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Post by Darcy on Aug 28, 2014 6:22:25 GMT -5
My chest has been tight with wheezing lately, I'm not sure if it because of the heat and humidity or if is a natural progression of COPD. I am still smoking too but I discovered that excessive smoking in my case is caused by mental illness. Anyway my question is, what does the tightness/wheezing mean as far as my COPD goes. Have a good day everyone.
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Post by David on Aug 28, 2014 10:18:22 GMT -5
Personally I would say a lot of it is from smoking. I have quit for 10 years now and I see a big improvement. I have severe emphysema and I don't have the tightness and wheezing. I use a nebulizer and the medicine relaxes my lungs. I have to nebulize every 3 or 4 hours or I get very very short of breath.
Chantix is what helped me to stop smoking but most people can't take it. If it wasn't for Chantix I would still be smoking. Quit smoking was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.
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Post by Deborah on Aug 28, 2014 10:18:44 GMT -5
Darcy: I hesitate to give medical advice. Definitely you should use your rescue inhaler as prescribed when your chest is tight and wheezy. I believe you should also immediately make a doctor's appointment and be sure to talk to the nurse to see if you need to go to emergency. If you don't have an action plan worked out with your doctor this would be a good time to put one together so that you know what you need to do when this occurs in future.
Please - call the doctor right away.
Deborah
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Post by Darcy on Aug 28, 2014 10:48:00 GMT -5
David, I agree the smoking does not help but I have a far more difficult time trying to quit than most others.
Deborah, I am using my rescue inhaler and I have a doctors appt. Fri.
I was just curious if the tightness and wheezing means my COPD has progressed a lot.
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Post by Bo H on Aug 28, 2014 11:20:46 GMT -5
The Tightness and wheezing could be caused by the smoking but its probably caused by bad air or an infection coming on. Have you been spitting up anything with color to it.
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Post by David on Aug 28, 2014 16:50:47 GMT -5
Darcy, I know it is hard to stop smoking. I was like you. One of those who thought they never could quit. Diagnosed with emphysema in 1983 and quit smoking in 2004. I spent many years trying to quit. Never give up. I just know I had tightness in my chest and wheezing when I smoked. It started around Stage 2 emphysema. I am probably beginning Stage 4 now and do not have that feeling so it can get better after one quits smoking even though the disease is progressive and incurable.
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Post by jim on Aug 28, 2014 17:52:19 GMT -5
It's only my personal opinion, but I think you either have a chest infection, or it is caused by the smoking. I have the same problem at times, but not as bad since I started taking NAC...N-acetyl Cysteine. I still smoke, but have cut down big heaps, the NAC helps get rid of the gunk and helps stop me getting a build up which caused me wheezing and chest tightness. .The NAC also has a calming effect on me and my moods have stablilised a lot since taking it. Since taking the NAC, I have found that most mornings, especially after my first smoke, I cough up heaps of gunk and I'm OK for the rest of the day. Here's a link to info about NAC, I buy mine from Swansons in the USA. www.lef.org/magazine/mag2010/may2010_N-Acetyl-Cysteine_01.htm I hope you start doing better real soon.
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Post by David on Aug 28, 2014 18:13:05 GMT -5
Jim, how many mg per day of NAC do you take?
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Post by jim on Aug 28, 2014 18:32:39 GMT -5
Hi David, I take 1200mg of NAC each day as well as 1440mg of Tumeric. I always take the NAC with food, because if I don't it gives me bad heartburn.
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Post by David on Aug 28, 2014 18:56:03 GMT -5
Thanks Jim. Sounds like a good medicine for people with COPD.
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Post by Darcy on Aug 28, 2014 20:03:13 GMT -5
Bo, what I'm coughing up is usually clear with just a little green/yellow at times.
David, I guess I have problems getting past the "what's the point of quitting" issue.
Jim, thanks for reminding me about NAC I had forgotten all about it.
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Post by sandy07 on Aug 29, 2014 10:00:31 GMT -5
Darcy...the point of quitting is to live longer. Quitting stops the progression. You won't get better but you won't get any worse than you are now. If you add in some good exercise you might actually live a LOT longer.
I could kick myself for not being able to quit years ago when I tried. I actual DID quit...but started again. Stupid . It helps to tell someone or partner with someone. You can call each other when things get tough.
Please try.
NAC makes the phlegm soft and easier to cough up.
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Post by Darcy on Aug 29, 2014 11:34:42 GMT -5
Sandy, I know about everything you said but I also have the problem of mental illness causing me to smoke excessively. However I am going to see my doctor this afternoon and maybe she will have a suggestion.
I am still left with my original question "what does chest tightness & wheezing have to do with COPD?", is it lack of oxygen (oximeter says no), retaining CO2, sleep apnea, chest congestion, all of these, or just the progression of COPD?
Thank you for your time Sandy and everyone else.
PS I'm getting more confused due to side effects of my non-COPD meds.
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Post by stoker55 on Aug 29, 2014 16:15:04 GMT -5
Hey, Darcy sorry you are having problems. I get that tightness & wheezing whenever the air is very bad or I have exposed my lungs to something I shouldn't have. Since it is continuing definately bring it up with your Dr. You just have to keep trying to quit smoking. They say it is as difficult as quiting heroin. i lost could of the times I tried to quit. I have been off them since 2011. I still dream about smoking though.
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Post by Darcy on Aug 29, 2014 23:48:07 GMT -5
Stoker55, I think I may be forced to quit since by Jan. 2015 a carton of 200 smokes will cost $105 (in Alberta anyway). The increases will be all taxes.
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Post by John on Aug 30, 2014 7:42:30 GMT -5
Darcy that is a good reason but a better reason is like Sandy said ! You will live longer . I too had wheezing . My Dr gave me Theophylline 200mg er for it . I have no more wheezing . They say this is an old time copd med that many new Drs haven't worked with . You may want to run it by your Drs. Good luck on the quitting . You can do it ! thumbsupde1 One years $'s from not smoking bought me this . Attachment Deleted.
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Post by Darcy on Aug 30, 2014 9:42:40 GMT -5
Okay, thanks John.!
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Post by aero63 on Aug 30, 2014 20:20:52 GMT -5
Darcy
Humidity levels and air quality do cause shortness of breath but IMO not really the wheezing. The wheezing may be a result of the tightness that you are feeling in your chest.
Sometimes the tightness could be a build up of mucus and a little guafenisen might loosen it. If mucus is greenish, I would not hesitate to call a dr. If it is brown, then that could be from the smoking. You will learn when it is imperative to get to a dr., because we can only help you so much.
I took Theophyline for a bit and it helped a little. But, I am progressed to the point of needing a double lung transplant so meds can only help so much. It is worth a try and they will have to keep an eye on your levels. I became a bit toxic and shaky from it.
I would say wheezing, tightness in chest and green mucus would be a good indicator to see a doctor. JMO
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Post by Darcy on Aug 31, 2014 5:06:49 GMT -5
Thank you very much aero63.
I'll have to write down to tell my doctor about my problems when I see her next week. Seems I have to write everything down lately.
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Post by sandy07 on Sept 3, 2014 0:01:54 GMT -5
Yes, I need to write down EVERYTHING these days. I'm getting old..65..but I think the Prednisone I'm on right now has something to do with it.
Whenever I take a puff off a cigarette my chest tightens up and I wheeze. I think I've become "allergic" to it or more sensitive? Happens every time. Takes 15. mins to clear up. It has slowed my smoking down a lot.
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Post by Darcy on Sept 7, 2014 1:55:20 GMT -5
Well both my coughing and wheezing have dropped dramatically on their own, well at least since the humidity dropped for a while. The humidity went from 86 down to 47 and the heat dropped from 32 down to the mid 20s. I can bear being outside now. I can't wait for the temp to drop below zero and humidity to drop to 30.
My GP was not too concerned because there was not any infection associated with the wheezing.
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Post by David on Sept 9, 2014 13:57:16 GMT -5
I am glad to hear you are feeling better, Darcy.
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Post by mary57 on Sept 9, 2014 19:52:29 GMT -5
Darcy, I get chest tightness, wheezing and like a weight on it with the humidity along with shortness of breath, if I'm out in it at sort of active I end up congested too. I think it is the asthma part of my copd when this happens. All I know is when the weather is cooler and there is little or no humidity it is easier to breath. Hope this is helpful/
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Post by Darcy on Sept 10, 2014 7:27:13 GMT -5
Thanks Mary. The temp. outside is 4C right now and 17 inside my house, the humidity inside is 31%. I love it! I think I will shut the window for a few minutes just to raise it to 18 which is the temp I prefer. It is so great to not be sweating, wheezing all the time. everyone!
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Post by stoker55 on Sept 10, 2014 9:21:47 GMT -5
Good you are feeling better Darcy. Just think of what you would like to do with the money you save from quitting. I spend mine on getting my nails done and buying cool stuff for my grandkids. Glad to hear that you have slowed your smoking down Sandy even though it has to do with your breathing. It is so very difficult to quit. My husband still smokes and I still dream about smoking but I have to stay strong.
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Post by Darcy on Sept 12, 2014 3:50:21 GMT -5
I tried Symbicort and within an hour or so it stopped my chronic coughing (productive), my chest tightness disappeared, and what little wheezing I still had quit altogether. I stopped using the Symbicort before because it could interact with the Inderal I am taking and I did not want to risk any complications, so I don't know if I should continue using it or not.
BTW I found that wheezing could be a symptom of a number of things like asthma, lung cancer, pleural edema, pulmonary embolism, worsening of chronic bronchitis and others. So it is not something that should be taken as lightly as I did. If you start wheezing or new symptoms start with your wheezing GET TO A DOCTOR.
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Post by skate4life on Sept 12, 2014 8:26:09 GMT -5
Darcy - about the Inderal....it all depends on the reason you are taking it. Please check with your doctor who prescribed it. It is another drug that you should not stop abruptly. The Symbicort does have a rapid onset but it is considered a maintenance medication. Do you take it every day or just when you think it might help? But am so glad to hear you are feeling better!
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Post by Darcy on Sept 12, 2014 10:39:23 GMT -5
skate4life, sorry I meant I might not continue with the Symbicort, there is no way I could quit the Inderol. The Inderol stops my tremors, without it I cannot sign my name, or hold a cup or glass, or feed myself and sometimes I cannot even walk. Of course the Inderal also keeps my blood pressure in a very healthy range.
The Symbicort I have been using very infrequently, I'll talk to my doc. before resuming full time use. The only inhaler I use regularly is Atrovent which does not interact with Inderol.
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