Copd and general anesthesia

My copd was moderate to severe in 2000. Now they just call it severe. I’ve had about 30% of predicted fev1 the entire time but need O2 more now for walking than ever.

@jenben59
I'd say over 25 years I've been good , overweight smoker type breathlessness upon climbing stairs etc . This last year since I've had covid and a respiratory infection I've been more short of breath while doing activities or walking . I'm only taking the spiriva once a day . No rescue inhaler .

@jenben59 Thank you for the information. I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. My tests read I am severe and I take BREO daily. What I do not understand is even on BREO the tests reads I am severe but I walk 3 miles a day, some areas are on incline, I do daily exercise, and have no problems at all really. Sometimes the breathing gets a bit raspy if I get a cold and I use an inhaler. I quit smoking 16 years ago, used those E-cigarettes for a few years, then nicorete gum, then off everything. I was surprised I have COPD.

I have pulmonary fibrosis (a restrictive lung disease as opposed to COPD an obstructive lung disease). I have significantly reduced lung capacity. I needed to do a colonoscopy last hear and I asked my Pulmonologist. He said he was fine with Monitored General Anesthesia - make sure an anesthesiologist nurse or doctor is monitoring you during procedure.

@hobbity

No problem with my husband a couple weeks ago with general anesthesia for AAA repair lasting 2.5 hours.

@jenben59

Well you seem to be doing great for having a " severe" diagnosis , keep up with all the excercise !

I have COPD as well. I needed several procedures which the doctors wanted clearance from my pulmonologist before they would do the procedure. My pulmonologist would call me into the office and examine me. She would call the doctor to see what anestisia I would be under and for how long. A couple times she said I needed to wait a month and double my COPD sprays. One time when my COPD was bad she flatly said no to back surgery that I wanted. After a long discussion my pulmonologist with myself and cancer doctor she approved me to have the cancer surgery but she gave several instructions to the doctor.

My anesthesiologist uses propothol (spelled wrong), I am still awake a little bit, or in or out. I am 7 years into COPD

@jenben59 I would definitely get a 2nd opinion. I still smoke 3 to 4 a day, 7 years with COPD & emphysema & I am @ 2 liters.

@lukiejuke1953 definitely not proud of smoking