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Post by stoker55 on Jul 7, 2014 13:19:38 GMT -5
Hi Stacy; hope you are having a good breathing day.
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Oxygen
Jul 7, 2014 9:09:03 GMT -5
Post by stoker55 on Jul 7, 2014 9:09:03 GMT -5
Not necessarily; depending on how much shock the person is in. If you can speak you really need to tell them that you have COPD. They only way we can tell is if an ID bracelet is on the person or it is tatooed. However they would find the CO2 levels raised but if you are in the golden hour you would be fine as it would be a 20 minute ride to the hospital and if you are unconcious you have priority over any other calls.
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Post by stoker55 on Jul 2, 2014 11:45:49 GMT -5
I was a first aid attendant here in BC for over 20 years. We were taught to give patients with COPD O2 at 5L not 10L as per any other person. However, the problem was that if your patient is unconcious and does not have a bracelet, ID or a companion telling you that they have COPD you will give them the higher dose as it was figured that the risk out weighed the consequence. Many of us do not wear anything to let emergency people know we suffer from COPD so it is up to us when we come to - to ask them to turn it down a notch. The onus is on us with the chronic disease to wear proper id.
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 27, 2014 8:51:38 GMT -5
Thanks Deborah what a great article I will be on that for next year for sure!
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 25, 2014 16:00:06 GMT -5
Singulaire hasn't worked for me; I found reactine but have gone through one pack so bought Aerius to try next week. It is all trial and error for us isn't it as no 2 bodies are the same. At least I know what is wrong with me this year. Last year I fought for breath from June-October as nothing worked because I had no COPD meds. Was a little concerned it was going to happen again. Thanks for the input all.
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 23, 2014 14:37:03 GMT -5
Don't know how you all handle allergy season but thought I would share my experience. I have never really been bothered until this year. I would use reactin or something else for a couple of weeks and be fine. This year I made the mistake of asking my pharmacist what I should take (should of known as this wasn't my regular pharmacist). He pulled my scription list and said Oh, you have COPD, you can't take anything but Benadryl. I did a double take & he explained that I couldn't have anything but anithistamine. So off I went with Benadryl. That stuff doesn't work & makes me sleepy. By the end of the week my throat was so sore & my eyes were crying and sticking shut in the morning. I went to my Dr as I had had it! Well, I ended up with some other Dr because mine was so busy. This idiot gave me Flovent and said the same thing as the pharmacist. Needless to say my tongue and throat broke out in blisters and sores from the Flovent. I went back to my Dr and got to see him last week. I told him about what was going on. He says oh I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. Yes, you can take reactin, you can take decongestants and you can use eye drops. Good thing you stopped the Flovent as you are having an allergic reaction. Duh! I kindly suggested that all the doctors in that office get on the same page about COPD patients. Needless to say I am doing fine with my reactin, eye drops and no extra inhaler. You really gotta wonder sometimes about the level of professionalism out there. Take care and breath well!
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 23, 2014 14:20:18 GMT -5
HOpe you find what you need here. Welcome
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 23, 2014 14:19:36 GMT -5
Welcome &
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 18, 2014 14:47:36 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see what the findings are when they are done. Hope everyone's liver can stand it.
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 16, 2014 14:16:05 GMT -5
Here in Canada you have to pay for the vaccine. Check out each available place near you as the cost ranges from $170-$200+ depending on the pharmacy. I found the travel clinic the cheapest.
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 11, 2014 9:10:35 GMT -5
Thanks Deborah I find it interesting that it would be 6 pm at night that spikes, noon I would expect. I had allergies so bad yesterday that I went to the dr. & he gave me another inhaler to take for the next 10 days to get the burning out of my lungs and the SOB under control. Gone are the days of getting over the counter relief.
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Rim1949
Jun 11, 2014 9:03:22 GMT -5
Post by stoker55 on Jun 11, 2014 9:03:22 GMT -5
Welcome Rim1949
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 11, 2014 9:02:30 GMT -5
Welcome Shelda
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 6, 2014 14:41:53 GMT -5
Welcome Alexandrac, I felt everything you were feeling when I was diagnosed at Christmas. Still feeling it and trying to deal with it. Found out that Pulmonary therapy was most helpful. Had to cut my working days down to 3 days a week. Grateful I can keep those. Seeing many different specialists because of course when they find out you have one thing wrong with you they want to find more. It is a good thing really as once this is all done I will know for sure how healthy I am or not. Take it moment to moment go ahead and cry as it does not good to hold it in. COPD runs your life now but don't let it rule. Stay as positive as possible and read up on as much as you can. You will slowly get your head round it. Takes some time and I am not all the way there yet myself. I believe the meds and info out there now is much better than before. However I do find a lot of stigma associated with this disease when you speak of it with others. They either don't know what it is or tell you it is your own fault for smoking all those years ago. That said I wouln't give up any of the way I have lived my life or will continue to. Hang in there.
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Post by stoker55 on May 21, 2014 15:02:43 GMT -5
My Dr. suggested that I get a shingles vaccine. Anyone out there had one? Does it work?
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Post by stoker55 on May 21, 2014 14:58:04 GMT -5
I saw on the news yesterday about MERS and was wondering how bad it would be for the likes of us. Now I know JIKES! Glad you are on the mend. I learned at pulmomnary rehab to not go anywhere without my wipes and hand sanatizers.
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Post by stoker55 on May 21, 2014 14:41:03 GMT -5
Thanks Barb I'd like that
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Post by stoker55 on May 21, 2014 14:38:31 GMT -5
Welcome Fred, I was only diagnosed before Christmas and it had made me change my life a lot. I am learning that COPD runs my life but I will not let it rule it. I just finished pulmonary rehab last week and got lots of help and advice there. If you have a COPD group where you live I suggest you join. I love this site because I can safely have a good moan or read about someone else who is going through the same thing as I. Hope you can get what need from us. Hang it there it will get much better once your start understanding your disease.
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Throat
May 8, 2014 17:08:42 GMT -5
Post by stoker55 on May 8, 2014 17:08:42 GMT -5
I get really SOB and way more emotional now as I have a hard time dealing with anything I have to express a strong opinion on verbally but not the closed throat feeling.
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Post by stoker55 on May 8, 2014 10:57:21 GMT -5
I don't have a buddy either and would like to be on and have one. I live in Burnaby, BC if that matters to anyone.
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 29, 2014 11:24:01 GMT -5
I don't know either but also experience that even on a warm windy day; I am thinking maybe pollutents in the air are more stirred up? I do know that when it is cold and windy I just try to stay inside and if I have to go out I use a scarf; I have been thinking about asking my Dr. for a mask as it leaves me breathless.
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Tudorza
Apr 24, 2014 13:24:09 GMT -5
Post by stoker55 on Apr 24, 2014 13:24:09 GMT -5
Holy smokes David that is an ungodly amount to pay for an Rx that actually helps you. I feel for your pocket book. I am not sure how it works for you in the US but here we have pulmonary rehab classes that don't cost (I think it is in the BC medical premiums we pay as nothing is ever free). I am just finishing up on my classes I have 2 more weeks to go and found it so very helpful. I have learned to breath again (know that sounds funny but it is true). I am not panicing as badly as I was & have learned that I just have to slow down. I am breathing better and so sleeping better when I do sleep and it all helps. I do get SOB when exercising but I am learning to control it so my panic levels go down. Hope you find something that will work for you.
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 22, 2014 10:38:21 GMT -5
Very happy for you that you have returned to your home. It will be very hard for you not to over do it because you are feeling better. Please just take it easy on yourself and just enjoy being back home. Take good care of yourself.
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 10, 2014 9:00:23 GMT -5
Izzie I truly feel for you as I am going the round about just trying to get a proper rescue inhaler that doesn't send me to the moon. Hang in there and if it doesn't help you breath better make them listen. I had to physically yell at my Doctor before he took me seriously. Hopefully it won't come to that for you as it can make you SOB. Take care & I hope you get the right meds soon.
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Post by stoker55 on Mar 31, 2014 15:43:52 GMT -5
Thanks Al I think that we all need to be careful and think about what we are putting into our bodies no matter if it is RX or natural. We need to be attuned to how our body is feeling and keep asking questions.
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Post by stoker55 on Mar 24, 2014 15:14:10 GMT -5
Dan I quit smoking 2 and 1/2 years ago it isn't easy I think it was like at least the 20th time I have quit. I still want to smoke but after I read Allen Carr's how to quit smoking I go back and read it when I am tempted and it stops me. They say quiting nicotine is worse than the heroin habit. Just keep trying and one day it will happen, never give up on it even if it is only I won't have a smoke for 1 more minute. Good luck you will find lots of kind understanding people here.
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Post by stoker55 on Mar 24, 2014 15:09:27 GMT -5
Thanks David-I'm just looking for something that I can live with the side effects of.Even Bricanyl races my heart but it doesn't scare me like ventoline does. I start Pulmonary rehab April 2nd so I will probably learn quite a lot about things that work & things that don't. I just want to start feeling better and not so tired all the time. I love my job and I am afraid I will have to go to part time now. Hoping rehab will build me back up time will tell. Thanks everyone.
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Post by stoker55 on Mar 21, 2014 9:12:18 GMT -5
Thanks Judi-this is all good to know because the pharmacist told me that I will probably be changing meds as this progresses and like you I am very sensitive to any meds. I don't mind the Bricanyl so much but I believe that is gives me a bit of a nose bleed the next morning. I think the whole thing the therapist & the pharmacist are trying to stress is that if I take good care of myself, and exercise properly I should not have to use a rescue inhaler very often. I do realize that anytime you put meds into your body 9 times out of 10 you will get some reaction and it is a personal decision if you can live with it. Thanks everyone.
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Post by stoker55 on Mar 18, 2014 12:15:43 GMT -5
As most of you know I am very new to all this and I still work a full work week. Needless to say I don't do much when I get hom but do try to swim at least 3 times a week no matter what. I finally got to see a RT and they are going to put me in a 3 day a week program as soon as April but for sure in May I have a spot. I am looking forward to meeting new people and discussing ongoing problems I have been having and what is going on with them. I really don't have a clue what to expect on any given day. My RT put me on Sprivia and it seems to work as I did not have anything for maintenance on rescue. Now I need to find a correct rescue inhaler. I find ventolin sends me to the moon and makes me feel worse. Deborah suggested I try Bricanyl so I am going to ask my Dr. for that today or something else. I hope I get this figured out soon. If anyone has any suggestions I am open to them. I am beginning to think that this is probably an ongoing issue. thanks
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Post by stoker55 on Mar 3, 2014 11:59:54 GMT -5
Happy to hear that I am not the only out there banging my head against the wall trying to find an inhaler that works. Thanks for sharing.
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