hello

[Deleted]

My name is Tracy, and Im 47. I got diagnosed with copd two years ago. I am still high functioning. I still work, and that's what led me to seek your advice. I work in food services. I have a great boss who reduced my schedule to two days a week because it became increasingly impossible to work a full schedule without missing days due to exhaustion. I am really careful about food safety. I wash my hands a gazillion times a shift. But over the past 6 months i have become increasingly short of breath. I am also highly sensitive to heat, and that's not a great thing to be when you work in a kitchen. I am seriously considering applying for disability because im afraid of a workplace accident happening someday because of fainting or not being able to get to my inhaler fast enough. Any advice? Thanks

[sandy07]

Hi. Yes, heat and high humidity in a kitchen is a problem for COPDers. Is there any other job besides the kitchen you boss might be able to put you?

Your exhaustion could be due to lack of vitamins/minerals/etc. We seem to feel better taking CoQ10, Omega 3 and a multi vitamin for more energy. There are other things we take for mucus problems etc.

If you have been getting more short of breath you may need to change your inhaler/drugs. What are you using now? Working in the kitchen on your feet all day means you are getting exercise...so that shouldn't be the problem. We do better if we get exercise regularly.

You don't say where you are living. You can go into your profile and add that if you wish. It helps others decide the correct info to give you since things are different in other countries.
Disability requirements are pretty much the same in Canada and U.S. In Canada you must have been hospitalized (or nearly) a few times a year, seen a doctor many times and had all the testing done. I just went thru it all myself. I was never hospitalized but was sent home with a line in my arm and had to return every 8 hrs. to get another shot of antibiotics. This was "instead" of hospitalization...so I guess it counted. You have to show them that you can't work ANYWHERE.

You don't say what your pft numbers are or whether you've had the test. Maybe you need to see the doctor again and tell him how you feel. He may change your meds. What works for one person may not work for another.

Come back with more questions if this doesn't help. Others will be along as well with their knowledge. Glad you joined.

** you are 47yrs. Do you think some of the heat and exhaustion problems could be from peri-menopause? I had weird things happen myself.

[John]

Welcome; Tracy You didn't say if you were on any med . . or if you smoke . I would suggest that you make an appointment with a Doctor .

[helen]

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Hey Tracy and welcome to the group. There's a lot of info available here as well as combined knowledge, support and just plain comraderie.

It's kinda hard to comment on anything without knowing a bit more though I must admit Sandy did a pretty good job and covered a fair bit....

What meds & dose are you on? And; do you know what your FEV1 is? Highly functioning can mean a lot of things and some people are in better "physical" shape than others; sounds like you might me and that's GREAT!

You mentioned you were diagnosed 2 years ago.... Hmmmmm Have you ever been tested for Alpha 1 (it's a simple blood test )? The reason I ask is that it use to be that anyone diagnosed with COPD 40 or 45 and under, it was recommended that they should be tested. You were "diagnosed at 45. However, nowadays the WHO and several of the Thoracic Societies recommends it regardless of the age....

As for disability.... I can't see it happening yet.... however; you might need to change jobs or positions such as Sandy mentioned.

In any event it's hard to really add anything else without knowing a bit more about you. I hope you'll share some additional info with us.

[susanny]

Hi Tracy, nice to meet you. I have to say that you've been doing a great job working, and what a super boss you have to let you cut your hours. I don't know what your FEV1 is, but if you are still having so many problems at 2 days per week, perhaps you aren't as 'high functioning' as you like to believe. I know that when I reached the point where I knew I couldn't work anymore I fought it, but reality has a way of saying enough is enough. I got to the point where just getting into the building from where I parked my car was difficult, let alone doing the job.

So, we don't know what country you live in. I live in the US and am on SSD, but started on it for another illness back in '89. I've looked up some sites for you to visit for the US SSD. Hope they help. The first one seems to answer a lot of questions you might have. I am going to be looking for the one that SSD puts out that states exactly what they allow for COPD. hope I can find it.

www.disabilitysecrets.com/medicine-medication-prescription-drugs-copd-emphysema.html

I found it! Amazing.

www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/3.00-Respiratory-Adult.htm

On this page, the official blue book for SSD, waaaaay down it shows what is required by height in table 1 for your FEV1. They use a different measuring number rather than the customary (to us) percentage number. If you request a copy of your last Pulmonary Function test done it will have this number.

All this is dependent on whether you've had the PFT done for your diagnosis, which I am assuming but maybe shouldn't be. I guess we need some more information from you. Perhaps you could take some time and explain how you were diagnosed and what meds you are currently using, too.

Good luck, I know how hard it is to want to work and not be able to get through the day. Perhaps something as simple as a change in meds might allow you to do this, but won't be able to comment on that til we get more info.

Sue