Your pulmonologist should be your to-go-to source of advice. However, we can sometimes provide some practical advice based on our many years of experience of supporting people living with COPD.
Have you looked through our website? There is a huge amount of good information there you can start with. Believe me, the right motivation makes a huge difference in the improvement I see in my patients. That little baby can provide it for you. I sympathize with your frustration! The first thing you need to do is make another appointment with your doctor. A phone or video appointment would be fine, if they offer that. Ask for a referral to a pulmonologist.
You need an explanation of what your problem is, how serious it is, and what he or she suggests be done to help you. It is possible to get COPD without being a smoker. However, there also are other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. There is help available for you, but you first need to find out the cause of your problem. Write down a list of the symptoms that are bothering you. Your doctor then will better be able to help. I am so sorry not to be able to offer more help to your note, but I have too little information to make any other suggestions for you at this time.
Make that phone call for a referral soon! Feel free to write again when you have more information or specific questions, and I will do my best to try to help you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. People with respiratory disorders, such as COPD and asthma, often find their symptoms are worse in cold weather. In fact,…. Wildfire season is upon us!
And with drought conditions and more intense heatwaves, wildfires may become a destructive, year-round phenomenon. The Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation PERF is a c 3 not-for-profit organization that was formed from a passion to improve the outlook for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD , through research into pulmonary rehabilitation and other patient-centered therapies.
Over time, this purpose has adapted to include other diseases where shortness-of-breath and exercise intolerance are hallmark symptoms. Leave this field empty. Read More. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. What you can do. Here are ways you can be your own best advocate: Be vigilant and keep your doctor informed, especially if you have more difficulty breathing and experience worsening symptoms or COPD exacerbations.
Ask your doctor about your treatment options, including dual therapy and triple therapy. These therapies combine different types of medicines that can help manage moderate to severe COPD symptoms and may even help reduce or prevent COPD exacerbations.
Stay positive and stay on your treatment plan. Get tips on how you can stick with your treatment all the way, every day. Be prepared if symptoms flare. Create a plan of action with your doctor in case you experience the sudden, severe symptoms of a COPD exacerbation.
Answer a few questions to learn about COPD treatments that may help you or the one you care for. Get guide. Stay in the know. Get the latest COPD news, helpful tips, and resources for you.
Sign up. Find COPD information for you. They may need to stay in the hospital during these flare-ups. Although a person will get a little better between flare-ups, they tend not to return to their previous condition. Some other symptoms a person might notice in late-stage COPD include:.
Although COPD is terminal, people may not always die of the condition directly, or of oxygen deprivation. Some people with COPD have other medical conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease. In fact, within 5 years of diagnosis, COPD is also an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death. Many treatment options are available to help a person with end stage COPD cope with the pain and discomfort associated with the condition.
Although supplemental oxygen and COPD medications may help, they may not be as helpful as they were in the earlier stages. Some palliative care options include :. Many people with terminal conditions find significant help from hospice care. Hospices provide end-of-life care that focuses on helping the person feel comfortable, easing their discomfort, and supporting them to make peace with death. Hospice providers prioritize the well-being of the patient and their desire for a good death, rather than preserving life at all costs.
For some people, anxiety about death is more painful than the physical discomfort of COPD. A person might worry about their legacy or their family, about spiritual matters, or whether they have lived a good life. Some strategies that may help include :. End stage COPD can be overwhelming. Seeking appropriate palliative care can help with the physical discomfort of COPD. It is normal for people to feel afraid or angry, and those who are close to death should not feel ashamed of these emotions.
A compassionate medical team and supportive hospice care can help a person feel comfortable and comforted during this stage of their life. Read this article in Spanish.
0コメント