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Post by gerald on Oct 16, 2019 13:52:44 GMT -5
Something to assist new people that may join us. However, I am guilty of some of these myself!
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Do This, Don’t Do That
By Janet Plank · October 8, 2019
In our COPD life we often hear about things that we should do and shouldn’t do. There are some baffling things. I will elaborate on some of them here.
Things we should and shouldn’t do with COPD
Always have open communication with your doctor
Do discuss your diagnosis, test results, medications, treatments, recommendations, and an exercise program or pulmonary rehab with your doctor(s).
Don’t make another person’s diagnosis, treatments, or programs for you. Don’t make them your own without the approval of your doctor.
Avoid COPD triggers and practice healthy lifestyle changes
Do stop smoking and avoid smoke (wood-burning and otherwise). Avoid chemicals, pollution, and scented products. Have someone else dust and vacuum if possible, since dust can be a trigger.
Don’t think that you will be able to see positive changes right away, it takes time as most things do.
Take medications as prescribed
Do take your medications as prescribed. For example, Singulair. This medication should be taken at bedtime. If prescribed differently, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. It’s important that you know the medications that you are taking.
Don’t give, share, or sell your medications, and don’t take other medications not prescribed to you. Don’t discontinue your medications without discussing it with your doctor. Some medications need to be discontinued slowly. Don’t assume that if other people are prescribed a certain medication that it’s okay if you take those meds too. Only your doctor should prescribe your medication since he/she knows everything that you are taking.
Exercise is important for COPD
Do exercise. Your doctor may refer you to a pulmonary rehabilitation program if there is one in your area. If you are restricted and unable to exercise on your own or have no one to help you, perhaps your doctor will refer you to pulmonary rehabilitation or even physical therapy, in your house or outside.
Don’t start an exercise program on your own without discussing it with your doctor ahead of time.
Support and understanding of COPD
Do get a support system. It’s important to have someone to talk with that understands some of what you are going through. This can be a therapist, a Better Breather’s Club meeting, or another support group. Maybe you will find a support group online.
Don’t expect everyone to understand what you are going through. Don’t repeat what others have told you in these groups or who attended the meetings. It needs to be “what’s said at the meetings, stays at the meetings”. This applies to in-person and online groups too.
Do support people who will be taking hospice as well as those who will get lung transplants, when it’s time.
Don’t get upset with those who are going into hospice or going home. Some people will never have the option of getting a lung transplant, or even a LVRS (lung volume reduction surgery). They, as well as everyone else, need support.
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Post by lavishgail on Oct 18, 2019 0:24:18 GMT -5
Thank you Gerald. I never talk on social media about anyone here or. The fact I'm here. No probs from me that's for sure. My lung volume has shrunk and so has my lungs so they will talk to me about that I will see an immune doctor who works with all of this and he can tell me more of what's going on I have kidney stones, I have a nodule that calcified and is attached to my kidney I don't know I have a lot going on it's very depressing I have nobody to talk to except for the doctors and coming here that's it nobody understands because they don't have it.
They do have a breathing class here that meet every friday at pulmonary office I guess I never went they meet once a week. I don't think I want to go alone I do everything alone it seems.
Well I guess I have to find somebody to talk to because it's getting so bad with me that I just want to burst.
It's awful hard not to think about it or look stuff up on Google and then I make myself worse so I have to stop that I doubt I ever will. Have a nice day
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Post by lavishgail on Oct 18, 2019 0:26:26 GMT -5
I'm sorry it's not a nodule attached to my kidney it's a lymph node that calcified against my kidney and my liver has something on it as well my gosh I'm looking at 85 year old my heart is Young and I feel so old. Because my heart and my kidneys and my lungs are all involved in this is hard to take.
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