I am a bit confused by the results. According to the nurse via spirometry my FEV1 has increased from 66% to 78% in just over a year and I can't see any reason why. I actually feel worse with more sob.
The nurse ignored my 3 chest infections in 4 month, my 'severe' symptoms such as not being able to keep up with my peers walking on the flat and also having to stop for breath after walking on the flat. When she did my sats they were only 91% and they are often as low as that.
She said all these are because I am still smoking. Could this be the case? I don't want any smoking advice please as I know I must give up but do you think I should investigate these symptons further?
She said I looked a good colour and wasn't out of breath talking to her so she wasn't worried.
I think this is rubbish and she is fobbing me off. What do you all think please?
Thanks Bev x
Please please please STOP SMOKING NOW ,,and then ask for a referral to the pulmary rehab course ,,,,your GP will arrange this for you ,,,you will do an 8 week course of light exersise ,,,,yes I said exersise ,,,,and you will be able to do this ,and it's also education on medication etc ,,,,,but first things first ,,,,give up them dam cigeratetts ,,,,,then you will be able to walk and keep up with your friends, good luck ,
Thank you Nanny. I have done PR. So you think my symptons are purely the results of smoking then.
I know I need to stop smoking but easier said than done. The more people tell me too the more pressure I put myself under and last time I had a quit date I had a sort of meltdown the night before so I need to take the pressure off myself. This is why I asked for no smoking advice please. I know it all but can't do the stress while people are continually telling me to give up. I know you mean well but please don't.
Bev x
I'm going to be blunt: she is probably losing patience with people who keep smoking and still expect top notch medical treatment.
I add that I am an ex smoker, I stopped before I was diagnosed with COPD and before I had a heart attack, after more than 45 years.
You already know what you need to do
The
Yes I do thank you Jude. So let me clarify - are you saying that because I am still smoking I should not receive medical help?
If you are going to make judgements like that most people wouldn't qualify like the obese, those who don't exercise, those who eat bad diets and etc, etc,
This wasn't my question which was are my symptoms I listed on my post a result of smoking or not?
Please everyone if you are going to go on about smoking please don't reply. I am asking whether people think my symptoms are a result of smoking. I don't need or want a lecture about giving up thank you or being told (in other words) that I am stupid for still smoking. I know I am but that isn't the question I asked.
Thank you.
If you feel breathless with improving FEV1 then you could have a different problem. Do you wake up breathless after lying flat? Are you on any meds for BP or heart? Go and see the doctor and push for a chest X-ray and if that is normal a BNP blood test (checks to see if your heart is having pumping problems).
Do you know what the spirometry results were in terms of litres? FEV1 is number of litres of air pushed out in the first second of the breath out and the FVC is the total amount you push put after a maximum breath in. You can then work out the ratio which also helps the assessment.
As someone who's not only fat but smoked for years, which is why I have emphysema, I certainly wasn't saying any such thing.
I was merely trying to give you the possible reason for the nurse's attitude towards you.
Maybe they are because of smoking, maybe they're not - there's only one way to find out but it may be too late, as it has proved to be in my case, being diagnosed 4 years after I stopped.
Hi, I sympathise with you my son has fibrotic lung disease his right
lung doesn't fuction atall he suffers badly with breathlessness.
he isn't able to walk far. He was always complaint to GP who just shrugged and said it was all because he smoked. It took something else to happen to get X-ray and find out what was wrong with him.
i think when you are a smoker they blame everything on that.
he like yourself find he just can't give up.
i think as smokers you get second class treatment and no sympathy.
sorry can't be more helpful as someone who has never smoked.
ann
Hi bev, I have had copd for 10 yrs now, I still smoked till 5 yrs ago until I almost died with respiratory failure. I used to tell lies and tell doc etc that I'd stopped as my consultant refuses to treat persistent smokers. I had tried so many times to stop and spent a fortune on hypnosis, acupuncture and anti smoking aids I even stopped once for 2 yrs and stupidly started again. Even now I could easily have a cigarette. It is very hard to stop for some people others manage fine, it's these people who don't have patience with people who are struggling. I truly sympathise with you and hope you can manage to stop soon, my husband smoked till November then started using an electronic cigarette, hes doing great with it. I'm now on oxygen 24/7 And can do very little without being breathless, I need a wheelchair to get around outside which I hate so I very rarely go out. I know carrying on smoking made my copd deteriorate more quickly so I only have myself to blame for being where I am now. Take care and stay strong.
The only thing you can do apart form 'you know what ' is exercise and generally doing all the things that help prevent you further damaging your lungs..... having the flu jab/taking supplements/ keeping away from people with colds/
It doesn't sound as if constant chest infections are you problem, these constant excerbations seriously damage the lungs and reduce lung function, so you are lucky that is not your problem
Once you get onto having to have oxygen, then you will HAVE to stop smoking as they wont give you oxygen unless you do as its highly inflammable and so not given to smokers generally.
91% sats is low...you are well on your way to needing oxygen.
Try to go for a walk every day, and do some exercise at home as well.
Thank you very much gpgp. I have never had any tests for heart problems but my blood pressure is always very good. I had a chest x-ray last year but had to push for one as I was told I don't need one. This was the only one I had since I was diagnosed with copd around 5 years ago.
I don't know the FVC and to be honest I don't know the first thing about working out ratios etc.
I think my main concern is that because I have been and am a smoker that I have been diagnosed with copd because it is a common smokers illness and nothing else has been considered. I have heard a number of people saying this has happened to them and it turns out there were other issues instead or as well as if you see what I mean. In other words just because I am a smoker doesn't mean something else isn't going on as well. My doctors refuse to consider anything else and I don't know the right questions to ask or even if I have the right seeing as I am still smoking and would feel guilty asking for more tests. Not sure what to do.
Bev x
Hi, I think if X-ray doesn't always show other problems my son had to have scan and then bronchoscopy, you should be offered more tests if he
had not had these he would not have found out his right lung damage.
just because he smoked !!! Ann
Ah I understand why you feel like you do about smoking now. You make a very good point - thank you jude. Time to make another serious attempt to quit and I will succeed one day.
Bev x
That's it exactly ann. If you are a smoker these days everything is put down to that when it might not be. Medics have a one track mind don't they? While I do know smoking causes many problems gp's etc. should be able to see beyond that.
Being a smoker makes me feel second class and instead of having a go at me sympathy and assurance I am not weak and have the will power to quit would be much more helpful in my battle. But it's easier to bash a smoker instead. When a couple of friends had a go at me I asked them if they would help me give up instead and give me support etc. and this stopped them in their tracks. They didn't want to do this they just wanted to have a go at me.
I am very sorry about your son - does he want a quit buddy? He does really need to give up too. Thanks for your reply.
Bev x
Oh Julia I do feel for you and I am so sorry you have ended up on oxygen. That is my big fear which is why I always put so much pressure on myself to stop. I am glad you managed it in the end though as hopefully it will stop you getting worse as quickly and prolong your life.
I have had ex smokers telling me 'Give it up it's easy' My answer is 'Good for you I am glad it was easy for you but we are all different'. Actually the last person who said that to me nearly got their head ripped off lol
I am going to get an e-cig as this does seem to have the highest success rate and some of my friends have stopped using these.
Please try not to feel guilty though Julia - we are only human. You have a lot of living to do yet so please go out in your wheelchair. Try seeing it as an aid to help you live your life rather than an emcumberance. Could you get a scooter instead? That might make life easier. Take care and thanks for your reply.
Bev x
Hi, yes I really wish he would quit, but he just said he has tried and finds it
really difficult, he knows he has lung damage luckily he was at the hospital
for something else they examined his chest, sent him for X-ray showed shadow on his lung sent him for X-ray and he was then referred to consultant where he was given bronchoscopy where they found damage
he has a few inhalers etc and now has six monthly checks.
i have been trying to persuade him to get E ciggie, but his girlfriend also smokes. I just hope he will try as he's only forty five and coughs constantly.
if it had been just his GP he wouldn't have been referred as anything he sees him with is always oh well you smoke.
i feel for you maybe you could try the e ciggies and let me know. Good luck
ann
Omg ohara you are scaring the s... out of me now. Thank you this is what I need and what I asked for. I have nightmares about needing oxygen....
I do take my sisters dog out every day so do get some exercise. I do suffer with depression too so find it very hard to get motivated but I try
my best.
Thank you very much bev x
Have you bought an oximeter? they are reasonably cheap on ebay about £20...they give you your stats reading very quickly ....if your reading goes below 90 you should contact your doctors...if it goes any lower you need to phone an ambulance....80+ stats you need oxygen ...otherwise you damage organs in your body that need the oxygen
Its nothing to do with SOB just you needing oxygen to survive...
If you walk with the dog each day OK you sound like you should be OK for now
Yes Bev its getting serious for you.......I have had bronchectasis since a baby... both bottom lobes removed at age 15.....I am very old now, but my sats are MUCH better than yours.......
You however are doing this to yourself....you are slowly killing yourself and leading yourself to a life on oxygen......even if you stop smoking now, I think you will still be at that place one day...but you will have LONGER in a normal way of life...the choice Bev is yours....I am not trying to scare you, just stating facts
Hi again Bev, I do have a scooter I leave it at our caravan and use it while their although like the wheelchair not often. I'm almost 66 but still feel much younger in mind being in the wheelchair or on the scooter makes me feel really old lol. I've promised myself I'll go out more once the caravan season starts again I love being there with the grandchildren so I'm going to get out more. When you're stressed as you are now you will never stop smoking so try to ease up on yourself a bit. I know the more people went on at me to stop it just got my back up and made me angry because I knew I shouldn't be smoking but I found it really hard. You will do it eventually, give the elec cigs a go. My son has one, he manages to stay of the cigs at home but when he's away working he finds much harder but he'll get there too I'm sure. Good luck. Julia xx