janell

janellanswered the question .i still have to pay 365.00

Yes, Northwest Pharmacy in Canada - brand name symbicort generic -check it out https://www.northwestpharmacy.com/ = $125.00 symbicort and $171.00 for spirivia. This is for 3 months supply for both medicines. ?This is for symbicort for 160 mg. Less for 80 …

39 minutes ago

clipper (Debbie) - NJ State Captain

clipper (Debbie) - NJ State Captain answered the question .i still have to pay 365.00

The cost of medications is very difficult. Have you spoken to someone at your pulmonologist office to see what substitutions they can make that would be cheaper? Different insurance companies (Plan D) cover slight different medications. Also, liquid …

44 minutes ago

Mary Bowman

Mary Bowmananswered the question Coping with shortness of breath

i try practicing breathing exercises.I tire easily it helps a little

1 hour ago

Grandma05

Grandma05answered the question Emphysema no symptoms

Yes Iโ€™m still walking daily and run up stairs a few times a day, il definitely keep what you said in mind and thank you very much for your response. I had spirometry in November which was 73% but he said that was void result cause I didnโ€™t have peg on …

1 hour ago

Mary Bowman

Mary Bowmanasked the question: .i still have to pay 365.00

I have part D perscription but i still have several medicines for COPD and asthma. I also have a heart condition

1 hour ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captainanswered the question Which is better, a POC or B size tanks?

There are several things going on here, but it appears to be all about the relationship of O2 saturation levels and sob and how O2 can influence or relieve that (or not), with the mystery of pulse dose versus continuous flow in O2 delivery. People often …

2 hours ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captainanswered the question Emphysema no symptoms

You're clearly not seeing many changes in your ability to do things and to function as well as your peers. Congratulations. Nevertheless, your FEV1 of 68% does show COPD, so continuing to exercising will be very important to keep you where you are. Also …

2 hours ago

Sassycat

Sassycatanswered the question COPD and Air Travelโ€”What Should Be Considered?

This is a great article, I read this a few months ago. Thanks for posting it.

2 hours ago

JeanO53

JeanO53answered the question Which is better, a POC or B size tanks?

Here's a link to a related discussion that occurred on this site about 4 years ago: https://www.copdfoundation.org/COPD360social/Community/Questions-and-Answers/Pulse-Dose-vs-Continuous-Flow.aspx and a study that was done in 2017 from the NCBI: …

2 hours ago

Grandma05

Grandma05asked the question: Emphysema no symptoms

hi everyone been a while since Iโ€™be been on, if you remember I had emphysemous changes, seen lung specialist today and had another spirometry which was 68%. He said I had unsymptamatic emphysema and didnโ€™t require anything at this time but there seeing …

3 hours ago

muddleaged

muddleagedanswered the question Which is better, a POC or B size tanks?

Ed, look up the specs for your regulator. I looked up the specs for the regulator on my tank. 2 does not mean 2L. Turns out the 2 = 420 mL/min 3 = 560 mL/min 4 = 700 mL/min 5 = 860 mL/min Now, as I understand it, you don't inhale constantly …

6 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

Good morning to everyone! Prayers of peace, please. My brother, Robert Charles Dorin passed away yesterday of a heart attack. 53 years young. 
Rest in peace, little brother. ๐Ÿ™

6 hours ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainanswered the question COPD and Air Travelโ€”What Should Be Considered?

Iโ€™m giving a webinar on โ€œTraveling Safely with Supplemental Oxygenโ€ in a few months. While preparing, I did some research and found a great article that helped address the question of how to know when COPD patients can benefit from additional testing to …

9 hours ago

zania

zaniaanswered the question Has anyone tried any natural treatments and had good results?

I take so many meds for various conditions that I would be afraid to try oils or herbs, really any supplements not prescribed for me by a doctor. Interactions can happen among prescriptions and non-prescribed substances, and I don't know enough to figure …

10 hours ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainasked the question: COPD and Air Travelโ€”What Should Be Considered?

So many of us with COPD have loved ones spread across this wonderful world and/or places we want to see, events we want/need to attend. Often flying is one of the fastest ways (sometimes the only way) of getting between distances. What should be kept in …

10 hours ago

MikelV

MikelV

Has anyone ever participated in a clinical trial for bronchiectasis?
Second has anyone ever had surgery for this?


11 hours ago

edpe77

edpe77

Friday's dinner, and enough left overs for 5 more meals, aka home made TV dinners.



Chicken
Breast Supreme



Chicken
Breasts
2
Sticks
butter
1
1/2
cup sour cream
1
can Mushrooms {Fresh or canned}

โ€œcream-ofโ€
soup
Salt
& Pepper to taste
Cooked
rice 1
1/2
cup






Brown
chicken in butter and place in greased baking dish.
Saute
mushrooms, add cream soup, add sour cream. After thoroughly
mixed, pour over chicken.
Bake
1 hr 350F

Delicious!
ed

14 hours ago

edpe77

edpe77answered the question Which is better, a POC or B size tanks?

0This O2 thing can be very confusing at best. We agree a POC typically maxes out at 1-LPM. That is no longer good enough for my needs. Thus I switched to a M6B tank. Here's the rub. Ive been running a "6" which should mean "6-LPM on demand" or when you …

14 hours ago

Bill66 - Bill Wornstaff NJ State Captain

Bill66 - Bill Wornstaff NJ State Captain

Im on 12 day stretch at CVS, we have 3 HUB Stores and a brand new store opening 2/2/20 its been some really rough hours! Hope all is well with everyone? love you guys Bill66

15 hours ago

Morv

Morv

I am trying to answer clipper Debbie, what am I doing wrong

18 hours ago

Morv

Morv

Hi I am new to this group, I live in NSW Australia, Just have to learn to navigate around these pages.

19 hours ago

Morv

Morv

Hi Bill , sorry about your friend, 53 is too young .

19 hours ago

EmmaDee

EmmaDee

I am end stage and no longer able to sleep laying down in bed.  I have been sleeping in a recliner but would like to be able to sleep in bed.  Does anyone know of a pillow or wedge or something that would support sleeping in an upright position comfortably in bed?  I've looked online but haven't been able to find anything yet.  I'd appreciate any information.

Thanks!

20 hours ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captainanswered the question Can someone explain the difference between pursed lip and diaphragmatic breathing ?

Diaphragmatic breathing really means using the diaphragm muscle to breathe, not your neck and shoulders, which is what many of us with COPD actually do. If you find yourself with your ears touching your shoulders, you're using shoulder and neck muscles …

21 hours ago

das23

das23answered the question Has anyone tried any natural treatments and had good results?

I tried oils a few times. I thought they irritated me. That's just me--Some folks here use them and think they help. We're all different--I won''t use them

23 hours ago

Charlie7132

Charlie7132

I use to have a lot of trouble breathing after I ate.  I figured out the eating causes gas which presses up on my lungs and makes it difficult to breath.  So, now I eat smaller meals and chew AlkaSeltzer Heartburn and Gas relief chews after a meal.  It cause me to burp and relieves the pressure I use to feel and I no longer have trouble breathing after a meal.. 

23 hours ago

Charlie7132

Charlie7132answered the question Will quitting smoking stop the progression of COPD?

I've had COPD for over 30 years. You can live a full life as long as you quit smoking now. You can significantly slow down the progression of the disease if you don't smoke.. Nothing can reverse the damage that has already been done but you can prevent …

23 hours ago

Charlie7132

Charlie7132answered the question Can someone explain the difference between pursed lip and diaphragmatic breathing ?

Diaphragm breathing means that when you inhale, your stomach should go out which expands your diaphragm. Pursed lips breathing means that your lips should be pursed (puckered and slightly closed) since the back pressure from pursing your lips tends to …

23 hours ago

Forgeti5

Forgeti5

๐Ÿ’ƒ๐ŸŽถ Hello all. Peaceful Sunday to
You. We didn't go to church today.
Spending time at home this afternoon. Looked like snow clouds
Earlier.  Kaya โ™ก

23 hours ago

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota answered the question Smartdose or Oxymizer ?

I have 2 oximizers and used them on my c tank or M6 tank to conserve the o2 that make it last longer. You can't use it on demand as far as I know has to be continuous. I used to use it to walk blocks before. Not so much anymore. It just makes your o2 to …

1 day ago

netmouse

netmouseanswered the question Can anyone recommend a good doctor in North Ft. Myers, FL?

US News & World Report has some FL hospitals with good pulmonary departments. The following that have a number such as #2, are ranked in the top 50. "High performing" in Lung are also good in the nationally ranked hospitals. UF Health Shands …

1 day ago

netmouse

netmouseanswered the question What Can X-rays and Ct scans really tell us?

@ksuzn I am so sorry to hear about your mom. If screenings were covered by insurance it would help so many. Medicare recently began a list of free screenings, and that is a win. But not ovary cancer and not COPD. I guess the debate about mammogram …

1 day ago

shermae

shermae

Hi all.  I am new to this site and would like to make friends.

1 day ago

everyoneishere

everyoneishere

Hi, All, I'm a caregiver to my dad who is in hospice with COPD.  I've been reading the board for awhile, but haven't introduced myself. 


My dad has good days and bad. The bad days are scary and sad. I mean, I guess all the days are pretty bad, but the worst bad days are terrible. I drive back and forth between my home and his (five hours at least) every two weeks. I stay with him for a week, then go home. We talk on the phone and I work with hospice from a distance. We've set up round-the-clock care for him. It's necessary because his second wife died of cancer last August. I worry that I won't be with him in the end, so leaving is always emotionally fraught. 


How are others in similar situations managing? 


Much love and peace to all of you. Thank you for posting your thoughts and ideas in these pages. I've learned so much and gained a greater understanding of COPD. 


xo Beth

1 day ago

Gwynne

Gwynneasked the question: Has anyone tried any natural treatments and had good results?

I would like to try essential oils, supplements, or acupuncture. Has anyone tried these or other natural therapies?

1 day ago

Dondonsoy

Dondonsoy

If poc's only deliver 1-2lpm no matter the settings how do the company's get away with such miss leading advertising

1 day ago

  • NewestOldest
  • Bill Clark - Community ManagerBasically they don't explain that the numbers are just settings and not LPM and leave it for others to believe it is liter flow.  Definitely deceptive but not illegal but still terribly wrong.  I guarantee that people on high liter flow buy them thinking they will put out the oxygen they need and end up wasting their money and most likely getting hurt.1 day ago
  • Jean IA State CaptainBill's right.  What they do is certainly deceptive and if done deliberately (though how do you prove that?) it's certainly unethical and if proven, would be illegal (fraud).  Unfortunately,  a lot of the sales people don't know what the numbers mean, and those of us who are used to concentrators with settings to 5 and 6 and even higher, just assume that means LPM.  To give the companies credit, they don't say that these deliver x LPM and if you look at the information they do give in the instruction manuals and in the specs, they say exactly what they do produce.  It's in pretty small print, and you have to hunt for it in some of the documents, but the information is there.  This is definitely a situation where caveat emptor reigns!  


    The other thing it points out is how little most patients understand about O2 equipment, how it works and how to effectively make good choices.  That part's on us, unfortunately.  There are places where we can learn that information, but for the most part, we need to seek it out.  Equally unfortunately, many of our docs don't understand anything about home O2 use and the equipment that's available, so we end up educating them.


    Just some of the realities associated with having COPD..........1 day ago
Dondonsoy

Dondonsoyanswered the question More SOB on a prednisone taper with pneumonia?

Tell your doctor it might be a heart condition or any combination that is causing it. I have a friend with a bad heart and he has severe shortness of breath and all the steroids in the world won't touch it

1 day ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captain

I think most people know that I travel a lot, and this weekend is an example of getting caught. I'm in Hartford CT, and my flight to Chicago and then my flight home to Des Moines were both cancelled. I am stuck in Hartford until a flight to Chicago and then on to Des Moines booked for Sunday morning with just my POC, which I really prefer not to sleep with and it was after 5:00 on a Friday afternoon. My company got me a hotel room and flights, but they couldn't supply a concentrator!
I called the local Lincare office. The after hours operator connected me to one of the Lincare drivers. He and I talked about getting a concentrator for me, and he delivered it within the hour, with no travel arrangements or anything. He was helpful and really bailed me out of what could have been a very difficult and unpleasant situation. Thank you, Lincare!

1 day ago

Jean IA State Captain

Jean IA State Captainanswered the question Smartdose or Oxymizer ?

Actually, both are O2 conserving devices, but they work quite differently. The Smartdose conserver is used on a tank and can be used with a pulse dosage to conserve O2. You can also us it in continuous flow, but the O2 is used up much more quickly. The …

1 day ago

clipper (Debbie) - NJ State Captain

clipper (Debbie) - NJ State Captain answered the question Coping with shortness of breath

My 2 cents. Being short of breath all the time can be caused a number of things so I would discuss this with your doctors to rule things out, like your heart. If you use your oximeter to check your O2, you will know how it low O2 is playing a role or …

1 day ago

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota

Kandy State Captain of South Dakota

From freezing SD the temps been awful and added wind we have some closed interstates and a lot of roads. Its miserable but it to will pass one of these days.  This cold is so hard on our lungs even though we cover mouth and nose. I plan on hibernating the weekend.  Everyone take care and stay warm if your in the freezing states.  Monday is no better.

2 days ago

Lorrie State Captain of South Mississippi

Lorrie State Captain of South Mississippi

Mornin y'all 
Hope everbody's doin Great and stayin warm . As far as us on the Mississippi Gulf Coast we are sittin in the low 70s and everthin is bloomin here , oh Lord have mercy the pine pollen is truly so bad here everthin is yeller,  woke up this morn and had ta start Allergy spray , and don't like that stuff one bit but ya'ens gotta do what ya'ens gotta do ta keep from gettin a nasty ole Sinuse Infection.  Our Daffodils and our 120 year old Climbin  Babygirl Rose Bush that only blooms once a year in late spring already has been puttin off Flowers for a while now.  And the Daffodils normally flower in the middle of Feburary some have already had flowers and are gone now . Our Butterfly bushes are also in bloom. We once didn't understand Global warmin we are learnin the true meanin of it now. Tamorrow we are  not suppose ta get outta the 50s and Sunday night we will be at freezin. At night . Here we'ens go with the YoYo rtemps that can make for some tricky breathin weather.  Now ya'ens have a Wonderful weekend and stay warm and please stay in . 
Love ya'ens 
Lorrie 

2 days ago

Gwynne

Gwynneasked the question: Can anyone recommend a good doctor in North Ft. Myers, FL?

My mom needs to be on a better medication and needs a good pulmonologist or family doctor who is open to changing her medications.

2 days ago

edpe77

edpe77

I think latent anxiety is what did me in yesterday. My "usual" routine was interrupted causing internal stress, resulting in a bad day. My Dr appt was very pleasant, turns out my cholesterol is well under control. I'm doing fine today, so I can only conclude my head decided to pull the anxiety trip on me! There was no reason to be anxious, apparently I was, SOB hit me hard at the Dr's office, yet I had no reason to be stressed. I only mention this to highlight the impact anxiety has on us, weather or not we realize it.
ed

2 days ago

muddleaged

muddleagedanswered the question Coping with shortness of breath

Make sure you are really getting 2L on your portable devices. I use tanks and they suggested setting it at 3. I was always short of breath and struggling. Turns out 3 is no where near 2L. Setting at 4 is ok for me. But one day, in the pool, I thought, …

2 days ago

clipper (Debbie) - NJ State Captain

clipper (Debbie) - NJ State Captain answered the question Just was told in ER last night I have severe emphysema. I'm scared.

It is very scary and also confusing at first. Make sure you let us know but I am pretty sure it is safe for you to smile

2 days ago

VickyBrown

VickyBrown

I I am so lost my husband came home on oxygen they put him on predisone he is so depressed he canโ€™t sleep he sees things heโ€™s keeps pushing me away and now his doctor said his red blood count is very low and only a year ago his white ones were low so now Iโ€™m depressed cause he hen I read stories with my husbands symptoms I honk he is dying I have been crying for 4 days and havenโ€™t stoped Iโ€™m not ready to lose him and definitely not I the position to lose him please god help us

2 days ago

  • NewestOldest
  • Caroline
    Is your husband's doctor a pulmonologist or a general practitioner?  I am on oxygen and have had both of the blood cell problems that you refer to.  Both maladies can be treated.  


    Your husband needs to see a pulmonologist and probably a cardiologist and get a diagnosis of what is causing his problems.2 days ago
  • Apricot88
    Hi Vicky
    I strongly recommend you purchase a finger oximeter to keep check on oxygen saturation in the blood, if you have not already done so yet โ€ฆ. any questions please keep asking โ€ฆโ€ฆ...2 days ago
  • Jean IA State CaptainDefinitely agree with Caroline that you probably need both a cardiologist and a pulmonologist to work with you and figure out what the cause of his shortness of breath (sob) is.  If you're working with your primary physician ask for a referral to both immediately and take the first appointments they have.  Ask to be put on the cancellation list so if an appointment is cancelled you might get in sooner.   If he has a pulmonologist, start there.  Ask about heart issues and about exercise.  Once he's recovered from this recent hospitalization, he'll be a good candidate for Pulmonary Rehabilitation.  Don't let him turn the offer down! The exercise will do more for him than any medication he can take if he'll just try it.


    Prednisone often interferes with sleep; as difficult as this is, it is normal.  Depression is also normal.  Neither are fun to deal with, but they're not things that are unusual.  Once he's off the prednisone, these things could go away, especially the difficulty sleeping.  If the depression doesn't go away, ask your primary care or pulmonary doc for a referral to a good cognitive behavioral therapist who is skilled at dealing with people who have chronic conditions.  There are things you and he can do to make this much better and sometimes it takes help from a lot of different people to get started.1 day ago
Soleena

Soleena asked the question: Coping with shortness of breath

hi all, I was wondering if you all have suggestions for coping with chronic shortness of breath? Even with oxygen therapy at 2L I feel like a fish out of water. Iโ€™m exhausted by the end of the day and simple shopping trips have turned into big events.

2 days ago

chubs

chubsasked the question: Smartdose or Oxymizer ?

I just wanted to ask if what is the difference between a Smartdose Oxygen Conserver and an Oxymizer? seems like bottomline, both are used to conserve Oxygen on tanks and deliver bolus Oxygen upon needed. I'm looking for something to conserve Oxygen to …

2 days ago

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Medical Advice

It is not our intention to serve as a substitute for medical advice and any content posted should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. While we encourage individuals to share their personal experiences with COPD, please consult a physician before making changes to your own COPD management plan.