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I was diagnosed with COPD after contracting a very nasty infection in Croatia & I am struggling to cope with it.....help please!!!

Posted , 4 users are following.

Theodore30
Theodore30

Using Salbutamol as & when required but had to start steroids this morning as my breathlessness was very bad.....

2 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • oddbiddy
    oddbiddy

    Posted

    not enough information Theodore. Do you smoke? Have you been to the Chest Clinic? Have you only seen one doctor, what does s/he base their diagnosis on? Have you been near chemicals? Lots of reasons why you would feel breathless.
  • Theodore30
    Theodore30

    Posted

    Stopped smoking 8 years ago & was only a social smoker then. Had an x ray after two lots of steroids & two lots of antibiotics which showed nothing up.

    Specialised nurse carried out tests & indications showed COPD.

    I've never been in contact with chemicals & have not attended a chest clinic.

  • oddbiddy
    oddbiddy

    Posted

    Maybe you need a second opinion, have you also seen a doctor? If you have COPD I would have thought you would need something more than salbutomal as required, but only the medics who see you would know that.
  • robert90540
    robert90540

    Posted

    You definitely need to have further tests and an x ray plus maybe a scan as well. And only then can they say what it is and put you on the right medication. The salbutamol should help relieve your breathing but you may have to take it quite a few times and in some cases only by nebulising it.if you condition goes on for more than 3 or4 days without improvement go back to doctor or A&E for it to be sorted out for you. Do not let it go too long as you will end up worse just because of the worry and stress.
  • oddbiddy
    oddbiddy

    Posted

    I second that, particularly if you live in England where these days you practically have to take care of your own health. You need a lot more help
  • robert90540
    robert90540

    Posted

    Yep I controlled my own for almost 20 years only in the last 6 months has anyone begun to help but it is now to late and I am now in end stage . And I still have to buy everything apart from meds. I am beginning to think the quicker I kick it the cheaper it will be and less of a problem for the medical professionals . I am beginning to think that as we get older the less we seem to count anymore.
  • oddbiddy
    oddbiddy

    Posted

    and I have been on medication for chest problems for 50 years. Now I have severe COPD, wheel chair, oxygen machine and what all else but I won't let it get me down as long as I can make it to the bathroom, kitchen and upstairs once a day to bed I am happy. We count to the people that matter, our family and friends. I only have my son and my daughter as family and all my friends are internet ones but I know they care and so I do too.
  • Theodore30
    Theodore30

    Posted

    I have an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow & have compiled a list of questions. Also have found a group to help with exercises etc.

    Thank you all so much for your replies I will keep you updated as to what happens.

  • oddbiddy
    oddbiddy

    Posted

    Well done, keep in touch, you will feel a lot better now that you are in the system
  • prestonsunshine1
    prestonsunshine1

    Posted

    Good luck Theodore keep us posted. I will be going to a pulmonary specialists April 2, and will be glad to

    get more information on my copd.

  • robert90540
    robert90540

    Posted

    Good luck to everyone on here you have to rely on yourselves and relatives more and more nowadays but you can still have a decent living for many years as long as you don't give up. That is the main point about these groups is to see that people don't give up they try to find out how others are living with their problems so that they can try out all the different things. Some will work for you some won't. Try everything till you find the ones that do work for you and be prep aired to change again down the line and that way you will have a life and not just easiest. I have had a good 20 years with copd and as you can see some have had even longer times. I was an idiot and refused to give up smoking till 18 month ago so no one to blame but myself. But I did enjoy my life and that is one thing I can be happy about.
  • oddbiddy
    oddbiddy

    Posted

    Keep active to your best ability. I have a hobby which is totally engrossing for the whole day so I don't have time to feel depressed. Never smoke again. Eat good food rather than processed stuff. Keep away from situations where someone might have a chest infection as much as you can. Don't breath in raw cold air, you could get pneumonia if it goes straight into your lungs, filter it with something. I am sure people can add to my list but it's a start
  • robert90540
    robert90540

    Posted

    Hehe doctor must have been on here as he has just been out to see me. Changed some of my meds and told me to take as many of certain ones as I think I need and he will give me a prescription for whatever I need by just phoning him up. He said he will visit every week or two from now on and I shouldn't go to the surgery nay more just call and he will visit. So something has worked. Trouble is I don't know what or I could pass it on so you lot could get the same help.
  • oddbiddy
    oddbiddy

    Posted

    well that is strange, but anything can happen. don't want my doctor bothering me though and it isn't going to happen on the National Health
  • robert90540
    robert90540

    Posted

    Ism on nhs I couldn't afford private and with everything I have wrong with me they wouldn't touch me with. Barge pole. This is the 1st time I have had help offered like this but I presume it is because they have put a Just In Case bag in my house.that way if anything goes wrong they can shove me onto the Liverpool care pathway and I wouldn't be around much longer if they did that.
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