Introduction

[Deleted]

Hi all. Just wanted to quickly introduce myself. I was just informed on Friday that it's likely I have COPD. My blood tests came back with a high red blood count. Added to the fact that I am a 1 1/2 pack a day smoker for the past 30 some years and that both my mother and my grandfather had Emphysema, my doctor is fairly confident that my body is starting to show the effects of COPD. I am scheduled for a spirometry test on Aug 19th and will know more at that time. Meanwhile, I will likely continue to stalk this message board to glean as much information as possible No treatment has been discussed yet except that I have registered for the Stop Smoking clinic through my pharmacy. I think it's pretty obvious that I have no choice but to quit....I've always known I should, but now its more like..I have to !!

[sandy07]

Good morning and welcome to the forum. Great bunch of people here ready to help and discuss. Good luck with the quitting. Feel free to jump in at the fence or with questions when you have them.

[helen]

[Deleted]

Thanks Sandy and Helen Is there a thread on here that talks more about the high red blood count and what exactly that means ?? I've looked, but haven't found anything yet.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Good Morning lindas and welcome to the home of a great bunch of people who are more than willing to help you and share info.

And; Congratulations on seeing your Dr. then making "the" decision! Good for you!

The only tuly definitive way to know if you have COPD and the severity of same is with a breathing test; preferably a PFT (pulmonary function test) but spirometry will certainly do the trick. You're a big step in the right direction with having one booked for the 19th.As for treatment options that will be discussed thereafter.

I've been here since the beginning of the forum and I can't say I recall any discussion/thread on high red blood cell count (polycythemia). I've also run a search going back 500 days and still didn't see anything. (It doesn't mean it's not there; I just didn't see it).

So; having said that I went ahead and found you a few info links. (Below) If you want o do some further searching yourself with Google, perhaps try "red blood cells and COPD" and/or "polycythemia and copd" or even as wikpedia has it "elevated hematocrit" but also add copd to the search term.

I doubt you'll really find a lot of detailed info since basically the high cell count is (or can be) as a "result" of something else; not the reason or "casue" itself. Hope that makes sense.

Anyway..... we're glad tou're here, ask anything and share whatever you're comfortable with.

My name's Jackie aka Blossom and I look forward to getting to know you better!

www.emedicinehealth.com/polycythemia_high_red_blood_cell_count/article_em.htm

www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-red-blood-cell-count/MY00111/DSECTION=causes

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematocrit

[susanny]

Hi, Lindas. Welcome to the forum. Jackie's pointed you in the right direction to find info on the red blood cell count. As she said, it can be from other reasons. I've had this diagnosis of COPD for many years now and had many blood tests and never have any of my dr.'s said anything about a high red cell count. So.... do some digging and find out some info. Then patiently *ha!* wait for your spirometry test and the results. Good luck to you! Sue

[Deleted]

Jackie, thanks so much for the info and for going to the effort to find it for me. Thanks to both you and Sue for the warm welcome also. I look forward to getting to know both of you as well. For now, I'm just waiting for the tests and the results and wrapping my head around some of the lifestyle changes that I'll have to make.

[John]

Lindas ; Reg; High red blood cell count . It is my understanding from what I have learned , that when the body needs more 02 because of high retention in the lungs of trapped air & also keeping in mind that when a person is smoking there is less area for o2 because the red blood cells are saturated with nicotine etc. The body compensates by producing more red blood cell to increase the amount of o2 going to cells in the body Sounds good for some one with copd ,but it isn't, because to many red blood cells can thicken the blood making the heart work harder to circulate thicker blood, thus putting untold stress on the heart. So the best thing to do is to stop smoking. Stopping smoking will eliminate the nicotine and other bad substances in cigarette smoke from your red blood cells, thus leaving more space for 02 & reducing the need for more red blood cell . Please keep in mind that I am by no means a Dr. & this is only my interpretation of what I have read.

[susanny]

Thank you for looking that up, John. It helps and I guess I was too lazy to check into it.

[Deleted]

Thanks for look that up John and it pretty much coincides with what my doctor said as well. I am going to attempt to quit smoking; Its not nearly as easy as it sounds, but I'm pretty sure that if I can stay motivated, then I will manage. My SO is a non smoker, so that should make it a little easier ... I hope. My quit date is Aug 30th as that will give me time to attend the 2 stop smoking clinic's. After that my doctor will prescribe Champix for me. Wish me luck !

Cheers:)
Linda

[susanny]

I do, Linda. More than you can imagine, the luck is heading your way...!!

Sue

[helen]

Good luck, Linda!
And please keep your eyes open for what this medication does to you.

[Deleted]

Thanks John and Helen ! Helen, I've heard both good and bad about Champix, but I know I'll need help and I'm hoping that I'll have good luck with it. If I suffer any side effects, then I'll have to go with something else. My significant other used Champix and he didn't have any trouble with it so, of course, I'm hoping to have the same luck he did. He's been quit now for 4 years !!!

[lynnvanloosen]

Hi Lindas - I have Stage 3 Emphysema and have smoked for over 45 years - I am having a helluva time quitting and am disgusted about it - tried the champix for about 2 years (with breaks in between) and started to get some not so nice side effects so had to give it up. It really helped me quit though - for three months at a time. Once I was finished my pills I would slip back into the ciggy pack! I am finding it such a constant struggle and am so ashamed of myself for being such a fool. Hope you have good success with your attempts and good on your hubby for becoming a non-smoker! TTFN

[Deleted]

Hi,
My name is Linda and I was diagnosed with COPD in July /2010. I just found this message board today,so I guess it will take awhile to get used to it. I hope to meet some fellow COPD sufferers on here and hopefully learn from them, things that I might need to know to help me in my learning stage of this condition.

[gwenwigley]

Hi Linda 257,
Welcome to the family!! You will find a lot of friendly folks here who are only too willing to help or advise in any way they can. You will find a wealth of information on our website but feel free to jump in here with any questions you have.




Gwen

[sandy07]

Welcome to the group. Great bunch of folks with lots of information to share.