New to the site and Rambling

[Deleted]

I don't have a complaint. I don't have a question. i don't think. I do have a need to write these things down and share with some people who understand. I believe y'all are it.

I have COPD and struggle with it on a daily basis like everyone. I had to see Doc yesterday about a problem and in I went. He is very good to me and I think a lot of him. No problem there. We talk. He tells me why he wants to do something or meds he wants to give me and how they work and I tell him what I have read and researched and so we have conversations about my health and it works well for us. My DH always is with me and the three of us have these discussions.
Today I have the narcotics he gave me for pain and some muscle relaxants he gave me yesterday. I am in pain and I am tired but I did manage to get it a little under control today and get some rest. I did notice I was coughing up thick yellow phlegm today and have that kind of feverish feel taste in the back of my mouth. So I called Doc and said please to phone in some antibiotic for me. I said to him. You know it seems to me every time I go see you I call you the next day and need antibiotic. He checked and he said yes it is so. He said you probably are having a reaction to something in this office. I said fine we can just meet in the parking lot from now on. He said fine. What a bummer. Anyone else have a reaction to their Doctors office? One more place I can't go. Not that I go many places anyway. We live out and away from people and the Doctor said that is good for me. He expects a flu or cold to carry me off almost as soon as I get one. I hear him and prepare but I do intend on a good fight about it anyway.
OK well thanks for reading my post. I needed to say that. If you have advice good. I can't imagine any advice that I might need about this but who knows eh? I'm not depressed I'm not fearful I am fine other than I don't breath very well.

[larrynz]

Good to let it out, yellow could be bronchitis, I get that at times.
You said "He expects a flu or cold to carry me off almost as soon as I get one" Humans are pretty tough we can bounce back from a lot, flu you can avoid with an injection, colds are harder but if we look after ourselves we can weather that too.
Ramble as much as you like.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Sarah; It's good to write things down sometimes and share; especially when others can relate. Go ahead and ramble. There's times I'd love to do more than that ; like a punching bag; but...I don't have the wind for it. Rambling is good.....

I'm not sure I totally agree with e'thing your Dr has said and Larry's right re: flu shots and colds. We just have to be more diligent; but then you already know that. As for the coughing up yellowish that's not uncommon for me as I get closer to needing my Symbicort shot. However; in your case this is unusual for you, and combined with the infamous "taste"; yeahp, you did the right thing getting on an anti.

I don't have a problem with the Dr's offices (I cough more at the one i go too but only becasue the air isn't the greatest....tooo dry.

You ended a phrase with "eh"...I checked to see where you're from but I couldn't find anything. Am I to assume you're Canadian?

You're taking muscle relaxants and pain meds. Mind if I ask what for? Are you able to exercise at all?

Do you mind my asking what your FEV 1 is and are you on oxygen?

Sorry; I'm not trying to be nosey; I/we'd love to get to know you a bit better; but only if you want. I hope you'll post again soon.

Jackie

[Deleted]

Thanks for replying.
I have other things than COPD as do we all I am sure. Right now I have muscle cramping like you wouldn't believe. From the back, which is damaged, through to the stomach in front. Almost round the clock muscle cramps. The pain reliever is to try and get some relief from it as is the muscle relaxants. This is the second episode of back trouble in the last 4 months. This round is lesser, thank goodness.
The back thing is decades old on it's own. Doc thinks perhaps I have another compressed fracture in another disk but we haven't done an Xray. I will get to it but it takes a drive and I can't and my DH isn't up to it. So when we can we will, sort of thing.

Other than the Xray confirms what he thinks there is no treatment but rest, relax if I can and let it heal. So it is the same as I am trying to do now, only you get to give it another name.

I have approximately 20% lung function left. An exact reading isn't possible as I am at such low capacity they can't get a reading. I walk in short burst with my oxygen 24/7 so that gives you an idea.

I am from hail and hearty stock so I will squeeze the last drop out of these lungs before I am done. I am trying an experiment right now of stopping my Steroid inhaler and see if that stops the muscle cramps. Inhalers only give minor relief and I'd rather not have cramps than have the small amount of improved SOB I get from that particular inhaler. This is a test to see how it goes.

Yes I am Canadian born bread and for 7 generations before me and proud of it as you can see. I have lived here in the USA with the best husband in the world now for 11 years. I crave to come home at times and am glad to have found this Canadian board. I love my American home and people too. I'm one of those unusual to the US. I am a Legal Alien. ;D

[cheryl]

Sarah,

I'm afraid that I'm still learning about this disease, so have nothing useful to add to Larry and Jackie. You couldn't ask for two better people to advise you. I just want you to know that I'm thinking good things for you and hope you improve. We're always here to listen.

[Deleted]

Thank you Cheryl, it will take me awhile to get to know you folks and remember.
I am not depressed I am in fine mental shape so that is no worry for me. Right now I don't think I need advise but you just never know, eh? It does mean a lot to me to be able just to talk about the whole deal and have people understand what I am on about. I have to be very careful when talking to non COPDers as they are close to me and they immediately want to do sosmething to make it better. There is nothing to be done that isn't allready being done. Just be patient with me I can get goofy on drugs. ;D

[morningstar]

Sarah,

You sound like there is a fight or two left in you. I agree with Cheryl two of the best have replied to you and if there is a way to help you they will find it. Keep taling to us we all have broad shoulders and will help when we can. And sometimes helping is no more than just listening. I live in the states but in the last 4 year have made some of best friends come from Canada so I feel very much at home here. So welcome and good day I will be looking for your post.

[larrynz]

Love your sense of humour Sarah, Legal Alien .
Sounds like you have more problems than me, even so 20% is not uncommon on these forums, some are still going strong with half of that, that humour could carry you a long way yet.
Not sure if this will apply to you but I was having trouble with cramp and my doc told me to buy OTC magnesium supplement, it fixed it so I stopped taking it, it came back about 6 weeks later so I went back to the magnesium until it was fixed again, this has been repeated a few times.
This may not work for you but the OTC stuff is usually harmless if you take it as directed.

[LindaNY]

I'll just echo what Larry and Jackie said. They are very knowledgeable about this disease.

My lung function is not much better than yours but fortunately I'm not yet on O2 and still do pretty much most everything I like but at a much slower pace.

There is a lot you can do to prevent infections like using antibacterial gel and wipes. I never open a door to a doctors office with out a wipe in my hand. That goes for using the pen to sign in at the receptionist's desk.

[Deleted]

I do take suppliments of Calcium+D,potasium, magnesium and other things A recent blood check shows my everything is perfect except I am low on sodium. So when I crave salt I will have salt we decided. Not often but it happens. As I said to DH, I told you I wanted salt. Doc said yes if you have a cravying try it, probably my body saying I'm short.
I noticed a few funny spellings in my posts. I am sorry for that. It is drug related.

[morningstar]

Sarah,

Don't give the spelling another thought. I am the worlds worst. My mind goes faster than I type so I leave out letter or type to many. We all read typos here so you are among friends. The important thing is to keep posting. Good job so far. Join us in the Gym we would love to have you. Come on in where doining dishes is evne considered exercise. I will be looking for you.

[cheryl]

Ya know, I have never used salt. I don't know why. Just habit I guess. Now that I've passed on that useless piece of info., I"ll move on.............

[morningstar]

maybe you need salt to make the brains grow.

[cheryl]

Rosemarie

ROFLOL -- Well, aren't you the witty lady today!!!

[morningstar]

Cheryl,

ROFLMAO you know I am a very witty person. Under my halo there is much wittiness.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Sarah; I think it's the iodine you're needing. The body uses "cravings" quite often to tell us what's missing in our diet. I.E....if you're craving a piece of beef...it might be the iron etc.

[Deleted]

Well my blood report said I needed sodium and that is salt. Anyhow no biggie. Doc knows the difference between iodine and sodium. yep. I just got a giggle out of it because folks are always on about "Oh don't use salt" "Don't use Salt" "My Doctor said not to use salt" Mine said use a bit more salt. It is part of your electrolites from what I gather.

I've been feeling punk today taking Vicodin so it goes like this. Take a pill an hour later have a nap and hour later wake up in pain and take a pill and an hour later have a nap and so on.

At one point today DH came in and woke me up and gave me a pill. I do need sleep and that is what he said. You need to sleep. So that is what I did. I hurt less but I still hurt. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.
It would be nice to get a pain killer that would last 8 hours. Now that would be something. Anyhow, I'm just up to take a pill I'm going back for more sleep.

[Deleted]

cheryl said:

Ya know, I have never used salt. I don't know why. Just habit I guess. Now that I've passed on that useless piece of info., I"ll move on.............

that is funny cheryl

[morningstar]

Sarah,

You talk about the pain pill. I took that one for a while and sleep is all it did for me. Finally I didn't like sleeping all the time and still with the pain when I was awake. I don't know if it will work for you and you should ask you doctor. But I take Tylenol Arthritis Pain for me and my husband we have found that to be more helpful and doesn't make me sleepy. Does the pain go completely away. No but makes it managable for me. JMHO

Happy Trails