Question on medications

[daisy]

Since my last posts on here I have been doing okay.. Summer is here and the humidity is making it hard to breathe.. I have had the same reaction for the past two summers.. I had a Ventolin inhaler but that did not seem to be very helpful. The doctor gave me a trial of Spiriva for 30 days  I did find that it made my chest tight. I took it for three weeks and then stopped I did not get any relief with it and my chest felt better without.  When I asked if there was something else that we could try she said " No" they are all the same and that she was not surprised that the Ventolin did not work as the damage is not reversible... I told her from what I read that not all medications work the same for everyone and from the reading I have been doing there appears to be other medications to try. She gave me a one month prescription of Symbicort to try. She left me feeling that there is nothing else to do but suffer it out, I am so discouraged. I read that this province has an "F" in rating not surprised.  I asked for a referral to a  specialist last year when diagnosed and was told that it would take years to get one and the GP generally looks after things, changing doctors is not an option.  The other part I discussed with her was when my chest gets tight it causes anxiety that makes it worse and was there anyway to address that issue, she said "no' just remind yourself to relax. Any suggestions would certainly help as it looks like I have to try and work with this doctor, funny my experience with her in the past for suspect anything was she sent you to a specialist, I don't have a good feeling about this at all, any suggestions would be helpful.

[barb7330]

So sorry Daisy that you are having these problems. There are lots of other meds out there and if she can not help you, look for another Dr. A respirologist...you should be seeing
I am on symbicort twice a day and spiriva once and have a ventolin inhaler if needed.
Good luck to you...

hug4U th_Godcloud

[hugahusky]

Hi Daisy,  I too am sorry to hear how exasperated you are with your GP.  

I take Symbicort 2 puffs twice a day and was on Spiriva for a few years but was not really doing the job.  Last year a new inhaler Tudorza was approved in Canada.  I asked my respirologist about it and have been on it since January.  I take a puff in the morning and one at night.  I have noticed a difference.  Also, in this warmer weather I have been using my ventolin more than I normally do.  My doctor suggested that I use it before I tackle a task that is difficult rather than wait until I am short of breath.  As for anxiety, I am on a very mild dose of Clonazepam once a day.  It seems to be just enough to keep me on an even keel.

I hope this may have given you some items to discuss with your GP.

Take care

[purple]

Sorry you are having so many problems, it sounds familiar as my doctor gave me Spiriva and Symbicort and I tried them one at a time so I could gauge their effectiveness and side effects and was only on Spiriva for 6 days before I stopped then waited a week and tried the Symbicort. It was like a miracle after 1 day, I could breathe so much better. I have since been to a respirologist who switched me to Zenhale. I also have Ventolin and have been on it for years but now haven't needed it. Have you tried the Symbicort yet? I am also on a mild dose of lorazapam for anxiety 1/2 pill morning and night. Hope this helps. ?

[Deborah]

Daisy: sorry to hear about the problems you are having. Is there a chornic dissease program in your province? The reason for me asking is that we have a nurse whom we can see if we have questions. Once or twice she has been helpful in getting some answers for me from my GP. I had a long wait before I could see a respirologist but it was important to get on the list as soon as possible. Anyway, talking to someone in your chronic disease program might be another avenue?

I am sorry but I forget what jurisdiction you are in. If you care to share it perhaps someone in the same jurisdiction can pass on their tips.

Anyway, I am at stage 1. I take Advair twice a day, plus Seebreezi (I think it's like the tudorza Sandy takes?) once a day. I have bricanyl instead of ventolin as a rescue inhaler (two puffs up to four times a day although I rarely need that much). For anxiety/panic I take a small dose of citalopram daily.

I am also on montelukaast daily (that's the generic singulaire) for allergies and omeprazole for GERD, which is evidently much more prevalent for COPDers than the general population.

I hope this helps. I have no problem if you print this out to show your doctor. As my respirologist said the important thing is to avoid exacerbations and to stay active. Are you on an exercise program or pulmonary rehabilitation?

Also, on the copd canada website there is a list of questions you can ask your doctor (on the lefthand side). www.copdcanada.ca/

Good luck!

Deborah

[al]

I've been on symbicort for 6 years , It's the only drug that helps so far.
I also use Proventil as needed for quick results.

Keep in mind these drugs only help you breath somewhat better but have no effect on the progression.

[stoker55]

Daisy please get a new Dr. or at least get a referal to a pulmonary specialist. I had the same problem you did in the beginning. Unfortunately we have to insist on better care for ourselves or we won't get it. Good luck.

[sandy07]

I'm in the very severe stage. I've been on most of the inhalers and eventually they don't work anymore and I need to find new ones. I'm using Tudorza Genuaire (new) and Onbrez (new). I did use Spiriva and Symbicort. I keep Symbicort as a rescue since the other "rescues" don't work anymore.

I also have a doctor that is hard to get along with. I'm using a different approach now. I'll tell him a person I know said that their Mom's doctor gave her Prednisone for inflammation, then ask him what he thinks about it. Maybe by the time I need it he'll have asked other doctors or checked online.

BTW...doctors around here would like you to have a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). Then they can see what they're dealing with. Only a Respirologist has the machinery for that. It's easy. No worries.

[John]

Hi Daisy ! Sorry to hear your troubles . along with reg meds Spiriva and Advair /Proair rescue. I also take mild dose of theolopine ( old time med ) for wheezing ,It works very good. I also take a low dose twice a day lorazepam for anxiety.

[daisy]

Thank you so much for all your input. I have done a lot of thinking about it over the past few days and as I mentioned changing doctors is not an option in this province (PEI) you are considered lucky if you have a family doctor. I am going to ask her to refer me to a specialist and even though I have asked in the past with the answer being that they are so over worked and there is not reason to see one and it could take up too two years, that is fine do it and I will wait if I don't look for one now and start in two years time I will certainly be farther behind. Question in some posts you mention a respirologist and others a pulmonary doctor are they one and the same? Was it not a respirologist that I saw to do the initial testing for the spirometer?

I don't know what her problem is but telling me that there is nothing else to try is so wrong, I work in mental health and addictions and it looks like copd has just as big a stigma. I started the symbicort yesterday It could be the slightly lower temperatures or the different medication but will say that my chest is not so tight today. I will see how that goes over the next week. It also appears to me that anxiety is a factor for almost everyone that issue will have to be addressed. I Remember back to one of my first visits and one of her reasons for giving me the Advair first was cost factor and she mentioned that symbicort was the most expensive, I have a drug plan that I have paid into for 20 some years and never used much why are the cost factors important to her, oh think I am venting . It seems that they don't have a lot of knowledge either as no one has really explained the results of the spirometry to me, I did get input from the RT therapist on this site which was very helpful, I would be lost right now with out your input. I was referred to a clinic and talked to a RN I did not find her answers any more informative than what I already know, but I think I will find her number again or follow up on the suggestion to see if we have a chronic disease program I some how doubt it. I do know that if the wait is over a year to see a specialist then you can be followed by one from a neighbouring province and they will pay, I may have to push that .. just what we need at this time more stress for some reason I don't think sitting in a chair and telling myself that it is only stress and it will go away is going to work (sarcastic) Thank you for your time and knowledge. Hoping that for now the Symbicort works. Hugs to you all.

[sandy07]

Daisy...A Respirologist is what they are called in Canada. They are called a Pulmonologist in the USA. Anxiety is a factor for me only just lately. The anxiety seems to get me in my stomach...

The Symbicort should work well. If you're still having problems ask the doctor to try Advair. It has a combination of drugs that may work better.