Advice please Possible copd or asthma

I'm sure this has been clarified many times before before on this site:  COPD is an umbrella term which covers mainly emphysema & asthma, so you don't have both.  

Ventolin only works if your COPD is the asthma variety, it doesn't do a thing for emphysema

In the UK it is different.   COPD consists of emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis here.   Not asthma as well.   The reason I was given by a doctors was because asthma is controlled completely by meds and there is no irreversible damage.   The opposite is true of COPD which does cause irreperable damage and cannot be fully controlled by meds.

I was diagnosed with asthma 30 years ago by a doctor with never a mention of copd.   I was diagnosed with copd around 5 years ago.   I therefore have both asthma and copd.   It must be different where you live but I can only use UK terminology. 

Lifelong asthma can cause emphysema, which is certainly irreversible damage - hence COPD.    I know a few people in this category and their asthma is at this stage - all but one never smoked

In Australia COPD means what it says:  ANY Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which includes some other more unusual conditions in addition to asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.   I can't imagine why the UK would have a different and narrower definition which contradicts what the term actually describes

 

In 1992 I was diagnosed with Asthma aged 46 ,that was when as a long term smoker ( on & off 25 years ) I stopped smoking for ever ,,,,,but since the ,,probably due to the years of smoking I now have Bronchietis ,and "border line emphasyma ".  ( consultants words )  so I'm under the umberella of COPD. I use ventalin inhalers ,seratide inhaler . And tiotropium inhaler . Aswell as antihistamines ,and Carbocistine tablets ,and a nebuliser steroids and antibiotics as and when needed, 

Well I guess you qualify for the COPD label with that cocktail of conditions!  Not to mention the cocktail of medication ...... I only (so far) need Symbicort and Spiriva but of course that could change in time

I hope your condition remains as stable as it sounds ,good health .

Thanks!

Thank you to all on the forum who took the time to reply to my post and offer advice.

My husband had a fairly good night with some coughing.  I on the other hand was so frightened he would have trouble breathing in the night that I did not get much sleep.  Anyone who suffers from anxiety will no doubt understand this.  His peak flow this morning was 280 higher than yesterday morning.  We went to the supermarket and he was a bit out of breath on leaving and used his ventolin.  Yesterday I asked our gp if he could have a spacer because I suspected he might not be getting the ventolin into his lungs.  He kept saying that the ventolin made him cough so I wondered if his was just going into his throat and irritating it.  I myself could never get the hang of pressing the inhaler down and breathing in at the same time so I have always used a spacer.  Thank heavens I don't have to use it too often.  He says he feels much better with the spacer.

Tomorrow is lung function test day.  Do you think they will give him the results or will he have to wait and see the consultant. 

He is also having in 2 weeks time a full blood count tests for allergies to all sorts of things including a fungus which you can get from old gafrden leaves and composters. Funnily enough he is a keen gardener and has just got rid of his composter. Probably nothing to do woth it but you never know.  As I don't drive would it be save for him to drive up north about 4 hours journey with of course a break or should he stick to short runs.  We were supposed to be at my daughters when he was taken ill to help her move house and look after grandchildren.  He is determined to go again in 2 weeks time.  Can you tell me about drinking beer and copd I have heard that it affects the lungs is this right.  

From my knowledge of hospitals and consultants they don't really give you much help and you often have to find out about things yourself.I am trying to help him but he is the type of man who can be in denial over these sorts of things.

You say your husband takes Ventolin?  I was wondering that maybe he or you could ask to try another inhaler... My doctor put me on ventolin and that didn't work for me AT ALL.  He explained how you're supposed to take it everyday for results and that I'm not going to see fast results (which I already knew).  I'm seeing a pulmonologist to control my asthma and she has prescribed me Qvar 40.  It's a corticosteroid inhaler and helps with inflamation of the lungs.  It actually helps me a lot better and my asthma is a lot more controlled than it was a month and a half ago.  

I'm sorry to hear you had anxiety and couldn't sleep last night, you're so sweet to worry about the hubby so much.  I've had a little anxiety in the past and been given meds for it, but never liked taking them because they make me sleepy and I have to go to school, so that just doesn't work out for me lol.  

Another piece of my advice; try seeing a pulmonologist for both you and your hubby.  I was in and out of the ER and the urgent cares all for my asthma, but now I'm stable. I hope you two get to feeling better!

In the UK they base the term copd not on all lung conditions but on ones where the treatment is the same regardless of the illness - hence emphysema and chronic bronchitis.   They are also irriversible conditions.  Asthma is not seen in this category as the treatments can be different and no irreversible damage is caused.  

In Australia it appears to be different.   But I am in the uk.   I don't have lifelong asthma as I was diagnosed half way through at the age of around 30.   I was told because I carried on smoking it became copd so I have asthma and copd. 

Can you find a pulmonary rehab group for him?  In my expereince they're invaluable and the nurses and physios are much more informative than specialist doctors

The inhalers I use for emphysema don't work with spacers but I remember the group being shown diagrams of how much medication gets to the lungs with and without one and I'm amazed he hasn't always had one and had to ask for it.

Whether or not he's given the results on the spot will depend on who's doing the test:  sometimes patients arent told unless they ask, and may or may not be given the information in a comprehensible form.    In my opinion, all you really need to know is his lung function percentage because that gives a fairly good indication of the state of his lungs.  If he's already responding well to ventolin he probably doesn't have emphysema,if that's any consolation.

Good luck with the tests and I would think he'd have to be extremely ill to not be able to drive with a break when/if he gets tired, which applies to any activity if his lungs aren't 1000% - no point in "soldiering on" with COPD because it just takes longer to recover if you push yourself when breathless and it puts a strain on your heart anyway.

Longterm asthma even if you've never smoked CAN cause emphysema, but is more likely to if you have been or continue smoking.

My neighbour is driving us to the hospital tomorrow for the lung function tests.  It seems to me when he was on the predisilone course he was slowly improving he finished the course on Friday and since yesterday he seems to find breathing harder.  I am worried and I want to know what happening so I will ask to see the consultant tomorrow.  I want some answers and to know exactly what is wrong etc.  I had all this with my mum in 1991 after a life time of smoking she became ill and they told us it

was asthma within a few weeks she had died with lung cancer at age 68

the age I will be in a few weeks.  None of my children live close and I need to know what to expect for the future.

No wonder you're feeling so anxious about your husband after what happened with your mother - that's a tererible thing and it shouldn't have happened.

It would be good if you could keep reminding yourself that was then and this is now and try and stay in the present, both for your own peace of mind and to better support your husband.   Ask all the questions you need to and don't be fobbed off - good luck

Hi everyone,  My husband is back in hospital.  I had to call an ambulance as his breathing was so bad and the ventolin was not helping.  I have just got home.   Hopefully  he wil come home tomorrow according to the doctor.

They said it is probably COPD.  Whether he will still have the lung function tests tomorrow I don't know.  

Hi again ,my your having a rough time ,but at least your hubby should be in good hands and hopefully they will sort out his medication and you will see some improvement  ,,,i do hope so ,in the mean time try to get some rest ,,,difficult I know ,,,only too well ,,,,but I hope you both soon feel much better again soon ,good night 

My heart goes out to you ,losing your mum in this way is terribly sad ,so I understand your concerns ,sadly I'm not able to say more than that ,other than you will both be in my prayers ,God Bless ,

Thank you for your kind words.  They only kept him in hospital overnight as he responded well to the nebuliser.  He is once again on a short course of predisilone, last day tomorrow.  The have increased his symbicort to 2 puffs twice a day and added a round  inhaler Spiriva which I am told is very good.  It did say on the leaflet about speaking to doctor if you have prostate problems.  My husband does have an enlarged prostate but just has regular PSA blood tests but not treatment. So he did not think to say nor did the doctor ask just if he had kidney problem.

He has the rapid response people coming every day for a few days to gradually wean him off the nebuliser which they have loaned for home use.  He will also have to get an emergency pack of antibiotics and steroids for use in an exacerbation.  All blood tests and lung function tests have been put back for a couple of weeks.  He will then see the consultant.  Can I also ask you and anyone else reading this if you have been told not to take ibuprofen, which he has taken for years for arthritis only 1,400 dose each with omeprozole to protect the stomach.  He has been told to change to paracetamol or something else.  That's about it he sitting in the garden in the sunshine and I am about to make lunch so will stop now.  The nurse said to try the spiriva and to contact the doctor if he starts to get any urinary problems.  Thank you everyone for your help and advice.

 

Well that all sounds positive EXCEPT I don't understand why he didn't mention the prostate issue, or did the doctor already know about it?  If not I'd be concerned  given what's on the leaflet

Hi  No my husband didn't think to mention it as he is not on any medication.   Knowing him he probably forgot and he is hard of hearing.

They did ask about kidney problems though.  The nurse? from the rapid response team said to try and watch out for urinary problems.  On the leaflet it is down as a warning rather than a contra indication if that is what you call it.  It was only because I am one for reading side effects etc and I saw the bit about prostate along with glaucoma and kidney. 

If I were you I'd still be telling the doctor about it