Very hard time tonight

[lavishgail]

Tonight when I came home from the day's events, I did a few small things in the house, hubby was wanting to go out to eat since a lot has been going on in his life and we were unable to go or do anything yesterday I agreed. But after doing these very small things ,putting away clothes and getting ready to go, all of a sudden my chest hurt very deep inside, I was having a beat red face and I had to lay down.
It's like if I do anything, walk to my car, go shopping, clean my face turns best red ND I'm beat. I had to put on my 02 and go to bed. When I was at the dentist appointment my blood pressure was 180 over 90 that's bad. So I had her wait and do it again on my other arm. And that was just from walking from the sitting room to the chair. I didn't have my 02 on at both these times, it didn't seem it was my breathing? This time it was 140 over 70 much better.
I'm scared heart runs in the family BIG TIME. Tonight I poured some lemon chello I rarely drink, I had maybe 3 sips and tipped over most of it. I thought maybe that's what did it? But this has been going on and I don't drink. Any idea's

And yes I'm making an appointment with my doctor, this really scared me and has been
The dentist asked me if I've been exercise? I don't get on the floor if that's what she means? I'm not obese, I'm not skinny either. Steroids make me plump. . But im not lazy, I do keep up my house bake and walk a lot inside. I have to be careful with the sun and stuff as you know. Idk, I'm looking to see if this is emphysema or something else? Thanks
Gail

[gerald]

Gail, do you get specially SOB when you are doing stuff with your arms? Like making a bed putting stuff away on shelves?

[lavishgail]

I haven't taken noticed. I will now. But I also got a bad head ache as well. I'm thinking it was the lemon chello, since I'm not used to drinking, and the little bit I had was a lot for me.

[gerald]

I was asking about the use of your arms & SOB because that can be a sign that your heart and lungs are struggling at working together.

I have found it necessary to monitor my health quite closely. Tracking symptoms to events/foods/reactions etc. Our conditions are not stable I have found it useful to be able to tie specific issues to events, it helps to determine the cause.

One example, I occasionally enjoy a couple of glasses of wine in the evening. I now know that, as a result, I can expect my chest to be a bit more plugged up the next day for most of the day. I suspect the alcohol slows down the breathing just enough to let mucous build up a bit more than usual. They more we know about our reactions to things the easier it is to identify what we can possible ignore and what to act on.

There was a suggestion a few years ago that people should keep diaries of their health / diet and a daily basis so that they could spot trends as your body goes through cycles.

[lavishgail]

Gerald, my mom came for a visit today, we went outside so I could show her my Gourds that are growing in my garden, and while we were looking I grabbed the rake and raked a little of where my dogs do their business. Again my mom was so scared for me she took the rake from me claiming she is in better health and will do the raking. she will be 81 December 3rd. She said my face was beat red and I was breathing very hard, I never new it was this bad? Omg. I'm very shook up.
What is happening to me?

[lavishgail]

Maybe I'm not doing enough? Maybe I need to do more? Idk?

[jarca]

Gail please get into a dr!
all the signs you are saying are things I have when I am going into an exacerbation. when this happens to me, i don't get pnuemonia; it is signs that one of my lungs is not moving air!

my 1st sign is my pain goes up (joint, foot & arthritic pain gets worse), then my BP goes up over the roof high (like yours in the 190's), then "heavy chest" feeling & being SOB.....OH and tired! oh I start feeling so tired, weak & lazy before I have an exacerbation.
(i think that is what Gerald is explaining with the arms---they get weak & cause me to feel SOB)

watch your chest & see if when you are just sitting or talking if it is working harder (did that make sense?)---the reason i say this is because the 1st time i had a bad exacerbation i thought i was just lazy & out of shape, but my friend noticed that my chest was raising more as i was trying to get more air (or what ever made it do that)

I don't want to seem like an alarmist, but unless you have medication (antibiotics & steroid) on hand to take now I don't think you should wait to get an appointment, i think you should get in where someone can listen to your lungs!!!---as my PCP always tells me; it is better to be seen & not need anything than to wait & get bad.
prayers are with you!

[gerald]

It was mentioned to me that when using your arms gets you very short of breath it is a sign that your heart is having to work too hard to oxygenate the body.
So your lungs and heart may not be working together properly. The issue with this is that you can breath as fast as your like it probably will not help. I find that at that point I need to stop, focus on my breathing and do purse lip breathing to aid the lungs and heart. It help expell the CO2, and forces you exchange the air better. What ever you do, do not continue to exert yourself until you 100% catch your breath and can breath normally. Being out of breath is not a crime. Stop and enjoy the scenery, catch your breath, breath easy and then go back at it, the work will not disappear.

Jarca is 100% correct, you need to see your doctor. Explain what you are experiencing and desctibe where and how it is occuring. It will help identify the issues.


You are on a journey of discovery here. You are discovering how you can make your body work better and concern you less. You need to bring your doctor's knowledge along as well as the odds are it is a learning experience for them.

[joany]

Lavishgail: Do heed this advice and get to the doctor (ER - be smart).

[lavishgail]

Okay, I'm have an anexity attack at the moment, I will get help. At this moment I'm fine, but I will get help. Thank you all.

[lavishgail]

Jarca and Gerald,how do you pronounce the word exacerbate?

[jarca]

exacerbate;

verb ex·ac·er·bate \ig-ˈza-sər-ˌbāt\

exacerbation for COPD is "a sudden worsening of condition"

if you look up a word on www.merriam-webster.com/ it shows a red speaker symbol next to the word that you can click on & it will sound out the word for you.

Also, I have always found this 10 signs of an exacerbation handy.  (if exacerbation is too hard to say, you can use the word flare, but I don't think people take that word as serious as it should be taken for some reason)
Notice it does say "Don’t ignore the warning signs. If you don’t get to a doctor ASAP, you could wind up in the hospital or lose some of your lung function.
" even if you have just 1 symptom call your Dr! 

10 Signs of a COPD Exacerbation

From time to time, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have what’s known as an exacerbation. Think of it as a flare.

You may suddenly have trouble breathing, or make more noise when you do. You may cough a lot and feel bad all over.

Exacerbations are often linked to a lung infection that results from a virus or bacteria, like a cold or some other illness. Spending time in smoggy or dirty air can also make your symptoms get worse quickly.

Don’t ignore the warning signs. If you don’t get to a doctor ASAP, you could wind up in the hospital or lose some of your lung function.

Call your doctor if you have one or more of the following symptoms. If you have medications (like antibiotics or oral steroids) at home, he’ll tell you when and how to use them. He can also let you know whether you need to go to the hospital for quicker treatment.

1. Shortness of breath. You feel like you can’t get enough air. You might notice it when you’re at rest or during light physical activity.

2. Noisy breathing. Your breath makes strange noises. Wheezing suggests mucus or pus is blocking your airways. Gurgling or rattling means fluid in your lungs.

3. Worry. When you’re not getting enough air, it’s easy to feel anxious or panicked. You tense your muscles, which makes it even harder to breathe.

4. Irregular breathing. You feel like you have to use your chest muscles to breathe instead of your diaphragm. Your breathing gets uneven. Sometimes your chest moves a lot faster; sometimes it’s much slower.

5. Cough. It’s more severe or frequent than usual. It could be dry or bring up yellow, green, or bloody phlegm. It gets worse when you lie down -- so much that you have to sit in a chair to sleep.

6. Changes in skin or nail color. You see a bluish tint around your lips or notice that your nails seem blue or purple. Your skin looks yellow or gray.

7. Trouble sleeping and eating. You can’t get to sleep, and you don’t feel like having food.

8. Can't talk. You're unable to get any words out. You have to use hand gestures to let someone know something is wrong with you.

9. Early morningheadaches. You start the day with a throbbing head, because low oxygen levels cause a buildup of carbon dioxide in your blood.

10. Swollen ankles or legs or belly pain. These symptoms are linked to problems with your heart or lungs.

www.webmd.com/lung/10-signs-copd-exacerbation


Of course as we get to know ourselves & disease a bit better, we each find a few other "warning signs" that mean to get in fast! 

as I said; for me my arthritis/pain increases (& my feet start to hurt; odd but they do), my BP goes very high, & my lungs feel heavy, like a brick is on my chest....the tiredness/feeling lazy is a biggy for me! 
and when i get those symptoms I tend to make excuses for them, like I've been busy getting so no wonder i'm achy & tired, my ankles are just swelling because I was out in the heat & probably didn't didn't drink enough. my lungs feel heavy because it's been humid lately (or windy, or hot, or cold)----I am still not "good" at calling dr when i should, but I've had a few scares that I wasn't sure I was going to make it thru an illness that I am trying to just call him like he tells me to-----& now days my kids (especially daughter) have had enough scares with me that they notice the symptoms & get on me (lovingly) that i'm "doing it again."

please be sure to update us; i get so worried when someone posts they don't feel well & then they don't post again! That is so scary for me!!!!

[lavishgail]

Letting you know jarca, I was monitored through the night last week, I'm waiting to hear from the doctors, no news is good news . Im feeling much better lately. Just a few things here and there, but I'm being well looked at.
The lung doctor said I'm fine so far? I guess I'm sick when I'm sick and we'll when I'm well..even the nodes cleared up. Really strange. My breathing test was better than be4 they said, so idk?

But I'm not upset. I'm upset when I'm sick and they say they don't know what is wrong with me? One doctor says one thing, another says another thing, I have so many telling me all kinds of scary stuff when you're in the hospital.

So I will wait for my 6 minute testing and go from there..thanks
Gail XOXO