dry cough

[tebbieo]

I am a 53 year old female with copd. I have already been on antibiotics twice this year and i am coughing up so much phlegm now it's making me weak all over. I take advair, am trying the new drug dailiresp, 1mg. of klonipen and wellbutrin {even tho i have not smoked in two years}. I have applied for disability and according to the pulmonologist  my fev1 is 0.97 and my diffusing capacity 9.1. Those are 35% and 38% of  predicted respectively. Am I just prone to catching colds or do you think I'm getting worse? IAre these numbers considered to be the III or severe stage of copd?

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

By your FEV1 numbers, you have Stage IV COPD.  Your continuing to raise “much phlegm” after two infections requiring the use of antibiotics, in one year, is worrisome and is a reason for you to be reevaluated by your pulmonologist at this time.  He/she may now want to check your blood count and sputum and get a chest X-ray to be sure that you don’t have pneumonia or another lung disease, not recognizable until this time.  Advair is a good drug for the treatment of COPD but there have been reports that it may predispose to pneumonia.

The best thing for you to do is to see your doctor soon.

Good luck

[Tdu1vme]

To:  opus88,

No, I do not use them, as fortunately, I have no need for them and hopefully never will.  However, I have researched them for a friend whose husband has COPD.  As of yet, I have not seen her to give her the results of my research, but came upon this website in the research process and thought it might benefit some of its readers to share the information that I posted here.

[opus88]

Do you use these yourself or have you just read the testimonials?

[Tdu1vme]

Many COPD  sufferers have benefited greatly, to the extent that some have even been able to get off nebulizers and prescribed medication,  from one or more of the following herbal formula supplements.  Go to iherb.com and type into their Search box at the top of the page, COPD.  That will bring up several products others have used which helped treat their or a loved one's COPD.  Read the Testimonials for each:

1.  RidgeCrest Herbals, Clear Lungs Extra Strength
2.  Natural Care, Lung Saver
3.  Jarrow Formulas, BroccoMax

One or more of the others  which will appear may also interest you.

Also check with vitacost.com and swansonvitamins.com as each carry one or more of them and may have a better price if you are interested in trying them.  

[allmymarbles]

By the way, Advair is really nasty stuff. I refused to continue using it three years ago and am all the better for it.

[allmymarbles]

Prednisone, inhaled steroids (such as Advair) and antibiotics give rise to an overgrowth of candida albicans. When this infests the lungs it causes the development of thick mucus. (Do you also have sinus problems, such as post-nasal drip?) Albuterol, having a low pH, makes the situation worse.

What to do? Get tested for Candida albicans. I tested positive (I am stage III). Getting rid of candida (if that is your problem) will get rid of the mucus (though this will take some time). Meanwhile to thin the mucus and and more readily expel it, a respiratory therapist suggested I use nebulized Mucomyst. My doctor prescribed it and the result was miraculous. No more of that exhausting hacking.