Welcome to the COPD in Canada Forum

[jim]

Hi Gardenguy, welcome8

Take your time, look around and ask any questions you like. The members here are only too happy to help where and when they can.

I hope you had a good day.

[Deleted]

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the welcome:) Im almost 50, and I live in BC in Canada.

I had asthma like symptoms periodically much of my adult life, and I collected about 20 pack years of smoking. I was drywalling my house about 3 years ago, and the dust made me seize up. I thought I had an asthma attack, but the blue inhaler didnt really help. So I went to the hospital, and the doc said he figured I had something called 'moderate COPD'. They bebulized me and i went home, having no clue what COPD was/is. Once I read some on the internet I was scared and figured Id be lucky to live 5 years.

I had spirometry done in 2011 and my pre FEV1 was about 83 post 94 another test a year later was almost identical except I had a 'significant broncho dilation'. I had quit smoking about 2 weeks BEFORE my trip to the hospital, so I figured that I had 'dodged a bullet anf that if lucky maybe my COPD wouldnt get to bad.

But this March I caught a bug, a dry cough that went wet, white sputum then some yellow. They gave me the mask and some prednisone which was awful and some antibiotics and some new inhalers. An Atrovent and a Flovent to go with the ventolin.

I had another spirometry about 2 weeks after being sick because I could feel that my breathing had changed for the worse. The amount of air in/out was less. I could feel it. My spirometry was about FEV1 76 pre and 83 post !

I was shocked and horrified. How could I lose that much in such a short period of time? Im not sure but maybe I hadnt recovered fully when I had the test, as I say it was only 2 weeks from being sick. buT I have gone from only needing some puffs of ventolin now and again to everyday, several times a day. The atrovent sometimes helps with ventolin, sometimes I seize up on atrovent. The steroid i think does no good or makes me slightly worse.


Im trying to learn all I can about copd. It upsets me to take short acting puffers every 4 hours or so. I think I should be on a long acting. Now it seems there are no days I dont need puffs, this being about 8 weeks after being sick.

If anyone has any suggestions or similar experiences Id love to hear, and I would be happy to learn about how you guys are doing too!

Thank you for listening and if I can help in any way let me know.

[ronwtor]

old member from tor. now living schediac new brunswick

[sandy07]

HI Ron. Welcome back.

[Deleted]

, I am new to this site..been diagnosed a couple of years ago..I was shocked, just thought i had asthma..immediately got depressed, went all sedentary, put on about a hundred pounds, now trying to fight my way back..I have some questions about exercise, which of course is difficult but I am trying..

[Deleted]

all .. Thanks for the friendly Welcomes. Pleased to be here! I was diagnosed with COPD around 7 or 8 years ago. I seen a specialist the first time about 3 months ago. I didn't get a great report. I have severe COPD with some element of asthma. He put me on a fairly new medication - DAXAS. This is to go along with my inhalers - Advair 500 - 2x day, Spiriva 18mcg - 1x day and Salbutamol 100 mcg 4 puffs - 4x day. The lung specialist suggested I not get colds, the flu, lung infections and etc, because every time I do get something it takes away from my lung function and leaves me in poorer condition. Question: How do we not get the flu, the common cold, lung infections? I do everything I can to not catch anything, but usually end up getting something which ends up becoming another lung infection. As I'm typing this, I'm recovering from another trip to the hospital (by ambulance) because of a lung infection. My lungs become so inflamed its like coughing fire and it is super painful. In the Ambulance they gave me Oxygen and 2 maxi-mist treatments on the way to the Hospital. I had already taken several inhalations of Salbutamol. The Doctor at the hospital prescribed (6) Sandoz-Azithromycin 250mg and 4 Prednisone 50mg. I was suffering from severe pain from coughing and trying to sleep in a chair. I felt like a boxer had used me for a punching bag. This happens to me 4 or 5 times a year. My family doctor tells me this will probably get worse with age .. not better. he said we'll deal with / treat it as it comes. 

Other then the above mentioned events - All things considered - I'm doing ok.

See you all later ..

Mark  

[purple]

Welcome Mark, sounds like you have had it rough. Glad you are here, there are lots of caring folk ready to listen and help in any way we can. Remember to join us at the 'fence' for daily chats and updates and encouragement.

[Deleted]

Hi I'm Ricki, I'm 65 years old for this week in London ON. I was diagnosed with COPD in 1997. I retired in Aug due in part to my lungs and due to vision problems as well. I take 18 mcg Spiriva, 4 to 8 symbicort daily Ventalin as needed and 250mg of Axithromycin 3 days a week. when I have a flare up I get an alternating antibiotics and sometimes Prednizone. August 2013 I was still pushing heavy stainless steel carts full of dishes down about 100 odd Meters of hall 6 times a day with one stop for a puffer. A change of jobs and 2 bad bouts of lung infection left me off work for 3 months (1 1/2 recovering, 1 1/2 waiting for the bureaucracy. At the end of m back to work programme I knew I could no longer do that job. I also suffered a retinal detachment in my one good eye that required 2 surgeries and recovery time. So now I have retired from that employer and am looking for more sedentary employment.
I am fortunate to have some outside interests that provide me with support groups and socialization. I have however gained 25 lb. and I can't walk like I used to. The time off work has left my muscles unused and weaker so finding some exercise to bring them back and eat up some flab is an interest. I've never been a go to the gym guy, more of a long walk in the woods type.
I was glad to find this forum and hope to get some tips on what has worked for others.

[David]

Nice to meet you and glad you found the forum.

[jim]

Hi ricki, nice to meet you, I'm hoping you find some things here that are helpful to you. please come here anytime you like. "Over the back fence" is a good place to have a chat, members come in and out all day.

Take care.

[margz]

Hi Everybody, thank you all for the welcomes  I now feel totally obliged to tell all. I am a 53 year old female, living in Durban South Africa. Also spend a large amount of time in Cape Town.I love travelling, I have a daughter of 25, qualified and working as a Biokineticist, a son of 21 who is going into his 3rd year of his civil engineering degree. I have stage 4 Emphysema. I am an ex smoker but also have lupus which could contribute. I was diagnosed in 2008 and at that stage I still had a lung capacity of 60% and felt great but had the lupus symptoms. I have a very positive and optimistic view of life and even at 20% lung capacity (that’s where I am now) I believe that something will come up and I will feel an improvement. In July 2013, I travelled to Tampa Florida where I had stem cell therapy.I did feel a difference for 6 months after the treatment. In those 6 months I travelled to Perth Australia and then to Bali. In the January I went to Mauritius. But after the 6 month I started to feel SOB again. In April 2014 I did all the testing for the RePneuLung Volume Reduction Coils, and were accepted to do the trials.Feel very blessed and privileged that I was given this opportunity. There are two of us. Myself and another lady from Natal. We are the first to have this procedure done in South Africa and although very exciting, it can also be frustrating on the other hand because so little feedback is given. That is why I started searching the web and came across this site. I had my first 10 coils place in my right lung in Sept 15th 2014 and my next 10 into my left lung in Oct 20th 2014. All the coils were into the upper lobes. I am due to see the Doc on 27th Jan for testing to see if there has been a difference. I feel that there is but still have bad days which I call my resting days . Well that’s about that. 

[David]

That is interesting Margz. You are a real inspiration to me. I also try and keep a happy positive attitude. I have a FEV1 of 20%. Never had anything done to me except medication. I don't qualify for Lung Reduction Surgery because I have all 3 types of Emphysema. Doctor told me it is through out both lungs so no hope for lung reduction.

I don't think the coils are offered anywhere around where I live. Maybe University of Alabama but I am not sure. The Pulmonary Doctors never mention them. I will ask the Doctor when I go in February. This will be a knew Pulmonary Doctor for me. Only thing that I have been told so far is get a lung transplant. I haven't made up my mind about that yet. I am 63 years old and was diagnosed with the beginning of Emphysema in 1983.

[David]

Margz, I forgot to mention I am interested in the Stem Cell treatment but my Doctor told me the FDA (Food and Drug) does not approve it in the USA so it is way out of my price range since Insurance will not cover any of it.

A member of this group, Al, has also gave me some valuable information on Stem Cell treatment.

[margz]

David, nice to meet you. I actually had stem cell in Tampa Bay it costs me a bit and actually only felt the the benefit for about 6 months. I as told to return to US for another treatment but when my 6 months were up I was not well and to travel for another 17 hours was not on the cards for me so I gave it a skip. Yes we really just have to take each day as it comes. I think overall to have a strong mind set is very important. I am surrounded by amazing people who inspire me everyday, and sometimes I look at what other have to cope with and I think, I am quite happy to be where I am. Getting back to treatments. The US have much more on offer than we have here in SA. This coil lung reduction is the newest in SA. I was told a lung transplant is not an option for me. Not entirely sure about why but have a feeling it might be because my 02 sats are very low at 88. Are you on Oxygen David. I have only started a month or so ago. I use a concentrator.

[David]

Thanks for sharing

Yes I am on oxygen at night going on 2 years now. I use oxygen during the day as needed. When I am at rest I do not need oxygen. Mostly when I go somewhere. Strange thing I don't use the oxygen when I exercise at the hospital. I exercise every day Monday thru Friday. I can walk for 30 to 45 minutes on the tread mill but can barely walk 50 yards on my own. The exercise helps me I can tell. 2013 was a bad year for me and I have actually improved in 2014 with the right medicine and a good exercise program.

I don't have Bronchitis and I have a good heart. My overall health is good it's just my lungs are shot. My O2 sats stay in the low 90's. Only drops when I walk 50 yards without oxygen or do some physical work. When I exert myself I get short of breath real quick.

[margz]

I try walk when ever I can. I haven't started on Treadmill yet but will make a effort soon. It's hellish hot and humid here at the moment. Walking on the treadmill is very different to walking alone as the treadmill actually propels you forward almost forcing you to take a step. Walking for 45 mins on treadmill is excellent. I don't think my heart is all that good as I have been told to have my oxygen on for at least 15 hours/ day. finding it hard to do that as I'm out and about a lot. But you have inspired me to start walking on treadmill.

[David]

I don't go fast. Generally 1.3 to 1.5

All that really matters is that I walk.

They say walking is the super food of exercise.

I also do the eliptical machine for about 5 minutes. Not fast. Feels like I am floating on air.