COPD Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

I have had COPD (chronic bronchitis) for about six years or more!
still using respirator, 3 inhalers and some pills now! Not on oxygen at all. But would like to know if others have a serious control with mucus and feel a pressure on your chest? My doctor did indicate that my breathing tube has gotten smaller, could this be the reason for the chest tightness? To add to this a cancer doctor has been watching my lungs for 5 years now, and I go for tests again soon! Not looking for sympathy at all just guess I need to know if oxygen could or should be used if any of you have gone thru these kinds of symptoms?

My name is Bob. I am 62. I got covid right out of the gate in 2020. It landed in my chest hard. I was sick for three months. Went to the doctor and they gave me antibiotics, which did nothing. In December of 2020 I came down with pneumonia. I was hospitalized for a week, almost died. Had bilateral thorasentesis performed. I have severe scarring in my lungs and pleural adhesions in my chest as a result of my illnesses.

Last October I had a PFT. The results indicated I now have Stage 2 COPD.

I have an active life. I exercise aggressively every week. It’s not easy. Everyone says I look great. I’m not great. I have pain in my chest from the adhesions, I don’t have anything near the lung capacity that I had before, I cough a lot and I seem very prone to viral and bacterial infections now in my head and chest. My lungs are a mess. I have periodic episodes of not being able to taste or smell, raspy throat and slight brain fog. Only lasts a a matter of hours at a time. Weird.

My doctors really don’t have much to offer. They think I’m doing fine. I use an albuterol inhaler and take montelukast daily.

Are there any other treatments available that would help rehabilitate or just stabilize my lungs?

I was diagnosed with COPD in 2003 at Kaiser Medical center, started with albuterol inhaler only used on a rare occasion until later in the disease progression, start on a steroid inhaler in 2019. Still able to do most things except strenuous work or walking up hill. I looked at Lung Institute in 2017 decided they were only scamming folks, my SIL is a Dr. in Medial research and suggested I not waste my money on this unproven therapy, so here I am 84 and still looking to live a few more years, however still interested in joining a Mayo study.

Hi @tenspeedgt, you might find some of the things in this discussion about dyspnea helpful:
- Things that help False Shortness of Breath (SOB) or pseudo-dyspnea https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/false-shortness-of-breath/

Have you tried breathing techniques?

Good question @mpeters. This article explains tests used for the diagnosis of COPD like Spirometry
- Bronchodilator reversibility test
- Blood tests
- Genetic testing
- Scans
- Sputum exam
- ECG or EKG
Read the full article here:
- COPD Tests and Diagnosis https://www.healthline.com/health/copd/tests-diagnosis

A diagnosis includes assessing your signs and symptoms, history of exposure to lung irritants (such as smoking), and family history as well as a complete physical examination.

What tests did you have done?

I will respond to your question about mucus. My NP from the pulmonary department prescribed Ipatroprium, which gets rid of all the extra mucus that was making me miserable. You only use it when you need it.

Thanks for your suggestion! Have a great day!

Hi Merry , thank you so much for the post and asking about me . I have been coming to understand Copd and the ways to make my way in the everchanging way this disease is . I have been using my inhalers, doing 4 nebulizer treatments daily and on Oxygen . I had my very first public disaster where I went into full on panic but made it home thank God and that was a little upsetting . I am learning some great things here in these much appreciated post .

I was in the hospital with chest pains and the X-ray said “hyper inflated lungs consistent with COPD.” No heart problems were found. Thanks for sending the article. I’m off to read it now.

Thanks again for the article. I have a Mayo Clinic Executive Health exam every November. I have the spirometer and bronchodilator reversibility test every November. I have an EKG every November. I had the lung X-ray indicating COPD recently when I was in the hospital. I was exposed to my mother’s smoking for all of my young years. Now I wait to see if the findings on the X-ray reverse themselves. I’m not sure about the blood tests. I have them twice a year, what would I look for to see if the things mentioned in the article are present in my blood tests?