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Post by lynwolf on Jul 20, 2015 14:17:43 GMT -5
After 40 yrs of smoking I am now 7 months quit. I just had another PFT test and my Fev1 is 33%. I am on atrovent and advair 500. My only exacerbation was in 2013. What I'm really wondering is why I find it so much harder to breath since quitting the cigs than when I was smoking? I have no desire to start again as I love having the extra money. Has this happened to anyone else and did your breathing get better? Lots of people tell me it can take up to a year to rid my body of the junk.
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Post by spike99 on Jul 20, 2015 17:59:12 GMT -5
Hi lynwolf. Way to go! Glad you quit smoking as well.
After I stopped smoking (Dec 2006) after 32 years of smoking, my breathing got bad in the short term, then it got much better. Dramatically better in the long run. After I stopped smoking, I bought my wife a new (new to us) pre-owned SUV vehicle. Something my wife wanted to previously buy but we couldn't afford it.
What do you plan to buy with your newly saved dollars?
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Post by David on Jul 20, 2015 19:34:27 GMT -5
Congratulations on quit smoking 
When I quit smoking in 2005 I didn't notice any change in my breathing.
What I did notice was the wheezing went away and my lungs cleared up from any mucus. 
My lungs remain clear. My biggest problem is with Dyspnea.
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Post by ken on Jul 21, 2015 16:08:48 GMT -5
Congratulations !!!
By quitting you are now a part of the millions of former smokers. I, like others here, have quit smoking cigarettes.
Spike99 and David have provided excellent information and similar to my own.
My body, when I quit smoking, ( after 20 years), including my lungs, went through an adjustment period, attempted to clear themselves. Our bodies are amazing systems and they adapt to so much.
If your doctor hasn’t discussed it you may want to ask about stress and anxiety. 7 months out can still be stressful.
Again congratulations on quitting, goodnews
Ken
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Post by judi on Jul 22, 2015 11:33:18 GMT -5
There are additives in cigarettes that open your airways so you get all those good toxins deep into your lungs.  You might be noticing the difference in that or as others have mentioned need some time for your body to adjust, Can you exercise and put those airways to work? Also that is a pretty hefty dose of Advair, I would ask the doc why you are on maximum dose with that FEV1 and only one exacerbation but that's just my opinion as someone who does not tolerate meds very well. The anticholinergics like Atrovent can cause chest tightness for some people as well. You don't want to throw the meds out the window but you could ask for some help making sure you are getting an optimum dose for YOUR body. Congrats on quitting! judi |
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Post by lynwolf on Jul 22, 2015 23:20:13 GMT -5
Judi, I did read that about smoking. This is the longest I have been quit and I guess I was really looking forward to an immediate change. Don't we all hope for that when we havea disease that will not be going away. As for my meds, they changed my advair from 250 2x/day to 500 2x after my exacerbation. I was only using the atrovent in morning but am now having to use it more. Dr. wants to change my meds to spiriva and flovent but was a little worried about some of the things I read on them. Maybe some of you can give me your thoughts on those. I am always a little worried about change.
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Post by barb7330 on Jul 23, 2015 6:25:30 GMT -5
th_goodmorning Lyn and congrats for quitting smoking. Like you I quit several times, the last time 8 years ago. I have been on spiriva and symbicort for years. No side effects except hoarseness. I'm also on supplemental oxygen at night and during the day as needed.
Again congratulations to you and good luck.
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Post by judi on Jul 23, 2015 11:11:09 GMT -5
You are already taking Flovent (fluticasone) in the Advair so that change won't do anything except get rid of the long acting bronchodilator (serevent) which is also in the med. I'm not sure why he would do that, maybe other people could have some ideas. Do you have an asthma component to your COPD, or are you are having bronchospasms or heart rate/blood pressure issues? Those could be reasons or he may just not like the long acting LABAs or feels you would do better without one. I have taken both Spiriva and Atrovent and for me Spiriva is a lot better, Atrovent is an older drug and they made some improvements with Spiriva. I have taken Spiriva on and off for around 12 years and did develop some problems over time with it but I still use it a couple of times per week (don't do that except as last resort, its better every day). I took Flovent and Spiriva myself for several years because I had a hard time tolerating the long acting bronchodilators in the combination meds. They worked fine for a long time and I wouldn't worry about trying them, you can always switch back. I hope some other people post some ideas or comments because I am the side effect queen and my experiences are probably not typical.  |
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Post by David on Jul 23, 2015 22:35:39 GMT -5
I did Spiriva for about 6 years until it got to where it wasn't doing me any good. I also did Symbicort.
Now I use a nebulizer with Ipratropium and Albuteral and also use Budesonide. I think the Budesonide is the same as Symbicort. I have been on this combination for around 6 years now.
I also use oxygen at night and as needed during the day.
I have it under control right now but there were times it was not under control. The key is finding the right medicine for you.
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Post by John on Jul 24, 2015 6:32:52 GMT -5
I quit in 2005 and at first I felt worse and then started to be able to breath better I have been taking spiriva and advair 250/50 for 10 years with little side effects and it is still working well for me ! My fev1 is 29 . I use lox at night and as needed in the day time . Your doing great if you can go 7 mos thumbsupde1 everyday when you can up just say to yourself I don't need to smoke today . . After the first year this is what I bought with my cig dollars ,Big Red Attachment Deleted . Like others have said set your sight on a reward and buy it . Keep up the good works .Your not alone th_icon_hug th_thbug |
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Post by lynwolf on Jul 24, 2015 11:20:17 GMT -5
Hi everyone. Thanks for the input on the meds. He said he wanted to change my meds because when I did my PFT they said I did not have much change when I used the salbutamol. Which is strange because I use it when I am doing housework or anything strenuous and I thought it did help. He also said something about oxygen but I don't think I need it yet. I sleep good at night and usually sleep thru the whole night. I do not have any heart problems at all, my blood pressure is awesome. I have gained a lot of weight which for me is really good. I know people with emphysema have weight loss problems, but since I have quit smoking I have gained and I don't eat a whole lot more. So that is a good thing. I really think I need to change my attitude about the whole thing. The PFT really brought me down. So I guess I will just play it by ear and see what happens. Have a breath easy day everyone and again, Thank you.
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Post by David on Jul 24, 2015 22:52:14 GMT -5
I gained weight after I quit smoking and like you I needed to gain weight. I was a tooth pick, 125 lbs.
Now I weight 200 lbs.
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Post by gerald on Jul 24, 2015 23:21:34 GMT -5
My metabolism slowed down so much when I quit smoking that weight gain was a given. I ate less and still gained weight!!
I found that after I quit smoking it took the body a long long time to adjust. The lungs were clearer but they had been used to having smoke in them for years so it took a long time to stablize. It affects everything from weight to brain chemistry!
And while your doctor is a somewhat knowledgeable advisor, the end decision is yours. If you feel salbutamol seems to help, keep it around for emergencies.
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Post by stoker55 on Jul 27, 2015 14:50:32 GMT -5
Congrats on quitting. I am going into my 5th year now. I noticed how much weight I gained immediately and contributed my bad breathing to that.  I think you should ask your doctor to send you to a pulmonary specialists and go through the exercise program that is offered if you live in Canada; I am sure it is offered in the US too but it will cost you. You will get stronger and learn how to breath correctly and it makes such a difference. You will also find others in the program who are struggling with this disease and you will get correct advice from the physio therapist and the nurse/s in the program. Keep on trucking you are on the right path. |
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Post by izzie on Jul 28, 2015 14:20:37 GMT -5
Judi has made 2 great comments...1. They put additives in cigarettes to open the airways so you inhale more of those nasty toxins into your lungs and 2. She asked if you have an allergy component to your COPD?
The allergens can be environmental or consumed in the foods you eat everyday and how your body responds to the allergens. It can take a lot of trial and error in pinpointing which substances cause the inflammation in either your digestive system and/or respiratory system. Although quitting smoking helped me breathe better, I was still encountering difficulties with certain foods that I ate. Raw foods contain the enzymes needed to break down what we eat.........but it is very difficult to get all the enzymes you need for good digestion. In addition, enzymes that can only be produced in the pancreas help to complete the digestive process. I just wanted to suggest you talk to your doctor and/or do some research for your own personal knowledge.
My triggers were dairy products due to lactose intolerance, beef, bacon and deli meats, sugar, starchy foods like potatoes. Digesting those foods caused excessive amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases in my body. Of course with the COPD, the lungs have a difficult time expelling the carbon dioxide, due to the damaged aveoli.
I now take digestive enzymes with bromelain. The bromelain does a good job reducing the inflammation.
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Post by David on Jul 28, 2015 22:38:59 GMT -5
Izzie I still drink the Ginger tea you told me about. I have gotten to where I really like the lemon ginger tea.
My mother drinks it too! I make her a cup every night.
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Post by izzie on Jul 30, 2015 8:18:04 GMT -5
David....the Ginger Tea is terrific and glad your mother likes it too. It's especially good at night because it helps me have a good sleep. I keep some steeped and cooled tea in the fridge all the time to reduce inflammation due to poor digestion. It's even better tasting with lemon and honey.
Bromolain is the enzyme from pineapples and Papain is the enzyme from papaya........both natural source enzymes which are great for digestion as well.
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You might be noticing the difference in that or as others have mentioned need some time for your body to adjust, Can you exercise and put those airways to work?
I think you should ask your doctor to send you to a pulmonary specialists and go through the exercise program that is offered if you live in Canada; I am sure it is offered in the US too but it will cost you. You will get stronger and learn how to breath correctly and it makes such a difference. You will also find others in the program who are struggling with this disease and you will get correct advice from the physio therapist and the nurse/s in the program. Keep on trucking you are on the right path.