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Avatar universal

Dont know to go to doc or not

In April of 2008 I was supposedly diagnosed with COPD..I say supposedly, because the pulmonologist is a friend of my sisters and she wants me to quit smoking.He has not put me on any medication and sometimes I wonder if he did not tell me that to scare me in to stopping.I have smoked heavily 2-3 packs a day, for 17 years.I have systemic lupus eurythmatoses.I recently have developed some concerning symptoms.I have a horrible,dry,hacking cough and I cough of a lot of clear phlegm and/or liquid.I have constant chest pain.My throat hurts.The back of my head and neck often hurt as well.My lymph nodes don't feel swollen, but are sore...go ahead, gimme the bad news..
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1086884 tn?1328640455
I have been wondering if there are some natural remedies to help with copd and like lung problems. I was glad you mensioned vitamin B5. Can you tell me more about what it does? Thank you lots.
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1086884 tn?1328640455
I was put in the hospital with a flair up. My oxygen level was 63. The put me on high amounts of predisone. I had to back off that once I got home. They used it to open my broncules. I am currently on spireva, albuterol and symbicort. Symbicort can give you thrush so you have to rinse and spit after use. I quit smoking all together. It is hard because I really want one. I know if I do, It will probably kill me. I have seen suginficant improvement in my breathing. I now maintain a level of 91 and only need oxygen at night.  If you have conjestion like I did and you are not coughing up blood, you can use mucinex. I had to take 2 600mg tabs twice a day. Drink lots of water and I would take a good vitimin and eat banannas as the water intake can cause you to loose potassium. Good luck and I hope you get another opinion. Keep me posted.
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Avatar universal
Hey! You know, that's actually not a bad idea...My main problem is smoking while I drive..I might put my cigarettes in the trunk...If I had to pull over and get one out of there everytime I wanted a cigarette, I bet I would want one much less often!!..I used to use albuterol inhalers several years ago...I will check into getting them prescribed again.Will also check with my Dad about Vitamin B5. He is the "Supplement King"..and I am sure he will have some on hand...something has got to give, because the pain in my chest is ongoing and uncomfortable...like when a person is sick for weeks and they cough nonstop and the whole chest is sore and achy...I feel like that all the time.It's scary.
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757137 tn?1347196453
Yes, there are medicines for COPD, but please do not start with prednisone or inhaled steroids. The side effects can be dreadful. I had to get off them because they were killing me, literally. Advair is the wrost because it also contains salmeterol.

There are albuterol inhalers which help a lot. Albuterol can also be used in a nebulizer and there are very small portable ones that fit into your purse. You appear to have chronic bronchitis. The very best treatment for this symptom is Vitamin B5. I take 1000 mg. daily and my coughing has ceased to be a serious problem.

As for your smoking, I am a very moderate smoker. I reduced my smoking by placing the cigarettes out of my reach. So instead of reaching for a cigarette out of habit (and perhaps no real desire), when I wanted a cigarette I had to go to the next room and get one out of a drawer. It cut my smoking in half and I had no sense of denial. In time my smoking reduced to one-third, again without a sense of denial.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your concern and well wishes...I guess it would be smart on my part to get a 2nd opinion..do you have to take medicine for C.O.P.D.?
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1086884 tn?1328640455
It sounds like you could have copd. You have a lot of the same things I had. Coughing, type of phlegm etc. It would be very unprofessional of this doctor to tell you something that was not true. You could sue him or her for malpractice. If you are not sure about the diagnosis go get another opinion. Most of the time they can tell just by listening to your lungs and a simple xray. I pray that you do not have copd especially since you are battling lupus. Good luck and God Bless
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