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How bad is your COPD?

Posted , 4 users are following.

rtaxron
rtaxron

The reason I am asking, is that some people on here, have it bad, some mild, and for some getting worse, so bad is yours on a daily basis.

I was diagnosed 3 years ago, and its getting worse. Walking 3/4 yards now, makes me out of breath, and sometimes on a bad day, just getting out of bed leaves me breathless.

I stopped smoking, and using e-cigs.

I have a Nebulizer, have 3 inhalers which dont help much, so how bad does it get for you, if you dont mind me asking?

Thanks Ron.

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • tanarg
    tanarg rtaxron

    Posted

    You should be in contact with your pulmonologist if you are getting worse. If your oxygen saturation is less than 90 when walking across the room, you may need supplemental oxygen. Get an oximeter (Google for it) and keep tabs on your oxygen saturation. But first, if you're feeling short of breath (SOB) much more than you used to, you should contact your pulmonologist or your regular doctor. Yes, it can get bad. But you can do a lot to slow it down, such as exercise (with oxygen, if needed).

    • rtaxron
      rtaxron tanarg

      Posted

      Hi Tanarg,

      My oxygen saturation is approx 95 on average, and I check it everyday with my own oximeter.

      I had a check-up at home about a month ago for oxygen by the COPD people, but they said it wasnt bad enough at the moment.

      I also get headaches when its bad, and feel a little dizzy/woozy.

    • tanarg
      tanarg rtaxron

      Posted

      If you're getting readings of 95% but still feeling SOB (shortness of breath), you need to contact your doctor, because it could be something involving your heart that's causing the SOB.

      I'm on oxygen 24/7 thanks to 47 years of stupidly smoking (self-medicating, really). I haven't gotten worse in two years on oxygen, though. I'm told by my pulmonologist that people can live many years in my state. But you need to see your doctor again soon to find out why your oxygen saturation is good but you're SOB.

  • Sumlou
    Sumlou rtaxron

    Posted

    Hi my mum had copd really bad but mum was on 24hour oxygen and was out of breath all the time but mum didnt stop smoking but my sisters had it 10years and not has bad has mum you have done the right thing not smoking you will have good and bad days they told mum to do breathing exercises but didnt judt take one day at a time
  • julie07318
    julie07318 rtaxron

    Posted

    hiya  now  im  really  new  to this.    i  was  only diagnosed   a  couple of  days  ago.  ive  been  bad for  the  last  6 wks  appox.     breathless  just  walking  round  the  house    ive  only  really  started  on  2 different  inhalers  yesterday.   although they  say  its  the  early  stages of  copd.    at the moment   im  not  really doing  anything.   ive  not drove my car  for  6 wks  my husband  is  doing all the driving.  and  to  be  honest   im only  go  out  to  go  to doctors.   once  i  really  get  going  with  these inhalers  im hoping  to  get  my life  back  a bit.  i  hope  someone   else  can  really help  you.   im  a  bit  new  to this  game.  take  care   all the  best  julie  xx
  • Vee2
    Vee2 rtaxron

    Posted

    I was stable for a long time Ron, but just now recovering from pneumonia, that knocks you back very quickly and its a long time recovering.

    So I can't do a lot at the moment.

    But do get your doc to check your lungs and communicate that you are having these difficulties and feel the medicine is not working for you.

    I don't think the e cigs would be helping if you are so severely short of breath.

    Having said all that shortness of breath goes with the territories, you can be very fit and short of breath, and you can be very short of breath on exertion to the point of exhaustion.

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