C O P D ???

[Grog]

I agree with the others, it's unusual in active people.

I don't know much about it, except what I've heard from respirologist (aka pneumologist) friends about it. It usually is related to smoking, environmental/work issues (like working in an environment with an enormous amount of dust).

I strongly recommend seeing a specialist about it to confirm the diagnosis and get some education about how to manage it. I'm not certain, but nearly sure that you can at least stop the progress of COPD, if not partly reverse it.

I'm also quite certain that "quit riding" is not part of the solution...

Big hug - good luck.

[makbike]

My mom has COPD and here is what has been recommended to her:

1. Get plenty of exercise to keep the remaining lung tissue as healthy as possible.

2. Drink plenty of water.

3. Eat a healthy diet with lots of good protein.

4. Watch your weight

5. Use your medications/inhalers as directed

Make sure you find yourself a good pulmonologist and work closely with them to manage this disease.

Keep us posted.

[teigyr]

Very scary stuff.

Please let us know what you find out. I've been active my whole life but have become more sensitive to outside influences. I've been known to go out for an evening (not even in exercising) and end up not breathing well due to cold/damp/smoke. There are times my ribs feel bruised if I touch them from the outside.

It's surprising, kinda, but I know how I am and how an otherwise active "healthy" person can succomb to strange things.

I don't know anything about COPD and I tend to avoid inhaler things like the plague. Could be my downfall but I am curious as to how you fare.

I'd say 2nd opinion definitely. Then maybe try to find out why it happened?

[ClockworkOrange]

At the moment the only medication I am using is Seretide 125.

This is a bronchodilator. This relaxes the muscles in the walls of the small air passages in the lungs. It helps to open the airways and makes it easier for air to get in and out of the lungs. The effects of Seretide last for at least 12 hours.

When it is taken regularly it helps the small air passages to remain open.

I use to smoke, although always less than 10 per day and not every day. I gave up almost 3 years ago.

No, I have not worked with any hazardous substances at work and the area I live, I should imagine the air is reasonable clean, unlike when I lived in London many years ago.

I agree with what makbike posted, keeping a very sensible life style.

The only down side I guess is that the damage done cannot be reversed, so I must ensure I do all the right things from now on.

It was great the feedback that I received from you guys, BIG thanks.

Clock........not ticking quite so fast at the moment!

[Annie2Cycle]

So, for the last four weeks not been well, saw the Doctor and he said chest infection and gave me antibiotics and steorid tablets, then second visit still a chest infection but given stronger antibiotics, then told asthma and given more steroid tablets.

Had x-rays and a spirometry test. Final result is that I definitely do not have asthma but COPD?

OK, I generally rely on you guys for advice, so, any should or should not's?

I am so desperate to get back on my bike, been way too long to have not ridden.

Got to confess to going on the internet but there is so much, and personally it is always good hearing from people who know first hand about things.

Clock

As a person with COPD -patient- I suggest you see a pulmonologist and get full pulmonary function testing.
You'll want to get and keep a copy of the test results... all your medical records.
Generally, FEV1 is the usual number generalizing where you are...eg: mild, moderate, moderate severe and so on. Athletes usually range much higher than 100 when they're diagnosed and slowly decrease.

Check out the American Lung Association ... and you are in luck to have COPD in this day and age. It is not a death sentence anymore than anything else.

Other than medical...exercise is the single best thing you can do for yourself.

Riding a two-wheel upright may become challenging after a time... as our lungs expand ...but the recumbent is a great second choice.

Pursed Lip Breathing is the second best thing you can do for yourself... and the purchase of an oximeter is high on the list as well.
What would you like to know from a patient's viewpoint and experience?
Annie
.

[ClockworkOrange]

As a person with COPD -patient- I suggest you see a pulmonologist and get full pulmonary function testing.
You'll want to get and keep a copy of the test results... all your medical records.
Generally, FEV1 is the usual number generalizing where you are...eg: mild, moderate, moderate severe and so on. Athletes usually range much higher than 100 when they're diagnosed and slowly decrease.

Check out the American Lung Association ... and you are in luck to have COPD in this day and age. It is not a death sentence anymore than anything else.

Other than medical...exercise is the single best thing you can do for yourself.

Riding a two-wheel upright may become challenging after a time... as our lungs expand ...but the recumbent is a great second choice.

Pursed Lip Breathing is the second best thing you can do for yourself... and the purchase of an oximeter is high on the list as well.
What would you like to know from a patient's viewpoint and experience?
Annie
.

Hi Annie

I appreciated your long response, also to all the others who posted.

Went back to my GP and I asked her what the spiro thingy reading was, she said FEV1 and mumbled something about 2 2/3rd litres???

I do now realise that what I have is only mild, in fact I thought it was going away!

I decided to stop the medication, within a week I was back all wheezy and coughing.

Mentioned this to the doctor and because I had felt really well, she said to try a reduced amount ie instead of Seretide 125 to go down to Seretide 50. A few days later I felt awful, have never known myself to feel so lethargic, just about got out of bed. Then the tears (I DON'T DO TEARS)!!!

Phoned the Doctor to see if it was a side effect from reducing, she decided it was. According to her, the steroid inhaler gives you a bit of a 'high', and I was having withdrawal symptoms.

So, instead of having 125 x 4 each day, I now take 50 x 8 each day, which seems to be doing the job.

At the moment I do find I cannot push myself too much with anything, which really annoys and frustrates me, still, at least I can go off and do 5 miles or so, so all is not bad.

Cheers again guys.

Clock

[ClockworkOrange]

Not having a great time with this damned COPD at the moment, together with a chest infection.

However, I have found an amazing site, COPD International.

I posted something on there last night, something I could not get an answer from anywhere, not even my GP.

Got a super reply this morning and the funniest thing, is that this lady only lives 25 miles away from RunningMommy, who is my inspiration at the moment plus being a very good friend.

So, I live all those thousands of miles away but it is here in the States that I get all my advice and help.

Just wanted to share this.

I use to be able to ride a minimum of 100 miles per month, not much to most of you guys but now I can only do 3 - 4 miles max in any one day.

Still, I am not a quitter.

Cheers for listening to me droning on.

Clock..............taking one breath at a time!

[rij73]

Hey Clockwork... Just letting you know that I read the thread and am wishing you well! You sound like a fighter which is great. Keep up the exercise and the therapies!

You say you used to ride 100 miles a month and now 3-4 miles a day. Isn't that the same thing? 3.33x30=100

[ClockworkOrange]

Hey Clockwork... Just letting you know that I read the thread and am wishing you well! You sound like a fighter which is great. Keep up the exercise and the therapies!

You say you used to ride 100 miles a month and now 3-4 miles a day. Isn't that the same thing? 3.33x30=100

Your calculations are correct but my information was misleading.

Last week I rode 1 mile one day and then graduated to almost 2 miles a couple of days later = 3 miles in one week

This week I rode almost 2 miles yesterday and today almost 4 miles = 6 miles this week.

I have my partner and son telling me off, that I should be resting, but they do not understand that I am not getting out of breath riding BUT I am when I have to walk up steps to our bungalow. That is the most frustrating thing and I don't understand it.

I sneaked off this morning before my partner was up, then went for a nice ride, got back and he was still asleep...........but he guessed what I had been up to.

Just have to learn to ride up steps!

Clock

[jesvetmed]

CLOCK: I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. Wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts. One thing that crossed my mind was that I'd always heard yoga was great for asthmatics because of the deep breathing exercises. It might be hard at first, but in the long run, it may help? Ask someone who knows something about it, because I do NOT claim to. Just a random thought.

Good luck with everything... sounds encouraging that you are getting out and riding without too much trouble. Go slow! Sounds like you've made some great contacts with those that know a lot about the disease.

[cyclinnewbie]

THis may have already been said, but I didn't take the time to read the whole thread (I know, I'm a slacker! But I'm in a hurry to get outside!!). Asthma is COPD...chronic obstructive pulmonary disease...as well as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc. It's not always caused by smoking, as well as it's not always an old person's disease. You can still be active, you jsut need to make sure you have meds/inhaler/water/etc, and take your time. Do what your body tells you you can do. Go see a pulmonologist if you haven't already, they will be able to help. I have asthma, and rely on Singulaire and my inhaler...I still have bad days (like yesterday) where it took me an hour to bike 9 miles, but I just slow down and figure any exercise is good exercise! Keep in touch with your doc, make sure you follow his/her directions, eat well, stay hydrated and just listen to your body. I even got a heart rate monitor to help me judge how I might be oxygenating...sometimes I can't feel that my heart rate is 225 and I'm wheezing, because I'm so into what I'm doing at the time...chances are that if I'm at 225, I'm not oxygenating as efficiently as I should be, so I better slow it down. Lo and behold, I can go another 10 miles or more.
So, bottom line is follow your doc's advice, and don't worry! You MUST stay as active as you possibly can. Good luck!

[OakLeaf]

(((((Clock)))))

Sorry you're feeling so lousy. Sending good thoughts for healthier times ahead.

One thought - are you holding your breath when you climb stairs? A lot of people do (me included unless I really pay attention).

[ClockworkOrange]

Sorry to drag this thread up again but it is for a good reason.

Firstly, thanks to all the kind people that took the time to answer in such depth, it was really appreciated.

I have really persevered, ignored my partner and son nagging at me about riding my bike! In fact at weekends, I was hiding my bike clothes on a Friday night, then sneaking off early on a Saturday morning for a ride, knowing when I got back my partner would still be asleep.........lol

Eight weeks ago, I could only ride 2 miles max!

Last week, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday it totalled over 81 miles and most of it off road!

YAY..................that was such a result for me. This peak flow thingy does not change from the maximum of 340, generally 320 but I don't care, I can ride my bike again and it's fantastic.

Thanks again for all the encouragement and excellent advice.

Clock

[cosc]

Clockwork, congratulations on your increased milege and managing your health issue. Your an inspiration to me, to not let things get in the way of my priorities in life.

[jesvetmed]

YAY!!!!! Clockwork that is SUCH GOOD NEWS.... I'm glad things are looking up and that you've worked so hard to get yourself to this point. Great work!