Headaches and energy loss

Posted by roberthoneywell @roberthoneywell, 2 days ago

After going a couple of years with COPD, I recently went through a phase where I was more debilitated than usual and struggled to do much of anything without stopping to catch my breath. I also developed this nagging headache, which seems to almost always be there now. I have noticed that my condition significantly improves if I am able to expel phlegm.....I take Anoro but that's it. I don't take Mucinol or anything for headache. Does anyone else have good days and bad days like this?

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My bad days are related to the weather. I take Musinex to liquify the mucus and Sudafed for headaches

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I been getting out of breath walking around my house , I told my doctor in September he said let’s see how my catscan is in December, I just seen my doctor he mentioned it looks like I have muscle but hard to tell, I did just get over a bad cold , I had to bring it up again I’m out of breath he brings up exercises and my husband was with me and said I exercise religiously then finally he mentioned me getting blood test to see if I can qualify for giving my self once a month injection, haven’t heard anything yet not sure if my insurance will cover it but I’m definitely calling doctor next week to see what’s going on. This is my last straw with this doctor, I’m hoping I get new meds and it helps, hopefully something will work for you too ❤️

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Drink plenty of water and see if that helps. It seems to thin the mucus making it easier to cough it up. sometimes using a nebulizer helps. Check with your Dr.

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Profile picture for suzyq61 @suzyq61

I been getting out of breath walking around my house , I told my doctor in September he said let’s see how my catscan is in December, I just seen my doctor he mentioned it looks like I have muscle but hard to tell, I did just get over a bad cold , I had to bring it up again I’m out of breath he brings up exercises and my husband was with me and said I exercise religiously then finally he mentioned me getting blood test to see if I can qualify for giving my self once a month injection, haven’t heard anything yet not sure if my insurance will cover it but I’m definitely calling doctor next week to see what’s going on. This is my last straw with this doctor, I’m hoping I get new meds and it helps, hopefully something will work for you too ❤️

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@suzyq61 Keep us posted! I might pursue this if I qualify.

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Just sayin', last few days I've been better, except for the headaches which I have every day it seems. I still get out of breath, just not as severe as it was a week ago. I have not been sick at all, haven't changed meds. I did go to the pulmonary docs and they suggested rehab, but where I live that's just too hard to manage. Had a catscan that was basically nothing. I'm just wondering if anyone else has seen this backpedalling and this headache. Also thinking that if you have phlegm that is not coming up, it is blocking your meds from reaching the tissue it is designed to help.

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Profile picture for roberthoneywell @roberthoneywell

Just sayin', last few days I've been better, except for the headaches which I have every day it seems. I still get out of breath, just not as severe as it was a week ago. I have not been sick at all, haven't changed meds. I did go to the pulmonary docs and they suggested rehab, but where I live that's just too hard to manage. Had a catscan that was basically nothing. I'm just wondering if anyone else has seen this backpedalling and this headache. Also thinking that if you have phlegm that is not coming up, it is blocking your meds from reaching the tissue it is designed to help.

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@roberthoneywell I have understood headaches can be caused by CO2 build up. Here is a quick search
Daily headaches with COPD often stem from poor gas exchange, causing a buildup of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia) or low oxygen (hypoxemia) in the blood, especially overnight, leading to morning headaches.
There are other reasons, of course, but this one I have heard and read in the past. Hope your issue can be solved PDQ
Happy New Year

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Profile picture for caseymydog1226 @caseymydog1226

@roberthoneywell I have understood headaches can be caused by CO2 build up. Here is a quick search
Daily headaches with COPD often stem from poor gas exchange, causing a buildup of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia) or low oxygen (hypoxemia) in the blood, especially overnight, leading to morning headaches.
There are other reasons, of course, but this one I have heard and read in the past. Hope your issue can be solved PDQ
Happy New Year

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@caseymydog1226 OK, then this begs the question of how to improve gas exchange in the lungs. I suppose exercise may be the answer, but it's difficult to exercise when you have difficulty breathing.

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Profile picture for roberthoneywell @roberthoneywell

@caseymydog1226 OK, then this begs the question of how to improve gas exchange in the lungs. I suppose exercise may be the answer, but it's difficult to exercise when you have difficulty breathing.

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@roberthoneywell It is an issue you must, and soon, discuss with your specialist. It is a serious situation. That doesn't mean that your headaches are necessarily being caused by those 2 condition, Robert. My go to is the Mayo Clinic.org.
I figure just can't get much better than that.
Let me know what you do when you have time if you want.
Happy New Year.

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I have good days and bad. Sometime I can cough up the phlegm some days I don’t have to cough. I do the huff cough technique when I need to get it up, drink lots water , I have taken Mucinex to thin it out. Emphysema affects everything, sinuses, swallowing.

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Profile picture for snoots @snoots

I have good days and bad. Sometime I can cough up the phlegm some days I don’t have to cough. I do the huff cough technique when I need to get it up, drink lots water , I have taken Mucinex to thin it out. Emphysema affects everything, sinuses, swallowing.

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@snoots thanks for the reply, and a question...when does a bad day turn into an exacerbation? There are times I think I should go to a hospital, knowing that if I do, I won't be leaving for a couple days at least, and thinking it's unnecessary. There have been days when I struggle to eat a ham sandwich.....

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