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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2011 13:48:23 GMT -5
Hi! My name is Deb aka justmetrouble. I have been a 'lurker' for many a year.Have learned alot from this site and finally have 'a voice' to speak. I have had Copd for going on 20 years-currently on Advair, Spiriva, and lots of ventolyn. I have two big issues I thought perhaps someone could -beat into me - to quit the darn smoking. I have continued to do so year after year and watched my health fail. Stupid right.....course I never really considered how bad it was going to get...so over last few years I have tried the patch (more than once) and smoked. Got away with a week of chantix till the cardio dr got wind-and then pharmacist pulled me off due to a problem with chantix and the heart (everyone aware of that?) my o2 stays pretty constant mid to hi 80's. nope can't have oxygen because I smoke. Just finished rehab- about a month back- felt the best I have felt in years- was out walking and breathing like a half way normal person. smoking started lessening more I walked...(run Forrest run  13 days ago I fell while I was out walking. freak accident - wet gravel - dog pulled a little and wham right down on my knee cap. fractured it don't ya know. never a broken bone in my life and I break my patella. So here I am- plaster casted from a** to ankle. Heavy yep....out of breath going 10 ft dragging this around while I try to manipulate this 53 year old banged up body around the house. not enough strength in other leg.... oh did I mention we had our first snowstorm in Nova Scotia few nights ago...also great for crutches ;D .......went for first ortho visit this am-3 more weeks of cast then more xrays...going to be a long winter? well if anyone has any suggestions for keeping built up and not getting myself into pneumonia (with sitting here with legs evelated for atleast the next month) maybe I can keep out of the hospital this year.... or maybe even a funny story to get me smiling would be nice too  oh and Happy American Thanksgiving to whom it applies  peace and best of health to all Deb aka justmetrouble |
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Nov 25, 2011 7:28:29 GMT -5
I'm moving over (below) a post from another area made by "justmetrouble" aka Deb.
Hopefully you can give her some good info/help and bolster her up.
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Post by sandy07 on Nov 25, 2011 10:00:01 GMT -5
Hi Deb....the first thing that jumped out at me was that you said you couldn't get oxygen because you smoked? ...and that your o2 level was mid to high 80"s?
First...there's all kinds of smokers with oxygen. I've never heard of them refusing it for that reason. Maybe it was a scare tactic or someone pressuring you to quit?
Second.....GET THAT OXYGEN. You're hurting your heart by letting it go below 88-90.
Third....you did rehab without oxygen? That must have been rough. I'm surprised they let that happen to you. Your oxygen must have dropped tremendously. (or did they let you have it ?)
A doctor or a respiratory tech can order oxygen for you. If you're still smoking..and you think they won't do it...then lie. But quit smoking.
Do it soon. I'm sure your leg will heal better with more oxygen as well.
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Post by susanny on Nov 25, 2011 12:06:54 GMT -5
Hi Deb, yeah, you need that O2 and whoever told you you couldn't have it because you smoke was lying. You can't smoke and wear it at the same time, of course, but you HAVE to wear it all the time you're not smoking. Very Important!!!!! You are doing damage to your other organs by not having it, ie, heart, brain, kidneys, you name it, it's being damaged. I fell and broke my collarbone in August, so I have a pretty good idea of how you are feeing. RAther glad it was my collar bone than the knee, gotta say. I hope you heal fast.. I don't know how on earth you are able to get around w/o O2 on crutches. I can barely walk let alone drag myself along. Please call Mon. and see how to get this ball rolling for yourselfl. As for jokes, well, you've been coming here long enough, it sounds like, so you know you can count on Funny Fridays for joke day of the week. So nice, isn't it? A day to forget all our troubles and let loose with some laughter. And we can thank Wildoats for throwing a joke in during the week every now and then. Good luck and hope to hear good news about you and the O2 and your healing knee. Boy, you did pick the wrong time of the year to have an accident, didn't you?  I hope you have help around the house and all. Sue |
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Post by valerie on Nov 25, 2011 13:46:52 GMT -5
Hi there. Well as you mention sitting around and maybe getting pneumonia, you could ask your doctor to arrange the vaccine against pneumonia, every 5 years and of course the flu jab too. Go for the oxygen I can't imagine how bad you must get when you walk around, on one or two legs. I did my heart in not knowing for years that I needed oxygen for exercise, just thinking by shortness of breath was do to my age (66), now I have CHF, so take care of yourself and see your doctor now!! Hope your leg recovers soon, all the best.
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Post by skate4life on Nov 25, 2011 15:11:09 GMT -5
Join the club of patella fractures! Did you need surgery? Mine was not displaced so was in a long leg splint for a month (velcro wrap around, not a cast.) I do have some questions.....you said you have had copd for 20 yrs (that would mean you were 32 when diagnosed - it this correct!?) Were you ever tested for alpha 1 ? Who prescribes your resp. drugs? A pulmy or GP? When was the last time you had a PFT?
Have they got you on daily aspirin? Sitting/laying around is a real set-up for a clot.
You can still exercise even sitting - lots of stuff on YouTube, but just start with cans of soup and work those arms. Same with good leg. While sitting, raise it 45 degrees, hold for 10 seconds and lower. Do shoulder rolls and draw back/pinch your shoulder blades. If you are watching TV, do one type every other commercial......great distraction from those useless things! And isometric tummy pull ins will help too. Lots of things you can do with 2 arms and one leg!! If amputees can learn and look buff, so can you. You are still young!!
Who is walking your dog now? We have a poop law in my town and everyone has to bend over and pick it up into a plastic bag = sure hope you have a small doggie. Crutches and cast surely makes that impossible. I actually saw a truck recently for a poop pick up service, I guess for those people who keep their dogs in the backyard. I thought that was a neat idea and a money maker (prices given on truck, quite cheap.)
Others have asked you some important questions - I hope you will let us know the answers......as well as listen to their response re oxygen. While the leg is a temporary inconvenience, your sats and need for oxygen has long term effects on the rest of your body. So get moving gal...
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Post by John on Nov 25, 2011 17:16:03 GMT -5
Hi Deb Two things . It's time for o2 & it's time to quit the smokes . Not easy but can be done . I know I smoked up to 6 years ago .Then it came down to ! Do you want to breath or smoke ? I really don't believe I would still be alive if I had not quit . You CAN do it .   |
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Post by wendyco on Nov 25, 2011 21:25:57 GMT -5
Deb you sure do have a double whammy.....as everyone has said, you do need oxygen and they should give it to you even if you smoke....
as for not smoking anymore, well you have to reach deep inside and decide to stop, not quit, stop......I have always changed that word cause I was never a quiter and sure couldn't quit smoking cause that's what a quiter does....so I stopped smoking....onlly you can decide when you can make it through......
while sitting with that danged knee, try to do upper body exercises everyday.....many websites have videos that show simple exercises you can do while sitting....this will help your breathing muscles.......
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Post by chrisw on Nov 26, 2011 1:25:12 GMT -5
I am really sorry that you have this situation - but having oxygen and still smoking is REALLY, REALLY, DANGEROUS!!!! The simple truth is that you have a choice - quit smoking OR die a heck of a lot sooner. I hate to be this blunt, but this is the truth. Most (if not all) provinces in Canada will NOT pay for oxygen if you still smoke. You simply HAVE to quit smoking!! I know that this may seem impossible, but it really is not impossible. If you really feel that you cannot do this without the Chantix, then talk to your cardiologist and explain to him the risks of NOT being able to quit smoking. They are a lot higher than the risks of taking Chantix (or Chantix would have been promptly withdrawn from the market!). However people DO manage to quit smoking without Chantix, there is also Zyban and even nicotine replacement therapy such as Nicorette gum and Nicotine patches. And it IS possible to quit without even these aids - very, very hard, but then think of the alternative - we really don't want to lose you that soon |
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Nov 27, 2011 7:52:55 GMT -5
Well Deb;
I see your fellow members came through...... they're really good that way. BTW; I wasn't ignoring your post but just short on time when I moved it over here.
You know what you've gotta do; we'll be your cheering section if you want or need it.
Gotta say; I don't know how in the devil you can function at all with numbers in the 80's. Good Lord I wouldn't be able to move outta the chair! And they're soooo right about organ damage potential with prolonged low oxygen levels. You've GOT TO do something about that or COPD and a fractured knee will be the least of your problems.
Anyway; please don't be a stranger..... we'd love to get to know you better...
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Post by bobbioh on Nov 28, 2011 9:28:21 GMT -5
sorry im late here i was away a few days. i know the pain of trying to quit last time i quit in 2005 it had took me 4 yrs. i used patches. but it was the will to quit that won over. it was so very hard. i had to accept i was a addict to cigs just like ppl are to drugs. seems after i got that in my head it got a bit easier. i know if i picked up a cig tomorrow i would not be able to stop for years again. they ruled my life and health. it takes allot of will power and for me allot of prayers. but you CAN do it you just have to know you can. GOOD LUCK Bobbi
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Post by ronwtor on Dec 14, 2011 23:20:00 GMT -5
hi justme trouble. i did some research on who goes on oxygen accord. to six web sites any body fvi below 80% to be put on o2
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Dec 15, 2011 12:05:13 GMT -5
I think you may have hit a wrong key there Ron..... I think you meant 88% or a PaO2 of 55mg Hg or less. There's a couple "other reasons" or criteria than a person may be put on O2, but this is what they use for the most part.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2012 12:19:46 GMT -5
 all i m new here i was diagnosed with copd 5 years ago... and have been trying to deal with it .. i was smoker too but when i was rushed to hospital n put on life support n in critical care rmedical inducded coma.. after i left 3 weeks later i never smoked again deb it can n be done.. i think my family doctoir doesnt fully understand this copd she says i m to young to be on oxgen you can do it hun |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2012 12:20:10 GMT -5
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Post by merryfl on Feb 4, 2012 16:49:45 GMT -5
Fred - I don't mean to be rude, but I think you need a new doctor. Your age has nothing to do with whether you need O2. You are 56 years old. I went on O2 full time at 47 years old. And had a transplant at 56. Your doctor is not helping you by keeping you off O2 - just the opposite. I'd suggest you find a pulmonologist to give you a complete workup, get you onto oxygen and the right meds, and discuss your options as far as disability goes.
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Feb 5, 2012 15:12:03 GMT -5
Gotta have to agree with Merry on this one Fred. Age is unrelated; heck so is disease severity too in many ways as it relates to oxygen. Your transfer might be differnt than someone who is twice as bad (Stage wise) or twice as good. Each of us is different. We were all born with a need for oxygen; sometimes circumstances just dictates that we might need to get it in different ways.
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Post by chrocary / Jane on Feb 5, 2012 20:26:45 GMT -5
Hi Deb, I am really new to this, but have totally enjoyed spending my afternoon reading most everything that has been posted.
I will be honest, I had never before tried to quit smoking because I was terrified I wouldn't be able to do it and that would have just ( I will keep this clean) really, really upset me!!!%%##$ When I was diagnosed, that scared me worse, but I found what I had to do was replace the habit, keep my hands busy, so I started knitting. When I am done eating instead of going for the smoke, I pick up my knitting and knit until I settled down. By the way I don't knit very well, since December 12 (my last day) I have produced about 14 scarves.
I hope my suggestion helps.
Keep trying, you will get there!
Jane
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I hope you have help around the house and all.
all i m new here i was diagnosed with copd 5 years ago... and have been trying to deal with it .. i was smoker too but when i was rushed to hospital n put on life support n in critical care rmedical inducded coma.. after i left 3 weeks later i never smoked again deb it can n be done.. i think my family doctoir doesnt fully understand this copd she says i m to young to be on oxgen you can do it hun
