med as well as to keep the fluids in his lungs moving...let the fuild in his lungs turn to concrete and he will get pneumonia....
any sign of increased sob..he already has this...any sitting on the side of the bed at nite and breathing then lying down for 1-2 hrs and back on the side of the bed again...any sign of mental status changes especially denial especially in males loud voices/im fine/stop pestering me...leave me alone Im not hungry...thats time to get him to MD and or ER whichever comes first...ER comes at 0200 hours:)its written in the nurses code according to murphy lol it is NOT... not to scare you...just to let you know what to look for...the longer he goes without a PULMONOLOGIST AND THAT IS UNDERLINED ALL RIGHT??? you hear me? the worse he will get...he needs a pulmonologist, a cardiologist and sooner or later a nephrologist...but he must get under the care of a young, smart, right out of 2nd residency pulmonolist first and like yesterday!!!! why young, smart and right out of school? because I have seen a LOT of youn-uns in my 30 cough cough yrs as a nurse and technology and the marvelous as well as horrible things found out in that time has now started to produce the absolute best of all physicians...they grew up with all the techie stufff it took us yrs to master!! they are fantastic..so interview them...at LEAAST 4 yes 4 different pulmonologists in your area...you are paying them member? well, our taxes anyway and he is your dad...get the best :)
love to you and the higher power member put those young people here for us!!!
Thank you for replying RN.. Since my first post, his condition only briefly seemed to get better. One day last month he was able to go back out into his shop after not being out of the house for several months. But that was only that one day.
Since then. It seems to have gotten worse.
Some background: I have been working for my dad for the past 10 years (makes me feel old...geez) in that time I've seen him go from a very iron fisted totalitarian authority figure who was never good at the whole "dad" thing. To being dependant upon everyone for everything. So. I'm not here all the time.
This last week he has done pretty bad. Very short of breath, has trouble communicating. I have asked him to call his doctor everyday this week with a "Not today, tomorrow"
Today. (Friday, March 19th). He had me sit down and tried to talk to me about something. Something That normally would have taken 5muns to explain took 20mins. And I didn't really understand what he was saying. His eyes where glassy and he seemed to drift in and out almost. After several minutes he seemed more alert. But still. At that moment I decided I was taken action if nobody else would.
I attempted to call his doctor for a referral to a pulmonologist. It was past 5pm so nobody answered. So I decided to look for one myself. The ones I found are closed until Monday as well. So I'm calling firstthing in the morning on Monday.
I guess I'm asking... What's going to happen? Is this as good as he'll ever be again? I'm going to check in on him over the weekend. I usually don't work. But I'm worried about how he's going to do. Someone typically works the weekend no at least a couple hours. Something he use to do. But can't anyone.
I do hope I'm not burdening you. Just "getting it out there" seems to help me a little at least. My family is...fractured to say the least and talking to them about anything is non-existent.
BJ, I am sorry my laptop crashed and hubby and I have tried to "share" the big puter...
I hope you eneded up taking your dad to the emergency room...? It is now mon am...asking for a referrral to pulmonologist will takees wks your father foes not have...take him to the besy teaching institution hosp in your area...within 30 miles...it should start with UNIV of balankety blank HOSPITAL OKAY? NOW!!! Whether he is better now or not he needs to be seen immediately
I am so sorry I was offline for you...I couldnt figure out how to get my gmail until todday and hubpages doesnt always say you have this many comments...
TODAY BJ!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK THE $ TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! emergency emergency go right away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND THEN LET ME KNOW OKAY? ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION ALWAYS GLASSY EYES NOT MAKING SENSE...OXYGEN DEPRIVATION!!!!
Much love and support to you and yours....love you....go nNow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't convince him to go to an ER. I'll have to convince someone else to convince him, he flat out won't listen to me, and he's actually been rude to me the past couple of days when the appointments/referral was done without his say so.
He does have an appointment for the pulmonologist though... ER , sadly, won't happen unless he passes out or gets injured or something. or, I talk with someone he will actually listen to.
Thank you again, I wish I was able to come on here and go "got him there!" but, he's such a stubborn, heavy handed person.
I totally understand...my momma is like that... she had pnuemonia 2 winters ago and I couldnt get her to follow MD orders!!!
I am so very sorry I cussed...I should not have used that expletive... dont know what got into me.... mad at me I think for not being able to pick up my laptop anytime I want to and if someone like you BJ needs me I want to be there for them!!!
do the best you can thats all you can do...much love to you and pinch old dad for me haha
Again, thank you so much for the advice, I'll keep you updated after the appointment and such, I have passed on pretty much everything you posted to him. And if I hadn't of stumbled upon this post, he wouldn't have gotten the appointment period. So, I really appreciate the help and advice a lot! Sorry to hear about the laptop. I'm kind of a computer wiz, so, if you have anything I can help with I would do my best. haha.
I hope "pretty much everything 'Means NOT the F word/geez whatever was I thinking? so very glad he has an appt...at least with your own nursing background which is extensive as I saw by your fantastic website !!!!!!!! you can member the 911 number......what is that number????????????
I always forget rotfl
as for the laptop:
Im afraid its a virus...
pages loading only halfway and when there they "blink" on and off so you cant put the mouse in the correct spot/
its in the quilt box...its in "time out" lol
BJ...when is the appointment?
Is your dad a little better?
If he uses an inhaler ending in 'rol' like salumetrol thats a steroid so is advair, make him rinse his mouth well and do not let him put his oxygen, if he uses it over whatever the O2 per minute MD has ordered,old toxic gases build up in his lungs and he will be right back to square one
he may well be out of crisis by now which wil NOT help "our" argument of lets go now dad but COPD comes and goes...thank-n you for the kind remark on my first teacher week !!! my second started a bit rocky and fast ave honeymoon ovr but its a dream come true and so much like grad school I love it'
and you!!!
His appointment is the 14th now. it was for the 1st but was pushed back by my father for whatever reason, and then pushed back by the doctor because he was on vacation. So, it's the 14th of April right now.
HE's a little bit better right now. not by a lot though. But, he isn't pushing his body. I can tell he is breathing better (talking louder than before, clearer.) but he's acting lazier (always been lazy.) I started reminding him that if he is breathing better he needs to get up and move!. hopefully he'll start listening.
He uses Albute...ROL, and I don't think he does rinse his mouth, actually... I think he might use the Albuterol while on the O2. I will tell him that while using his Albuterol he needs to leave his O2 out until he is done and rinses his mouth out.
As far as the Virus thing in your laptop. I have a couple programs that might help and are easy to use.
First. download this http://www.superantispyware.com/portablescanner.ht
it might look "fake" but it's the real deal, it's very good at getting those "hard to reach" malware/spyware programs.
once you run a complete scan of that (will take a while.)
download this.
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
This is microsofts program, which is free, streamline, and protects in the background. I use this program.
Both these programs are free and do a great job. since you said it will only load half a page before stopping.
Here is the direct link to the "SUPERantispyware" portable.
http://portable.superantispyware.com/sassaferun.ph
just save the file and run it (make sure you remember where you saved it.)
THEN, download the Microsoft Security Essential. I can't direct link the microsoft one, so, hopefully after running a complete scan with SUPERantispyware you'll be good to browse everything again. STILL, download the microsoft one, it's far more complete.
Remember, there both free!. hope that helps, if you decide to give them a shot.
well, in 2 weeks he may well be back into crisis and the doc will see it so let that battle go...if the albuterol is a nebulizer...not a puffer...get him to try and hold each breath deepest in his lungs as he can...hard to do.. but try..
I am going to try all programs you suggest in exact order :) thank you/will let you know when I try it and what happens... love to you barbara b
Hey Barbara.
Just a quick update. I guess he had a Dr's appointment friday that I didn't know about until he called me in to work early so he could go, which I gladly did.
His Dr. pretty much told him to do everything that I had already told him from your advice. (be more active, don't use the O2 while using the nebulizer, hold it in, etc. etc.)
But, hearing it straight from the Doc's mouth always gets people more attuned to what is being said. ya know?
His appointment for the Pulmonologist is still the 14th.
This week, he was doing about the same as he had been. Excepton weds/thursday. He was really bad those 2 days. He was vomiting, dizzy, couldn't stay conscious. What happened was his shoulder was hurting him really bad. (after effect of chemo/radiation treatment for lung cancer I guess. He actually has a permanent brown spot on his back.) So he borrowed some painkillers and muscle relaxers from my mom...he took them, along with all his other pills (tylenol PM, aspirin, vitamin, and other OTC drugs.) on an empty stomach. After that, kindof scary episode, Friday he seemed pretty good, before and after his Appointment. he was breathing without O2 and was talking well. So, I'm hoping that the Pulmonologist can provide him with something that will help him be able to become at least a little more active and get around better.
oh my goodness...empty stomach...well he really did a number on himself
and ya know what BJ? I'd probably do the same thing with cancer if it were me/ man when that cancer pain hits my patients they will eat the walls for relief if they thought it would help... you know?
is he ready for hospice? cause even if he is not imminent they will get and hopefully keep pain under control...depends on the chemo and rad MD though I guesss and of course your dad...but those hospice nurses are wonderful
much love to you....barbara b
He had, and was successfully treated for cancer about.. 11 years ago I believe. it hasn't come back since then. His appointment was really uneventful, but expensive. 350$ for, really what seemed to be nothing. they have to wait for test results from his other doctor?. if they needed those to begin with why didn't they just wait anyways?. He's not covered by any health care, so that was$350 for them to tell him to wait. Sorry, that's frustrating for me. Especially after today, he was really bad today.. I'm going to check in on him tomorrow (day off, but not comfortable NOT checking in.) it just kindof pisses me off. it seems like his doctor, and now the pulmonologist just don't really care. is it because he's not insured?. there just biding there time or something?.
it is NOT lack of ins it is the disease process itself and yes, they are 'Biding their time because your dad will go into another full blown COPD crisis and that will be their best bet to help him (if he will go)...in the meantime, we wait'talk about frustrating
aaaarrrrgggghhh!!!!!
Hey Barbara, So.. I checked in Saturday, apparently, he had fallen 2 times, once while nobody was there. the second time he didn't have the strength to get up and a client had to help (Levi, who is doing a great job.. it's unfair for him to have to but he's being great about helping when the staff all go home.)
He wasn't speaking clearly again, etc. I stayed for several hours just to make sure he was going to be ok. after a while he finally seemed to be speaking clearer.. still gasping for breath. He said repeated he was ok, go home, it's your day off. Of course, I waiting several hours until I was sure he was going to be ok...in bed and asleep.
Today is monday, the other staff member called me and said he called the county to explain the situation to them. We need a 24/7 staff there now. And he also called his doctors... the docs said take him to the ER. So, he is going to be heading to the ER now.
I guess he was gasping for breath and couldn't muster the energy or air to speak at all.
He was very recently put on Hydrocodone, my mom was on that for years and I noticed that when she was on it she would pass out in the middle of sentences and such, could him falling and passing out recently be related to that med? I know it's not ALL the med, but lately he seems way more out of it then usual, could that possibly be the med?
the lortab(hydrocodone) decreases his respirations...weird to give to a patient with COPD eh? but it is for pain and it does work but yes, especially if he is going into COPD crisis which this sounds like...so yes but probably would have occurred...comes and goes in cycles...remember I mentioned this would be the time for another episode about now when his MD appointment was due? I am so glad he is on the way to ER and I hope I hope they keep him!!!!
Thought I would update you. He is in ICU now for at least a couple days. He needed a breathing tube put in because the BiPAP wasn't getting enough O2 in. They also needed to do a blood transfusion? Guess his blood level was..low? They called to request it. They did explain it. But. I was kindof pre-occupied in thought and such.
I guess at this point I'm not really looking for advice. I just thought that with all the advice you've given so far you would like to know what's going on now.
lungs and blood cells go togetyer in their making of onne another/probably he kept turning up the O2 trying to breathe and eventually CO2 built up which killed the red blood cells
I am so sorry BJ I hope he will get better soon for you
I miss my dad he died of small cell tyope oat type lung cancer/its hard to watch and be there and feel so helpless...those nurses are probably still fussin about me!!
not that your dad is dying BJ/just made me think of my own experience...I will put up many prayers to the higher power iin your name for your father
much love to you and if you can yes please let me know how hhe is doing
He is still in ICU. But he is off the breathing
tube and ventelator. He is also out of sedation and is
talking. I'm hoping he'll be out of icy in a couple days and back home in a week. He doesn't have insurance...so...thus is going to hurt financially. =\
he is getting better...give the hosp nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!go to the MSW (social worker) ask for a form stating inability to pay/hardship letter...you have to write it three count it three times over the next 6-9 months////do not declare bankruptcy do not worry///write the letters for your father and they will take whatever medicare/is he old enough? doesnt matter they will do ait as pro bono...hosp have to declare a certain number of charity cases every year...didnt know that did you?
dont worry...they will frown and whine and carry on but its all an act write the letters dont worry...that form signed on admit about paying? it also says they
HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR BEST CARE!!!!!!!
Ok. Thank you so much for that. They say he may be able to come home Wednesday. Are we still able to fill out those forms and such once he's home?
absoutely man am I glad to have my laptop back!!!
in fact the forms are done/or a letter of hardship is written about 3 times over the course f 6-9 months!! so dont worry and just worry about your dad
mow ffor the hard part this will bot be and will never be the last hosp visit for him...he MUST get a pnuemo vaccine one every 5 years, he MUST get a flu vacc every first week of OCt, he MUST not expose self to smoke of anykind sdcondhand or his own...he must do his insirmeter every day as well as the nebulizer...he must walk even a little bit every day evn if only inside he must not catch a cold he must eat 6-8 small meals a day high in calories, lots of delicious stuff cause his bdy burns up calories trying to breathe
did they do a sleep study? does he use a cpap or bipap at hoem?
love to you/tmi my dtr would say
Ok. Thank you. He is doing much better, breathing well, walking a little bit and speaking clearly. He is still in the hospital. (2 weeks now). But he's no longer in ICU, he's in a regular room now.
He doesn't have a BiPAP at home, just the oxygen nose tube. And I will MAKE him get up and walk around and eat. He remembers all his nebulizers himself. But I'll track those too just in case.
The hospital is putting him on full disability. Which also means he has to retired. He's signing the house over to me. Which...feels weird. He's been depressed about it. The house was his while life. He's been working in this field for over 20 years.. I feel so bad.
aegular oom is good, that means when the paperwork is really started for dsability and they get or recommend you a lawyer he will come home....
I know it dows feel werd to be the beneficiary but you are his...he is yours look at it that way...team effort you know?
your dad will have to grieve over not being able to work/worst will be spring and fall I bet....you say field so in my head I saw a farmer...
he will get better again soon now but remember bj...this is not the last time...this is chronic....thats why he got disability...but he is out of the woods and thats good!! love to you!! bb
Just a little update since he's been out of the hospital.
Disability is probably a bust. He owns too much collaterial. But, we'll figure it out.
Anyways, what's more important is his health. Right now. He's doing great. A few days ago he got in and out of the shower just fine. Then drove himself into town to talk with the bank. Came back and was tired. But still breathing ok and he didn't seem to be exhausted. Just tired. Which is great. The next day he was able to go out in his shop, walk and talk with a friend who came to visit. I was really impressed and I feel more confident about his recovery!!
that soounds like good news to me!!!!!and even better that he can get around independently! working in his shop will be the best medicine I am sure!! love to you and your dad BJ, barbara
Hey Barbara. IT's me again, thought I would update on the situation.
He was still doing very good a few weeks ago, I had a trip planned to go to LA for a week for an Expo. while I was away, I got a call that not only was he back in the hospital. But the state was shutting down the Foster Care home and moving our clients immediately. when I got back, I picked him up from the hospital (he wasn't nearly as sick this time around, and was able to come home less than a week later.)
He's basically back up and around.. but he is pressuring me to move out of my house, into his house with my girlfriend, and start the business as "if" it where my own. I know this won't really be the case as he's a very controlling person and won't just sit back while I run it, he will micro manage absolutely everything. This is something I desperately don't want to do. I've worked there for 10yrs and have never enjoyed it, and have always wanted to do something else. Now I feel I have no option.
He doesn't have any income right now, would rely on me, he was denied Social security (I've been told he needs to keep reapplying.) and... I feel like if I say no, he won't ever speak to me again and blame me. But, if I do it, I know I'll be unhappy and possibly ruin my relationship with my girlfriend.
I know thats farther outside of your expertise then usual, just venting.. and updating.
So,...ever get that laptop fixed?. lol
you can just vent anytime with me BJ...this personaity is very common with patientd with COPD...
hard decision only you can make...money or relationship...id be hungry but I know whatd Id have to choose....beside this may be a sign from the higher power and she wont let you fall
love to you barbara b
hey! my dtr got a friend of hers dad to fix this for 40 bucks!!! working great again////the laptop NOT my typing lol
Soo.. are you hinting at what, it seems like, everyone else is basically saying? I shouldn't move in?.
I just need to build up the courage to tell him.. He'll probably stop talking to me. that's how he is.. *sigh*.
Thank you again.
It would not be my first choice for sure...I dont like losing a bit of independence and at least as a paid caregiver you get to GO HOME at the end of your shift!!good luck love to you bb
Hi I enjoyed reading this page very much. I am 51 years old and I have Copd. I was diagnosed at an early age and had lung surgery at age 41 following a long period of sever lung infectios. My lung colopsed after 2 weeks of sever pain and I was in ICU of 6 weeks following the surgery. I quite smoking at that time. I have continued to struggle and at the same time have maintained employment until now. I am a recovered alcoholic and drug addict who abussed alcohol, cocaine / crack, and sedatives beginnig at a very young age (some abuse starting as young as 11 years old), and smoked over 3 packs of cigarettes a day until age 41. I got clean and sober at age 35 and stoped smokig at age 41 when I had the lung surgery. I still suffer chest pain around my lungs on a reagular basis and strugle breathing on a daily basis. I have good days and bad days but all days I am dealing with this. I feel my copd has gotten worse over the past few years and I do not want to go to work any more. I have told very few people this and I think I feel ashamed of myself, lazy, etc. I work as a drug and alcohol counselor and have been involve in this line of work since I got clean. I feel anxious all day, struggle with breathing from light to sever, and find all duties to be very difficult now consuming much more time than before. I am frightened by this and do not know what to do. I find it difficult to talk to my doctors and tend to blame them for this, but I think it is just my own fears causing this problem. My copd doctor calls my copd sever, and I find that at some time or another I experience all of the syptoms listed above. Any thoughts or suggestion would be appriciated.
Ask your physician to help you get social security disability and dont try to do it yourself/get a disability lawyer who wont charge until the SSI benefits are approved and settle down and wait! takes 6 mo but I bet you would be approved...dont feel ashamed...it sounds as if all the struggle and anxiety could make the COPD worse...all this just conjecture on my part of course...your physician is your priority right now!! tell heim/her all of the above and good luck and love to you too!
Thanks for the kind calm response. I will make an appointment and speak to my Physician.
my pleasure Miles59...I will be thinking and sending prayers to the higher power for you!!be strong and stay determined...its(SSI) a long arduous process but it will be worth it for you!!!! love to you barbara b
My grandma is in her last stage of Copd she's come down with a cold which has gotten better with the exception of her lungs she has mucus or fluid in her lungs that wont come up! She's been to the emergency room three times this week and it hasn't gotten better and her breathings getting worse what should I do I heard a humidifier works but I wanted advice first
depends on where you live/if you are in the south where it is already very humid then it may get worse/is shes still in COPD crisis then she may need to stay on antibiotics, use her inhalers as well as the incentive spirometer and doing her pursed lip breathing and small, frequent meals and rest alternated with activity. you dont want her to stay up all day nor do you want her to stay in bed all day, back and forth, recliner to bed and if the cough, shortness of breath and especially pain with breathing gets worse, right back to the ER room and always always if you are in any concern at all/just doesnt feel or look right, right back to the MD or the emer room!!! you can always call 911 the paramedics are well trained, will call the MD at the ER and tell them what they see, t\your grandmas pulse ox (amount of O2 in her blood) and vital signs, if she needs to go they will take her/do NOT be afraid to call 911!! better to err on the side of aution and do NOT listen to grandma or anyone in COPD crisis, they are NOT gettign enough oxygen to their brain and they will tell you they are FINE!! they are NOT!! but use your own common sense too, watch the color of her lips, how fast is her breathing, how much is she pulling for breth? things like that... you will do what is needed!! dont be afraid! pretend you are your grandma, take a deep breath, dont let it out, now try to breathe, thats how she is living all the time...do wht is best for her and get her help when she really needs it! always follow up with your MD \never let your grandma tell you she doesnt feel well enough to see the MD thats when she needs to go the worst!! love to you and your grandma... barbara b
Hi, my mother-in-law has Severe COPD. She lives with me and my husband now. She only has one arm. She lost her right arm in Jan. 2003. She had a blockage and they couldn't get in there to get it out so the had to remove her arm. She is 5 feet 10 inches at about 110 pounds. Her skin is like paper thin. You look at her hard and she bleeds or bruises. Her breathing got really bad a month ago and she was smoking still. She would get to where it didn't matter if she fell and broke every bone in her body. She wanted another cig. She has been in the Hospital and rehab for the past month. She came back home and now she wants to go outside and smoke. We do not allow smoking in our house. We have to small kids our self. I don't want to expose them to that. Anyway, she can't walk far with out her oxygen. She is on 2 liters. But sometimes she seems like her mind isn't here. She tried getting undressed in front of her own son. Sometimes you can say something to some one else and she answers as if you was talking to her. She tells us to get out of her room sometimes when we try to give her medicine. Then she says that she is going to use her can to hit us in the head. The doctors have been telling us for the past 2 years that there is no more tricks. She is at the edge of the cliff. But sometimes she is very demanding and others she is so quite. She seems okay today but she wants me to take her outside. I told her that as long as she lives her she will not smoke ever again. She is on Advair Diskus, Spiriva, Xopenex hand inhaler, Xopenex breathing treatments,Pulimcort breathing treatment, Duoneb, prednisone, Lortab(Hydrocodone) and a bunch of other junk. What do you think about her COPD and her mind?
She says that she has taking her meds and she hasn't because we have to keep them put up in our room where she can't get them. She is more out of her mind that in her mind. Do you think that her COPD is the main problem or do you think it's something else. The doctor's say that they think it's her nerves and depression so she is on cymbalta. But they said a few years ago that she is Bipolar. But she has had a bad breathing spell a month ago. She was on bed rest in the hospital because if she moved or got upset her oxygen would drop in the 60's. The resipirtory team had to come in and calm her down and her oxygen had to be put on 10. The nurses had to take her phone out of her room . She wanted to call everybody on her list. She would watch tv and write down all the 1 800 #'s and call them just to have someone to talk to all around the clock. She would tell the doctors and nurses that we was abusing her. They would ask her how we was abusing her and she would say that we wouldn't give her a cig. She has smoked all her life and she is now 62 years old. When she was in her right mind she gave me and my husband POA. We would like to not treat her like a child but we don't know what to do. They say at the rehab/nursing home that she is a 24/7 skilled nursing case but maybe a assited living case. That is bull because she doen't know what she is doing half of the time. Someone has to give her , her meds. Does any of this sound like COPD or something else with the COPD?
Moremustang is just more about Mary. Sorry I didn't know that it would show up like that. Just treat all comments from Moremustang like Mary.She says that she has taking her meds and she hasn't because we have to keep them put up in our room where she can't get them. She is more out of her mind that in her mind. Do you think that her COPD is the main problem or do you think it's something else. The doctor's say that they think it's her nerves and depression so she is on cymbalta. But they said a few years ago that she is Bipolar. But she has had a bad breathing spell a month ago. She was on bed rest in the hospital because if she moved or got upset her oxygen would drop in the 60's. The resipirtory team had to come in and calm her down and her oxygen had to be put on 10. The nurses had to take her phone out of her room . She wanted to call everybody on her list. She would watch tv and write down all the 1 800 #'s and call them just to have someone to talk to all around the clock. She would tell the doctors and nurses that we was abusing her. They would ask her how we was abusing her and she would say that we wouldn't give her a cig. She has smoked all her life and she is now 62 years old. When she was in her right mind she gave me and my husband POA. We would like to not treat her like a child but we don't know what to do. They say at the rehab/nursing home that she is a 24/7 skilled nursing case but maybe a assited living case. That is bull because she doen't know what she is doing half of the time. Someone has to give her , her meds. Does any of this sound like COPD or something else with the COPD?
oh dear, OK do this, deep breath in, do not let it out, now you have to breathe but remember you cant let your air out of your lungs
that is what your mother in law is living through
pure expletive, expletive
she is not getting oxygen to her brain
without oxygen to your brain you will not be in your right mnd, regardless of the bipolar, or all the meds in the world wont take the place of oxygen
if she smokes, every vessel in her body clamps down so no blood and with that, no oxygen can get through
but telling this to your mother in law will not help, especially if her O2 saturation percents is dropping into the 60's without the oxygen
what will help is her prednisone(but that is what is makin her skin paper thin) and her inhalers, if given correctly, do not rush any inhaler, try to get her to hold the med in her lungs as long as possible, wait 3 minutes before another puff
with the spiriva read all the instructions, its a steroid too and in a capsule form, sometimes you have to turn the little blue disk over to get all the powder out and sometimes two puffs wont work, spiriva is the only inhaler thats only once a day
with her nebulizers try to get her to slow down on them and not drag on it like a cigarette, try to get her to hold her breath with each inhalation..it should take 15 minutes
she cannot eat a lot at a time but shes burning calories like crazy so feed her small snacks frequently dense with calories like cheese,ice cream, no it wont cause more mucous, cottae cheese, crackers and peanut butter or almond butter or whatever she wants just not a lot a time and do it often
this is a very intense job if you try to do it yourself and no one will do it better than you can, nursing home may come to that if you cannot get her to comply but the cost is out the roof...get home health ...it will only be for a little while but we can help/I say we as that what I do/I am a home health nurse
lots of teaching and support is needed for you...yes, you...but your mother in law could probably benefit from some physical therapy and nursing visits as well...get your MD to order one and see how you like them, I think we do a good job but then I am an old nurse and have done home health since 97...love to you, MUCH love to you..barbara b
As a medical practitioner, I find diseases of the respiratory system very astonishing and interesting and as well quite complicating, due to their inter-relating symptoms and clinical similarities and seriously, such diseases really and truly need professional attention and adequate knowledge in order to dig in deep to giving the appropriate treatment as well as giving a good diagnosis. I find this hub very useful and I am so glad I read it. I will not hesitate bookmarking this, so as to maintain access to such a great, awesome and useful knowledge. Thumbs up and I rate it highly..
D.Virtual.Doctor
Thank you so much for your advice. My mother in law hasn't smoked in a month. But she still wants one. When she is in her right mind that is. When she is kinda loopy, she doesn't ask for one.
Today I tried to give her a shower. I told her to wash her self down to her knees . She washed her face and threw the rag in the tub. Then I picked it up and told her step by step what to do. She was just not getting it. Then I asked her if she rinsed off yet and she said yes. But she hadn't.
Then later, she was trying to fix her self a hot dog. I ended up fixing it as I should right now. But after I fixed the weenie to go on to her hot dog bun. She tried telling me that she didn't need 2 weenies on her bun. But she didn't have any weenie on her bun.
She doesn't want to take her medicine right either.
How does any of this relate to COPD? She breathes just fine while on oxygen.
Before when I said that her O2 dropped to 60 in the hospital a lot. She was on O2.
What does any of this have to do with her mind? Please help me. Somebody Please!!!!
What do I need to know and learn to help my mother in law?
Mary, you dnt need to learn anything/except patience/hardest of all
she is loopy cause her brain is not getting enough oxygen to its cells to live/so she has no idea what she is doing or saying
the medications will kick in and help and you are now giving them correctly so that is a very good thing.
she has a pulmonologist(lung doctor)that she needs to see probably monthly or more ofoten (have you taken her recently?)at this point/she must see her regular physician as well, probably every 3 months(when was the last time and be sure to take every medication she takes with you, not just a list)
and the regular doctor or the lung doctor can get you home health out to see your moma and that will be such a relief for you!
reading all the stuff on the net is good but nothing beats a good ole face to face with the MD or another live nurse!! and she will be all yours for at least 60 days! probably 3-4 times a week for a couple of weeeks then it will taper off to finally once a week but if your moma has ins or medicare she DESERVES home health services of a skilled nurse and a physical therapist and speech therapist (to teach YOU to teach HER how to breathe)
I hesitate but must ask...did the MD say your mom was end stage COPD?
if so did the MD suggest hospice?
I know it sounds harsh especially as your moma is obviously very much alive and fighting you every step of the way but I did not notice any meds that would decrease her anxiety and therefore help with her breathing...her pain medication could just be making her loop-ier/which would be bad especially if she begins to hallucinate on the lortabs/which it sounds as if she has already....if I were you I'd be haunting the physicians door every morning,your moma in hand, alternating between the pulmonologist and the regular doctor until she is out of crisis and functional again or until I got a hard and fast answer...I hope that isnt too personal or hard sounding to you but I can hear you and you need help, not just your moma and if you get sick or wear yourself to a nubbin who will take care of her? love to you, many prayers for you and yurs, barbara b
thank you so much Dr virtual doctor!!! gave me oose bumps to hear a thumbs up from a peer!!!doesnt happen often and so when it does it is cherished!thank you!/just jumped to your site and loved that first article on lung infections! my goodness what a wonderful piece! It needs to be published in a medical journal! I am facebooking it as well, you did a wonderful job and thank you!!!
hi my dad is 63 and in the late stages of copd. he also has acid reflux problems. he currenlt weighs 4 and a half stone and is refusing to eat, drink or take his medication but when your on about 30 tablets a day who can blame him! he's currently in hospital with suspected pneumonia the outlook isn't great. this page has detailed everything my dad has to a tee! he calls them his attacks, when his breathing turns bad and he's got an infection, but when he tries to explain this to paramedics, doctors etc they look at him like he's completely nuts!! his treatment has been awful with some people accusing him of not being as ill as he really is! but like he says it's not about what you see on the outside it's about the battle raging on inside him. but thank you for putting this fantastic information out there if only my family knew as much about this illness 2 years ago maybe we could have done more to help my dad.
aryan, DO NOT feel quilty!!!!
knowing all of this would have put you and your familys mind at ease and helped you see what your dad was going through but he would still have progressed to this point, unfortunately, and I do not mean to be so blunt,
this is a very debilitating disease and sometimes,it progresses very rapidly in some people whereas other people take years to get to the end stage
if anything I have written has helped you or anyone that is all I aim for.I just wish I always had good news to share
My prayers and my love to you and your family and hug your dad especially for me!
barbara b
I have copd and am very depressed. MY children are all out of the picture. I stayed at my daughters only she started smoking in her place again sent me back to the er. Again. I had my lung collasp a year ago its when they told me i have copd. I quit smoking. I am tired of being alone.
Steps,you do not have to be alone.
There are support groups there are homes where you you can live and be cared for in a caring environment with other people around you who also care about you
just because your children are out of the picture is NOT NOR is it your resposibility!! they made their own choices, their own actions will have repercussions/that is OUT OF YOUR HANDS!!!
let them go, you deserve BETTER!!
see you physician
ask for a case manager and counseling
Having copd is hard enough wthout having to go it alone
I love you
but that is not near enough
you MUST create a group of people/they will be strangers but only at first/who will help and support and care for you and what happens to you
Believe me please believe me
your first step is with your pulmonologist
if that pulmonologist gives you the brush off find a younger one...the younger the better in fact!
and GET the help and the care and the support and the people around you that you DESERVE!!!!
my love and my prayers go with you Steps
but take that first step, Steps, and see you pulmonologist!!!
dont like him/her then fire them...its your life/your lungs///find another one that is holistic in their care and looks at your entire physic and body not just your lungs!!! the younger the better!!!!
I cannot emphasize this point enoungh/funny/all those residents and internists I fussed at and taught how to wash their hands and do head to toes assessments and now here I am, in my late 50's saying get the youngest you can fnd cause they know the most!! it all comes around/
I am thinking good thoughts towards you Steps....I will cry for you cause if you cry it just makes it harder to breathe
so take a deep breath/in through your nose out through your mouth/remember the pursed lip breathing technique and roll over onto your arms on the kitchen table/expiration needs to be longer than the inspiration :)
now close your eyes
imagine the first thing you recall in your entire life that brought you wonder and joy
from your first rolly polly bug or your first bike or your first swing...whatever...and hold it in your lungs
yes I said lungs/ not your head....keep it there..now everytime you take a breath you will have that first wonderful aweinspiring scene inside of you
cool eh?
I am NOT the only person or being out here who cares what happens to you Steps! Believe me, I have been where you are, not wth COPD but wth family and other issues...do NOT stay alone, it is not worth it/that pit sucks, climb out, reach for my hand, thats it, just a little more...there!you can make it!!
RNMSN:I have COPD and am constantly searching the internet to improve my knowledge for dealing with the inevitable fate that awaits me.
I normally just read and move on, but I was so moved by your professionalism and wealth of knowledge that I want to thank you and all persons like you who contribute to the helping of others with these and other conditions. I'm fairly self educated in regards to my condition but I did learn a number of things from your comments. Especially the parts about not just giving up and letting the disease take you. It gets increasing harder for this simple thing that we all once took for granted-breathing! It's not over till it's over. Thank you and God Bless!
janthony@guam.net
May God Bless You and Keep You
much love to you John San Nicolas...with your name you must already be in Gods hand closest to his thumb :)How could you not? good ole st nick!
keep on keeping on and remember there is much love for and to you and yours!
barbara b
I'm 32 years of age, was diagnosed with COPD,not to long ago I got lungs of a 99 year old, I almost died three months ago,by heart failure and phenomena. Now I got that COPD- emphaziima- bronchitis. I'm scared, got two young kids..
midnight
that is very scary and especially with two lttle heads...youve stopped smoking I know?
were you a miner?
do you have and trust your pulmonnologist? you have a choice you know and I suggest the younger the better :) get a young female pulmonologist!
just trying to get a smile out of you
practice your pursed lip breathing inspiration shorter than expiration, curl you arms over the back of another straight chair round out your back deep breath from your diaphragm through your nose hold it hold it hold it count of 3 then make a tiny "O" with your mouth and slow slow and steady it will be hard and it will be scary but do it anyway
make the breath you drew into your lungs come out LONGER than the time the it took to go in....
do this a minimum of 6 times a day and every week increase the hold it by one second util you can hold it for 7-10 seconds! it will NOT be easy and you MUST NOT give up!!
it WILL make you cough up a lOT of phlegm/better out than in eh?
small frequent meals always dont try to eat 3 times a day takes too much effort to breathe and digest at the same time. just graze all day :)
and never miss an MD appointment! abd always take ALL your meds with you and always take your meds exactly as prescribed...wait the required 5 min between inhalers sn the 5 seconds between puffs off your nebulizer/no matter how much you want to suck it in and take another just as fast...suck it in and hold it forever
that gets that albuterol/iratropium DEEP into your lungs
handwashing handwashing handwashing i cannot emhasize enough specially with kids...bacteria laden bundle of joys that they are :)
and teach them to wash their hands and sing abc or happy bday before and after meds meals bathroom playing inside or outside
and one more thing I know this will the worst to give up...baby spit...pb and j sammich with 2 baby bites outof it whatever makes that so delicious to parents? but DONT eat it!!!!!! :)
and of course pinch those precios little heads for me they grow up so very fast
much love to you midnight the worst is right before the dawn
barbara bethard
I have been diagnosed with COPD. I am still in denial partially though. As a child and through my teens I had major issues with bronchis. Many times I went to ER with it. Now I am 58 a past smoker 1 pkg a day. Last year I had a terrifying thing happen, pain shot up through the side of my neck, through my shoulder and down my right arm. I could not lay flat, blood pressure jumped to 178 and my chest hurt horrible. I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to ER who after an hour of sitting in waiting room didn't find anything wrong. Last year I had an issue with bronchitis and during my sick stage they arranged for me to have gall bladder surgery ... xrays didn't show anything wrong. Later I had some shortness of breath issues, Xrays, then CT scan showed an 8 inch blister on my upper right lung but my oxy and all tests were good.This year however again during the same months July and August, I have a very bad time with bronchitis to the point of choking on thick mucus and not being able to cough it up. 2 words per breath max, vomiting, fever infection for sure. 5 weeks later I still have a cough and my lungs are still clearing up a little each day. My Pulmonary doctor told me he wasn't sure and thought perhaps I was born with it. So I think their doubts and the horrible things I read about it which doesn't exactly fit my results lead me to be in denial. Thoughout the years when I get sick I am tired, weak and shortness of breath and lose weight (I am a hefty woman). I have always had issues with an infection in my lungs (all my life including pneumonias). I have always been prone to get really sick when it deals with the lungs. Since the Prednisone meds I feel like I cannot cough up like I use to, like it took away part of the push power lol. So is this all COPD or should we be looking in some other direction? My energy is great again after 5 weeks of being sick and oxy is back up to 97 and all the weight I lost has been found.(rats)
I should have mentioned also, I had the breathing tests done at the hospital which showed no signs of any problems as a matter of fact I breathed deeper and blew longer than most people. I don't have a problem blowing up balloons or swim rafts. There is just so much room for doubt.
this is a difficult one especially as COPD is newly diagnosed. I am not a physician/just a lowly nurse/ but feel more inclined to go with the COPD dx
sometimes the person afflicted will have gorgeous test results at the beginning of the diagnosis with the disease process...as if their body is trying for a last hoorah you know?
but the rest..chronic infections...bronchitis at same time of year...multiple infections of all kinds...all that caues damage to alveoli etc of your lungs and that is the number one cause of COPD...
http://www.spiriva.com/about-copd/copd-stages.html
sounds as if you have moderate COPD...never try and decide what stage you are in during a crisis...only in the bet feeling
and tests for or against COPD do not rely totally on the spiromometer and other breathing tests...because your body will have learned to acclimate itself therefore you breath efficiently even more so than normal persons...but that doesnt mean you do not have COPD unfortunately
as for the meds...if you are my age already and have gone this long without prednisone hip hip!! unfortunately, that is one med that will keep you more well than any other...on the other hand it also lowers the immune system so you must be ever vigilant against exposure to germs...and you need to monitor your diet...stop the sugar and heavy use of carbs if you love them...pred can lead to diabetes...
this doesnt sound promising for you I know
keep going to your pulmonologist appointments and do not hesitate to call for one sooner if you start to spiral down...infection, increased shortness of breath, lack of appetite, inability to sleep, all that..and try NOT to search the net for a better outcome..this is going to sound way harsh...but you have lived like this your entire life...I wish but you know there is not a pretty pill to make all your lung issues go away...in fact the older we get the worse our health problems become..it is no different with your lungs.in fact its worse. I'm sorry to put it like this but stop the denial process and work on breathing exercises, foods to eat, how often to eat, get bathroom equipped with bars and such and so on...you know the drill.
I will stop short of talking about your profession but you need to think of ways to protect your lungs and body from germs.
I don't have multiple infections. I don't have problems sleeping, diabeties, shortness of breath, lack of appetite or anything else you mentioned. You say living like this all my life, I posted that I had eppisodes of bronchitis during my teens and early years and now again in my later years. How do you get all my life out of that? Telling someone to not search the internet for answers and info is kind of silly. I was not searching for a miracle pill, I was searching for info on what to expect and what others are experiencing and thought I found a wonderful site to get some solid info from. My Pulmonary specialist doesn't feel the need to see me and later on if I need to give him a call. Why would I get bathroom equipment at this stage if it is COPD? That doesn't make sense. I know people going strong after 20 years of COPD and I didn't even know they had it until recently. So yes, I am pulled in two seperate directions and guess for now will leave it at that.
I am so sorry, I must have misunderstood this section
Thoughout the years when I get sick I am tired, weak and shortness of breath and lose weight (I am a hefty woman). I have always had issues with an infection in my lungs (all my life including pneumonias). I have always been prone to get really sick when it deals with the lungs
I do not mean to upset you, many who have been diagnosed with COPD have a difficult time reonciling with the diagnosis itself
I wanted only to encourage you to stick with your physicians...it is hard to get correct info only from the net and of course that icludes this article and as I said
I am not a physician/just a lowly nurse/
why shouldn't someone with emphysema be around a person receiving chemotherapy?
both the one with emphysema and the one recieving chemo are at risk, because of lowered immune systems. Emphysemic patients usually are on some form of steroid therapy, which puts them at risk of infection and chemo of course destroys all cells which makes that person at risk of infections.
This hub is very informative and well put together. I have asthma (all my life) and recently diagnosed with COPD a few months ago. I use Advair disus twice a day. Tae 5 mg of prednisone every other day, have a rescue inhaler and also have a nebulizer on hand. My SOB has been increasing though and I'm afraid the next time I see my pulmonologist he will put me on oxygen!! Not fun at age 39 with five kids...oh well, guess I shouldm't have smoked over 20 years, huh?
Anyway, voted up and awesome and useful!
well you just keep on keeping on!! and dont (or try not to) rebel against the pulmo MD K?
i was wondering if you could tell me what my a psw should be looking for with a client who has COPD? im doing school project and could really use some help
what does psw stand for? pharmacy society?
at any rate persons with COPD present with breathlessness...coughing with thick white to yellow sputum or coughing with thin but copious white sputum, irritability (hard to breathe makes you testy)usually a rather thin frame, and eventually a stooped back
Kara, I think the easiest way to feel and then to recognize someone with COPD is to do this exercise:
take a deep breath and dont let it out
now breathe and talk and eat etc/all without releasing that first breath
Difficult eh? Persons with COPD live this way forever...never able to take a good breath because their lungs are full of breath they cant exhale.
I would be interested in how you do with your project. I know you will do do great! Good luck Kara!
Thanks for the information, I'm waiting on the dr. to call to tell me how bad the damage is to my heart and lungs due to COPD and congestive heart failure. I have stopped smmoking, so I hope that gives me more time.
Good Morning Leaderofmany! Stay positive and keep all your MD appts and absolutely avoid others with respiratory infections! You don't need any risks! Way to go for not smoking! I smoked too (like, what nurse didnt right?) and stopping wasnt easy but now I am so glad I did!
barbara
my mum died on Friday of COPD that had not been diagnosed or investigated. Infact when I told the doctor on Wed mum needed either o2 or she had a mini stroke the doctor visited her then decided it was a mental health issue, increased her anti depressants and got her a mental health referal. She did not listen to my mum or me about the symptoms so the next afternoon I took mum to hospital and she died 14 hours later.
Do not ignor the signs and do not let the GP ignor them either.
my condolences Julie to you and yours
thank you
you are welcome Beverly!!
I have been reading this page for sometime and find it interesting. RNMSN is very helpful and has even given me a lot of insight to this disease! My Father died from COPD, My Mother as well... and now My brother has end-stage COPD... he was diagnosed with COPD at a very early age. He is now 56 and has been in and out of the hospital, long term care and nursing home several times now. He is a fighter! I have cared for my family for several years.. now it is my brother's turn. For the past few days he has had a lot of trouble with his breathing... well... more then usual. However, when he sleeps he does not seem to be struggling as much as he does when he is awake. He says he is coughing up brown phelgm. I haven't seen it... nor do I really want to. I have threatened to call 911 for two days now. Today being the third he says he is improving... I do not see it.. he knows to use purched lips to breath... however.. he tends to whistle instead.... The Long Term Care Doctor indicated that he has at the most 1 year left. Of course I have my reservations about it. My sister had cancer and was given 6 weeks and was Blessed with 10 years! No One really knows for sure. I know I will most likely call 911 today if he does not improve. It is most likely inevidable. I just hate pushing him to go when he so does not want to. So.. I watch and wait.
caregiver, what a wonderful being you are, to give so much Love, care, time, gentle hands to your family
You are the best! I pray your brothers dys will be filled with less struggle to breathe.
I know youve heard this but just let me tell you hospice nurses are the best!
So just keep that in mind OK?
Barbara
I wish I had found this site/page sooner. Right now I am in tears but will come back tomorrow when I can get my emotions under control and tell my dad's story.
Shannon
many good thoughts going to you...talk to you today I hope
My husband has recently been diagnosed with COPD. He is 63 yrs old. He has had a chronic cough since August and has been on three rounds of antibiotics. In December he was told he had traces of COPD and then followed up with his MD and was put on a rescue inhaler, a powder substance that he takes once a day, a antihistimine he is not able to lie down to sleep as the coughing and choking is so bad he must sit in a chair to sleep. Cold weather puts him in a coughing cycle that is quite difficult to recover from. Looking for ways to deal with this.
hello concerned. Sounds as if the powder inhaler must be spiriva? be sure your hubby only uses it once a day as prescribed. The other thing is be sure to hold that first suck in his lungs as long as he can the wait a full minute at least and do it again...I know the literature says one suck deplinishes the capsule but there is always a little bit left inside the green container. OK?
the other part is be sure that when he sleeps his head is up as much as possible. A lot of people with COPD end up sleeping in their recliner and thats fine, whatever it takes so he can get a few hours of sleep at a time you know?
And absolutely never ever never go outside into the cold!!
New York winds blow bitter/he wont be able to breathe outside in that mess.
If he is still able to work and has to go out into the cold then he MUST wear a THICK scarf around his throat and then most importanty wrapped OVER both mouth and nose you know? Otherwise, he will get sick and with COPD, could end up spending over a week in the hospital!
You guys stay warm...think about getting a nice humidifier but remember about bacteria/with the humidifier you have to clean it every 72 hours with a solution of 10-1----one part clorox to 10 parts water so its very weak but very effective.
thinking of you and your husband,
Barbara
Well, I have finally made it back. My son has been busy with school papers and has been using my computer, hence my delay.
Anyway, unfortunately my story (or my dad's story) does not end well. In Dec. 2010 my dad came down with a cold (according to him) that he was having a hard time shaking. We went through the holidays and he just got worse and he continued to go back to his doc. She continued to give him antibiotics and even a steroid. One day in Feb.2011, my mother called me saying my dad had fallen (this hadn't been the first time over the last few months) and he had torn his toenail off, she was afraid it could be infected (she called the day it happened but then called me again the following day). I directly went to their home and as soon as I walked into his bedroom, I knew there was more going on then just his toenail being gone.
Let me back up a step. My dad was a very big man, 6'4" and well over 300lbs at this point in his life. My dad was always active, for as long as I could remember. He was forced into retirement at 65yrs old (the business he worked for downsized and I am sure that my dad was already ill, but to what extent was unclear at the time). My dad had strained relationships with 2 of his 3 siblings, both of his parents had passed (his dad when I was in fourth grade and his mother 3 months before my wedding day), his only sister he spoke to died only 4 years ago and he was crushed. I feel as though he fell into a deep depression and just gained a ton of weight and really felt like he no longer had any family.
Anyway, fast fwd. to a few years ago. I could see my dad having a hard time getting around but everyone contributed it to the extra weight he carried and although I feel the extra weight played a role in his struggles, I know now it was COPD.
On Feb. 10, 2011 I convinved my dad that he needed to go to the hospital. He wanted to waint until the following morning but I refused, saying I was at his house now and I wanted him to go now! He gave me a hard time until I asked him if he wanted to die today, which he rep;ied "sure, today would be a good day.", I stood there and cried.. he finally said ok. It took my dad approximately 3 hours to get himself out of bed and walk through his modest sized home and into my car. I told him I would just call an ambulance and he said if I did that, he wouldn't go. My dad used to volunteer as a medic at a rescue squad but never wanted to ever be a patient in an ambulance.. I don't know why he hated the idea so much but alas he did.
We arrived at the hospital, I drove him up to the door, helped him out of my car and into a wheelchair right outside of the car door. I rolled him in, and got him situated and had my mother register him. I went to park my car and returned back to the ER. When I say the ER was overly busy, I mean it. We say there for about 10 minutes when they called my dad to triage, before they even looked at my dad, we were told it was a 6-8 hour wait. My dad wanted to leave, I made him stay.. we were already there, why go home now? As soon as the triage nurse started asking why we brought my dad in.. my dad began his story about his toenail (oh and let me add, my dad told us on the ride to the hospital the "Story" we were going to tell when we arrived), the nurse looked at me and I just said.. "Look, the catlayst to get him here is the toenail but is quite obvious to me there is way more going on here then his toenail." The male nurse began to take my dad's vitals abd his pulse/ox was around 60 (if memory serves me correctly) and the nurse said... "Sorry Sir, but looks like you will be staying with us for awhile, we need to get you to a room a.s.a.p. So, my dad began talking to me and my mother continued talking to the nurse and telling him more details then my dad ever wanted him to know. My dad told me to tell my mother to stop talking, I just said no.. we needed to get him proper treatment and we had to be honest (stubborn... my dad was so stubborn). So, needless to say, my dad was found a room in the ER.. patients were lined up all over.. all the rooms were full, they had patients on beds all around the nurses station, it was horrible. There were no beds available in the hospital so we had to wait for a room. Finally, after being told my dad would be admitted..we were told he would be moved to a room within the main hospital as soon as one became available. We were with my dad until 3am, at that point I went home because I have 2 children at home that I had to get off to school. So, in the morning my mother called me and said my dad was being put on a ventilator. WHAT!? WHY!? She had no idea, she didn't ask any questions. So I asked what room he was in, she didn't know.. didn't think to ask. So, I had her call and find out what was going on and she then called me back and said he was still in the ER, as no rooms opened up yet and they were getting ready to put on the vent right then. I quick grabbed my keys and purse and drove frantically to the hospital. By the time I got there, he was vented and sedated. Later that day,he was moveds to cvccu. 5 days later, he was being given a tracheostomy because they couldn't wean him off the vent. A few days after being trach'd he was taken out of his medically induced comatose state and ge was awake... my brother was there with him and he had called me to tell me. Again, I grabbed my keys and went straight to the hospital. My dad was alert, uncertain as to why he was where he was and of course, unable to talk. I explained to him that he was very, very sick. He motioned he wanted off the vent, which I knew would be a problem as he always said he didn't want to go to extreme means. My mother ok'd the trach and my brothers agreed.... 3 against 1. Although, when the surgeon's explained that the trach would give him the best advantage to weaning off of the vent, I was in agreement. A few days later, my dad was moved to step down, where he remained for 3 weeks (before the insurannce company wanted to kick him out). In step down, we ran into the most rude, obnoxious and unprofessional pulmonolgist I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. You see, the evening prior to this meeting was my son's Confirmation.. afterwards we came to the hospital so my dad could see my son dressed for Confirmation. When we got there (my son, my daughter, my husbannd & my mother) my dad was completely naked and he was obviously induced with medicine to keep him out cold. What a change from him being alert and speaking to us just days prior. I was angry, hurt and literally blindsided. I drew the curtains to my dad's room (which was just to the right of the nurses station) and covered his fully naked and exposed body. With tears in my eyes at not knowing what went on while I wasn't there.. I took care of my dad, gave him his dignoty and respect. The very next day, I called a patient advocate and heads began to roll!!! The patient advocate called me while I was enroute to the hospital the next day, she continually called me (at one point she called me while I was in the elevator headed to his floor). When I arrived at my dad's bedside, there were about 5 people around his bed and there was a therapist there giving him a foot massage. I suppose I made my point to the advocate on the phone. Meanwhile, I FINALLY met m y dad's pulmonolgist for the the very first time since he had been in the hospital. My dad was alert again at this point. I laid so far into those people and gave them waht for!!! I told them that I didn't find it acceptable that my dad was butt naked when I arrived here last night with my children, mother and husband. I flipped out!! The pulmonologist basically sad to me, my mother, my sister in law and my DAD that he (my dad) was to blame for being in the situation he is in, he is morbidly obese and lazy and should be ashamed of the stare he is in. he continued to berate my father in FRONT OF MY FATHER (talk about kicking someone when they are down0! Let me tell you this doc has obviously never met an Irish Scorpio. I told him off but good. I told that the person who lies in front of him is only a piece of the person
he is. I continued that my dad has never been LAZY a day in his life and how dare he speak about my father that way. I asked him why my father wasn't scheduled for any physical or occupational therapy and told him that every day he lays in this bed without anything, it's as if he is losing 2 days ( to which he replied it was more like 1.5 days.. as if THAT were any better). It got so heated that I finally just stopped because speaking of my dad, over top of my dad, laying in that bed was dond my dad no good! My sister in law stepped out of my dad's room, just passed the doorway speaking to one another (after that doctor left) when the PA came up to us and excused himself into our conversationa nd apologized for the doctor's behavior but then assured us that he is the BEST and he is definitely the one we want working with my dad. The I said to the PA.. if the best isn't willing to give his best to my dad because he is prejudice against him because of his weight then his best will do my dad no good! There was so much more said between the doc and I and basically the doc accused us f not caring about my dad because before this time, he had never seen us. I was like.. whoaahhhh you s.o.b.... when my dad was in ICU, we adhered to the hours that were given for visiting, so my dad could rest and allow his body to heal and do what it's meant to do in order to heal!! He was such a jerk. In the end, my mother had the overall say and she decided to allow this creep to be my dad's doctor, because she wanted my dad to have the best. My brother was in California on business when this took place and I called him crying and so angry. He wrote an email to the patient advocate because we couldn't find an email address for the board of directors. That night, said doctor called my mother to speak to her. He didn't apologize but he said he thought that we "got off on the wrong foot". He soothed my mother but not me.. to this day, I wish nothing but the same he did for my dad.. I hope he goes through worse then my dad did.
So, 3 weeks later, my dad still can't get weaned from the vent and the insurance wants him out of the hospital.. basically he wasn't sick enough to be in the hospital but not well enough to go to the vent weaning facility, so they wanted to send him to a nursing home/rehab/weaning center. We looked at ONE of them, the one that was supposed to be the best of all the ones we could go to and it was GOD AWFUL. I cried. I sobbed that I couldn't let my dad be put in one of these places. We made an appeal to the insurance company after the initial request to move him the weaning facility was denied. My dad had been weaning some at this point and his "status" had changed so the docs tried again and sure enough the same day our appeal was due, the insurannce now ok'd his move to the weaning facility, dur to his change in health status. So, that night (it was aq Friday) he was transferred.. which hadn't gone well either. He had been weaning all day, had the speaking piece in the trach and we were conversating.. he didn't remember barely a thing (after the initial time I found my dad undressed and on display for anyone walking passed his room to see him naked.. I stayed with him everyday, all day until someone arrived in the evening..he wqas never left alone again). I would say about 2hrs before the ambulance was going to come to get my dad, he seemed like he was getting tired and struggling to breathe. I asked if he was ok and he could only mouth words to me and I read his lips, he said he needed air. I went to get hte nurse, told her he was having problems breathing and she called in the respiratory nurse and she took him off the wean and placed him back on full vent. In minutes, he turned.. his personality, demeanor and he got angry. I was in this little waiting area around the corner speaking to my brother on the phone when my mother came in and said my dad was freaking out. I was like, "what do you mean, he was fine a minute ago." I quickly went back to his room and I have never seen my dads beautiful blue eyes look so upset and angry. I talked to him, tried to remind him that he was leaving the hospital and heading to the weaning facility (all the things we had talked about so calmly durign the day). He wanted to get out of bed and get his clothes on and get in my car and go. I tried to explain that he didn't have clothes, they cut them off in the ER when he was admitted. After a few hours, the ambulance came for my dad, to transport him to the weaning facility but when the hospital called for the transport, my dad wasn't on the vent so they sent an ambulance that wasn't equipped for the vent that he was now fully using. We had to wait for a new ambulance, which didn't get there until 9pm. We didn't get him to the weaning facility until 10 pm that Friday night and all the while he was loding his mind. My brother road with him in th ambulance, while I followed behind with my mom and daughter.
The weaning facility...well, I don't know what to say about them. They were suppose to have a 98% success rate but now that I've been there and seen first hand how it really is.... after 4 weeks, if you haven't weaned.. you are pushed out by the insurance company, to a nursing home/rehab center or you die. By 10 days of my dads arrival, the weaning hospitals rep was meeting with us to plan my dad's exit. I was like.. umm, he just got here 10 days ago. She said yes, but as soon as a patient enters our facility, we work on their exit plan. I didn't realize that he was basically only going to be allowed to stay for 4 weeks. When my dad was there for 3 weeks, his dpctprs met with us for an extensive talk and we were told then and only then, that they felt my dad had an underlying issue with COPD and that is why they were having such a hard time weaning him and that he hadn't improved at all sinnce his arrival.. his actual condition had degraded. By this time, I knew. I had suspected it and just knew. The first week there, my dad did very little of anything. The second week, he had some therapy and he was alert and he sat up on his own with little to no support. I had hope.. I thought he was going to pull through, it was going to take a long time.. months and months but he was giong to pull through. By week 3, that all changed. My dad had pneumonia several times due to the vent. His initial pneumonia was cleared (that was his dx when we initially arrived at out local ER.. plus I had a friend that worked at the hospital, she is an ICU nurse and she would check on my dad whenver she was on duty.. read his chart and told us he was admitted due to pneumonia. He was due for his pnuemonia shot in 2010 but never got it)but he had pneumonia 3 more times during his battle. I would suction his trach, wash him everyday. I was by his side constantly, talking to him when he wasn't alert, holding his hand, combing his hair, putting ointment on his toe, massaging his feet... I just wanted him to be ok again. Needless to say, the Friday that was his 4th week there he was moved to ICU. We were told bu his doc that his kidneys were not working properly and we were asled if we wanted to start dialysis. My mother refused the dialysis, she felt my dad had been through so much and that he wouldn't want that and she was right. That same friday night, we were told if he didn't improve over the weekend, we woudl talk again on Monday and see what options we had. My dad passed away that Sunday. I was and am still devestated.
Now that I look back and read all of these posts, I see my dad had all the symptoms but I knew nothing of COPD. I have learned so much about it since my dad's death 9 months ago. He died just shy of 1 month after his 67th birthday. My dad worked so hard all of his life, retired at 65 and was sick from 65-67...never had a chance to enjoy his retirement. I struggle still, day to day. I miss him so much. I was very close to my dad, spoke to him everyday. I wish I had warning, I wish I would have known that he was going to die sooner than I did. I feel robbed, I wasn't able to say goodbye..although I did tell him all the time that I loved him. When he had t
the speaking piece in on his trach, I told him I loved him and I heard his voice one last time say.. "I love you too Shannon".
I think the world needs more education on COPD. I wish I could start something in my dad's memory for COPD awareness... had I known the symptoms, maybe he would have lived longer but believe that he would have still died the same horrible way. COPD would have taken my dad from me eventually. The only regrets I have is not recognizing the signs.. I know I did everything that was right by my dad and I know he would be proud of how I fought for him. I was his advocate and I fought for him, for his dignity and for his life. All life is precious and it's a shame when a doctor feels otherwise. I will NEVER forgive that man for treating my dad as if he was worth less than nothing.
I love and miss my dad, this year has been beyond hurtful and full of pain. I am trying to find joy in the memories I have but doing so only reminds me that there are no more memories to make with my dad and that always make me incredibly sad.
Thank you for listening...
Shannon
He absolutely would be "proud of how you fought for him" and of course you were his advocate!!
You had a terribly sad and difficuly year Shannon but remember, your Dad is waiting on you!He was a hardwroker all his life and you know, stubborn as he was, that he is making sure when you see each other again in that big circle, that everything will be just right!!!!!
many prayers, much love to you Shannon,
turn loose of that anger, let that doctors karma take over his life, you dont need to be a a part of it!
and you just grow in love!!!
Barbara
Hi Barbara!
I know you are right, I need to let go of my anger. Inside my heart I know that but I too work in the medical field (I have worked for a pediatrician & a plastic surgeon) and I would never in a middle years insult a patient or their family the way this "Doctor" did with my dad and my family. I have never met such a rude doctor in all of my life. It hurts my heart that someone like him would be involved in medicine and treat his patient so lousy. He never knew my dad before he went to the hospital and he judged his entire life on the condition in which he arrived... I just find it appalling and completely unprofessional.
You are also right, I know my dad is waiting there to see me when I arrive. Most people take this next statement the wrong way but here I go.. I used to be fearful of death, but no longer. I know my dad is waiting to see me again. That doens't mean I am in jeopardy of hurting myself and I am not wantign to die but I am ok with dying, as I know I will reunite with my dad.
Barbara, you are right.. 2011 was a complete nightmare. Two minths after my dad's passing, my 46 year old cousin passed away suddenly, 2 months after that my grandfather was re-diagnosed with cancer, the same cancer he just fought in his breast, 2 month after that my grandmother (who lives in Texas) fell ill with some mysterious illness that still has no diagnosis, in December I lost my great-uncle to Alzheimer's (he has been suffering with it for many, many years now.. he is at peace and with my great-aunt & his son now. I am actually at peace with his passing).
I feel like I was robbed of time with my dad. I know I had 42 years with my dad but it just doesn't seem like enough. I feel like a child again, but without my dad. It's such a strange feeling for me. I don't know if i am having problems because I am going through all of the "firsts" without my dad or if I nee dto speak to a grief counselor. I am waiting to get through this first year before I look into counseling. I will see where the road takes me.
I just wish I had known the signs earlier. As my mother and I have spoken off and on about this, all the signs were there and she chalked everything up to his weight and hardly ever mentioned to me how bad (and how quickly) his health was going. He always put up a good front for me, probably so I wouldn't worry (because that's how he was.. again, stubborn!). I can remember hom stopping by my house and his complexion looking grayish and I aske dif he was ok and he would answer, "yes, why?" I would be honest and say, "you are looking a little gray dad and I am concerned." He'd blame it on the lighting in the house or sinlply say.. "naaah, I am fine.. don't worry." I believe he was sick then. Upon speaking more and more to my mother, she commented about my dad calling her Vick (my dad's boss) and saying things thay just made no sense, the falling in the house, the extreme loss of breath just trying to walk down the short hallway to the bathroom, the waking up in the night sitting up and rocking back and forth.. all the signs were there and if I had found this page sooner, maybe I would have known (if my mother would have made it known.. she really thought it was because ofhis weight)maybe he'd still be here.
I wonder if he died knowing that we only had him on the vent and trach'd because we were told it would give him his best chance of survival? I don't want him to be upset with us for doing what he would not have wanted. Had ther ebeen no hope, we wouldn't have gone to such extremes. When he was alert off & on, it seemed as if he understood and I know he would have done the same for me or my mother or brothers. There were times when he communicated with me and he was my dad but most of the times it was not him, I know now it was the CO2 in his blood/brain and it was making him, well.. not him.
Anyway Barbara, thank you again for listening and your kind words. I have learned a tremendous amount in the last year. Also, thank you for tolerating my typo's, lol.
Blessings to you,
Shannon
as for the thinking some people would take it wrong/dont worry, you know where you are going! and by the way, I will be sure and hug your neck when we are there together!!
and of course your dad knows you did all you cold becuase they may have been hope for survival!
ha I make typos too
and also Shannon, having sought help for myself in the past, go get it when you are ready, it wont hurt! and always, many prayers and much love to you and yours
barbara
Thank you so much for all your wonderful info, and the time you took to put it together. A question, though-I thought the lungs have 5 lobes in total, 3 on the right and 2 on the left, am I mistaken?
oh my word Bonnie what was I thinking!! Thank you editor :)
I had posted eleven days ago. My husband has been diagnosed with copd. He is on a rescue inhaler proventil and a once a day inhaler asmanex. Since I posted he has seen a pulmonologist and was sent for a sleep study, CT Scan and a pulmonary function test. No results yet. The person who performed the sleep study did call him today and wants him back to be fitted for a cpap machine. At the pulmonary function test he was put on a nebulizer which seemed to help. We are trying to get this under control.
Good evening concerned...am reprinting my respnonse to you 11 dys ago/didnt sound that you received it?
as for the CPAP I hope that will give him much needed rest as well as oxygen to his brain while sleeping! Asmanex is very good too, I just thought it would be spiriva. Now, concerned, asmanex is a steroid so be sure your hubby rinses and spits after using that inhaler!
I hope he gets respiratory relief soon!
Hello concerned. Sounds as if the powder inhaler must be spiriva? be sure your hubby only uses it once a day as prescribed. The other thing is be sure to hold that first suck in his lungs as long as he can the wait a full minute at least and do it again...I know the literature says one suck deplinishes the capsule but there is always a little bit left inside the green container. OK?
the other part is be sure that when he sleeps his head is up as much as possible. A lot of people with COPD end up sleeping in their recliner and thats fine, whatever it takes so he can get a few hours of sleep at a time you know?
And absolutely never ever never go outside into the cold!!
New York winds blow bitter/he wont be able to breathe outside in that mess.
If he is still able to work and has to go out into the cold then he MUST wear a THICK scarf around his throat and then most importanty wrapped OVER both mouth and nose you know? Otherwise, he will get sick and with COPD, could end up spending over a week in the hospital!
You guys stay warm...think about getting a nice humidifier but remember about bacteria/with the humidifier you have to clean it every 72 hours with a solution of 10-1----one part clorox to 10 parts water so its very weak but very effective.
thinking of you and your husband,
Barbara
My dad is in end stage COPD. On oxygen, home hospice care, morphine, etc. He wants to die and wants me to find a way. How does a person deal with that?! He has had 2 breathing attacks since he came home from the hospital about a month ago. They won't let him have a mobile air tank..want him to use a wheelchair with a big oxygen tank on it. I think he's just giving up because even if he doesn't really want to go anywhere he wants to feel that he can.
I should mention my dad is 81 yrs old and has been a smoker for most of those years. Plus he was a welder before they started venting welding shops. His lungs are in horrible shape. He also had 2 heart attacks in one week in December. He went into the hospital because he couldn't breathe and evidently had had a heart attack and 2 days later another one.
Hello Susan,
Euthanasia is a very difficult subject to cope with even if the person asking you for help is NOT your Dad. Try to tell your Dad that his hospice care is palliative care...not treatment. That the doctor and nurses with home hospice are there to provide him comfort...so if there are times he is uncomfortable, not able to breathe, is in any distress at all, not even in a breathing attack, just in distress...call that hospice nurse!
They are wonderful, just beautiful people who will know exatly what to do. You are in a hard place right now Susan but you and your Dad have the luxury of a kind of care very different from the kind we had when your Dad was a young man, Thank Goodness.
Barbara B
Well, the last few weeks have been quite hectic. We have been to many doctors. My husband started out on Proventil, Asmanex, and prednisone. Now he is on Symbicort, Proventil,
Prednisone, a Nebulizer w/ Albuterol and oxygen. He has been told that the COPD is moderate to severe. He was given the oxygen and Nebulizer yesterday. He slept quite well using the oxygen. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.
I guess the question is, does this sound like too much medicine to take at once? That's still not all of his meds. He is on Hydochlorizide, colestipol, pramipexiole, omeprozole, Oh and he starts radiation treatments this week for prostate cancer.
oh my Concerned! it does sound like a lot doesnt it? but no, the thing you have to remember is bless his heart he is coming late to the fair...
this is what he probably should have been on for several if not many years and his physicians are playing catch up
also persons with COPD crash so fast/just like babies really/ they need all this medicine in their bodies and on board for just that occurrence
and I hate to say this
but that occurrence will come...best then to be prepared for it dont you think?
I know this is hard to hear and to bear...just watching (and listening) while someone you love is struggling to breathe
but I sure am glad he has all those meds right now!
you stand fast! I am thinking of you and yours!
Barbara B
Hi there,
My dad doesn't live near me so its hard to tell how bad his COPD is. He currently has 25% lung function and his doctor has now put in a prescription for oxygen. He keeps telling me not to worry but now the doctor has him going for heart testing as his blood is thickening and they are worried he may have a heart attack. They are also testing for Alpha1- antitrypsin. My dad quit smoking nearly 7 years ago. He keeps telling me hes going to be fine. I feel sick to my stomach. Is the oxygen going to help him get better or should i be worried he is going to die soon? Hes 55 years old.
thanks,
Jeri
hello Jeri
The wrost thing about COPD ia that the lungs are usually damaged when the person stops smoking and they do not heal...not like they used to say/your lungs will repair themselves etc/remember that?
the good thing is there are meds and of course O2 that will help...
no one knows the exact time or hour of our death and of course I know how worried you are/worse being so far away. Try to trust in the doctors and you know what? '
if you ask your dad I bet he will write the OK so you can call and speak directly to his pulmonologist yourself.
My mom has never smoked a day in her life and has severe COPD is now on oxygen full time and suffers infections all the time. when she first got copd she was already at the stage of inhalers daily and shortness of breathe. she was hospitlized every time she got infections and never could get to the point of exercise.
she is now palliative care at home fighting for very breathe even while on oxygen. i just want to say this is a horrid way to live and anyone that can help them self by quitting smoking etc should as your life will be prolonged.
i have early stages copd also never smoked ever, we have found out this is hereiditary and i am also now fighting daily.
thank you for your information posted.
Barbara, my thoughts and love and many prayers to your Mother and for yourself!
Barbara B
What % of lung capacity do u have to be at to get disability?
I apologize Ken for not knowing this answer
Perhaps the best thing for you would be to seek a solicitors advice; specifically one skilled in disability cases.
Good luck with your research on this matter
Barbara
hi i have no story of copd to tell was feeling alot of these symptoms and went online to find out some possible causes just want to say i am moved by the way yu help so many people learn ab/deal with this and thanks/godbless to you and everyone who has posted here your words have made me decide to quit smoking i wish yu all the best thanks agin-scott
Oh my dear Scott :) and I say that because you are a dear soul and I am so proud of you!!
I will tell you right now...my last cigarette was in June of 1998
bronchitis in June and a nurse how embarrassed and shameful I felt!
But I am a non smoker and glad of it!!
You can do it Scott!!
Barbara B
i found this page while looking for information on copd and have found it very interesting and helpfull.
my mum is 50 years old and is in the end stages of copd,she is still trying to smoke if she can get off the oxygen long enough most of her time is now spent in bed because even slight movement is too much for her,she is on oxygen most of the day. she has had three heart attacks in the last three months, which has led to doc diagnoses AF. her heart rate is now permanantly at a min 125, she was taken into hospital a few weeks ago with blood oxygen of 5 drs said she was lucky to be still alive. Referals for hospice where done on wednesday. she was then taken to hospital this morning as she was getting severe stomach pains, nose bleeds and urinating blood all night. she weighs about 5 stone and cant eat as she gets too breathless. I am the only one in my family that seems to see how serious this is, my brother and step dad think the oxygen is some miracle cure and now she will live a semi normal life, mum has decided she is fine she has atleast 10-20 years left in her. i don't want to lose my mum but anyways need to pull myself together. i just wanted to say how informative this page was how much it helped reading all your stories.
Good Morning Kristy
This makes me sad hearing about your Mum
Even though I am an ex smoker myself it makes me so upset to know we can be healthier if we quit smoking!
I am glad you got some comfort from this hub and from all the ones who have commented. Stay as strong as you can Kristy, I will be thinking of you and your family!
Barbara B
Hi Barbara,
You are doing a great thing with this site - thank you! My dad has Pulmonary Fibrosis. I have noticed that sometimes he will stop in mid sentence, seems to fall asleep for a minute then wakes up. Is he really falling asleep or is he passing out? He is on oxygen 1.5 but takes it off when he is sitting.
Also, how low can his oxygen go before he goes into a coma or worse. He walked w/out it yesterday and it dropped to 64 he was dizzy and put it back on...he is stubborn about it.
Thank you Margaret,as a nurse I have seen this happen repeatedly and I would go get my O2 Sat just to check it.
What I have noticed is that patients with COPD and other lung disorders like fibrosis will fluctuate at different times, with or without their O2 on! And of course, as you've noticed, if the person insists on doing something physical like walk without using oxygen that level will plumate and stay down a while.
The problem with that is cells are also dying without oxygen and cause other problems down the road.
Trying to keep the oxygen level as steady as possible for the majority of the time is the best thing...if the person will allow it.
Thank you, your information is much appreciated :)
- COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - symptoms, causes, and treatment options by MedicineNe
Learn about COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which is primarily two related diseases - chronic bronchitis and emphysema. - Changes in Inhaler Devices for Asthma And COPD - Health News - redOrbit
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involve chronic inflammation and constriction of the bronchioles. Optimal therapy for many patients requires control of both pathologic mechanisms through the use of inhaled bronchodilators and
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Cagsil Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
Thank you very much for this Hub. My mother suffers from an early stage of COPD and requires an inhaler, but not all the time or least she doesn't use it all the time. And, she continues to smoke. But, I appreciate the information and the way you laid it out.