New to the Board with a question about COPD

[jimtnc]

Please forgive me for asking this question after I'm sure it's been asked other ways about 10,000 times before.

I've been smoking for over 40 years and have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis (COPD), and just quit for good close to 3 weeks ago. It would have been over a month, but the remnants of three hurricanes knocked me off my path.

Don't feel the need to start smoking again now like many do, but I'm feeling the shortness of breath more and more. I'm sure anxiety is playing into this, since I've been on a light anxiety reducing medication for several years, but was wondering if this mostly mental and will go away or at least diminish to the point of not waking up at 1-3am every night with heavy breathing?

I'm also finding my Dr. is not very sympathetic to my situation. Are they all this way?

Thanks, Jim.

[National Jewish]

It is difficult to know if this is mostly mental and will go away the longer that you are smoke-free.  It is also possible that this is related to your chronic bronchitis.  A thorough exam by a doctor should reveal the problem.  If your chronic bronchitis is the problem, using inhaled medicine should help.

Diaphragmatic breathing can also help by moving more air in and out of your lungs.  This is the most efficient way to breathe and may improve your early morning heavy breathing.  Learning this technique will help you to breathe slowly, regularly, gently, and smoothly all of the time.  Here are the instructions:
· Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
· While you breathe in, count 1, 2 and push your stomach out.
· Place your hand on your stomach so you can feel your stomach going out.  This promotes the use of your diaphragm and your lower respiratory muscles.
· Breathe out slowly and deeply through your mouth.  Imagine that you are breathing out through a straw by “pursing” your lips.
· While you slowly breathe out all the way, count 1, 2, 3, 4 and let your stomach relax.  You can feel your stomach going in with your hand.
You often can get help with this type of breathing by taking an introductory yoga class or checking out a videotape on yoga that focuses on breathing and relaxation.

Not all doctors are unsympathetic.  However you may have to search thoroughly to find a doctor who is sympathetic to your situation.

[starion]

Congratulations on quitting smoking!  That's GREAT & the BEST thing you could do for your COPD, life, and lungs!

You should NOT be waking every night with difficulty breathing.  Since you are, I would urge you to ask your doctor to re-evaluate your treatment plan to help provide better relief of your symptoms, particularly at night.  If the doc is unwilling/unable to do so, I would recommend you seek an independent evaluation from a good pulmonologist who will work with you to optimize your lung function and medication treatment plan.  A large teaching hospital with a good pulmonary department would be a good place to find such a doctor.

Unfortunately, there are a number of doctors who are unable or unwilling to work closely with patient to optimize their treatment.  Fortunately, there are MANY GREAT ones out there who WILL work with you, especially now that you have quit smoking and are willing to work.
Good luck!
Starion

[jimtnc]

thanks clarion, I was feeling the same way about the middle of the night episodes. So, to my surprise, I called my doctor and he called in a prescription for a puffer (PRN). I left a message and told them I needed something for my SOB, and that it could be also be anxiety related along with withdrawal. He apparently agreed. I'm just hoping now that this is just to get me over the "quitting" hump while repairs are underway, and not a "from now on" thing. Guess we'll see.

Thanks for the support.

Jim.

Also, I have to post something from someone I've talked with on another board. This is what he found out, and I had to share it. Hope "hatecopd" doesn't get offended with me:

"I quit smoking 6 months ago, after which my SOB got worse than ever. I kept telling my Pulm doc that I felt worse, and I KNEW I would feel better if I smoked. He said he had never heard of anyone getting worse from qutting. Well, I did some research & found out that the tobacco companies add a chemical to cigs that when heated acts as a bronchodialtor, and opens the lungs.

Guess what .... today when I saw him, he told me that he also did some research, and said that I was correct. The agents in cigs also act as an anti-inflamitary.

So .... evil companies do evil things ... here they are covering up the effects of the cigs, and the symptoms of copd with chemicals so that we dont know we are getting sick. Is it any wonder that most of us first seek a diagnosis when we are well beyond mild ?

I always wondered why, when I was still smoking, that I smoked more when my lungs felt really bad .. now I know why ... and it really saddens me."

That says it all!!!

Have a good day.

[jimtnc]

Please excuse the mistake on your name, starion. This forum should allow you to look at the past messages while you reply to them, I think.

[jimtnc]

I guess I'll just read on this forum and forget about posting. Doesn't seem to be a forum that responders act with any reasonable timing. God bless to all.