Copd advice needed
Hi, everyone! I am caring for my 86 year old Mom, who has copd. I am not sure what stage, but my guess is at least stage 3. She is on 2L O2 continuously, uses Trelegy Elipta and albuteral, bit in a nebulizer and rescue inhaler. About one month ago, she could barely walk 5 feet without becoming extremely short of breath. This went on for a few days, so the pulmonologist prescribed steroid nebulizer treatments for 2 weeks, which worked extremely well! Now, here we are a month or so later, and she is extremely tired, and would lay and sleep all day if I let her. She is becoming slightly short of breath at times when just sitting. I am wondering if it would be helpful togive her a nebulizer treatment, or if that is something that needs to be given for 2 weeks to be effective. I am just not sure what to do, and frankly, what to expect from here on. Thanks for listening, and for any advice.
Correction ...wondering if I should give her a STEROID nebulizer treatment.
HI.
Welcome to the community. We are all about everything COPD, so you have come to the right place. I am sorry that your mom is experiencing what you describe above. She is very fortunate to have you to help her and to ask questions like yours above on her behalf. As I am sure you know, we cannot offer medical advice over the Internet, for your own safety of course. How is your mom doing this morning? Is she feeling better? Did you end up giving her a breathing treatment? As per clarification to your question: Your mom was prescribed to take pulmicort for two weeks and then stop taking it? And now you are wondering if she would benefit from it again? Pulmicort is generally considered a controller medicine, meaning that it calms airway inflammation to keep airways open long-term and to make breathing easier. It is generally a medicine you take every day to accomplish this goal. As you note, it is usually said by COPD experts that it takes 2-3 weeks for the medicine to fully get into your system. So, it may be worth talking to her physician about continuing to take this medicine. OR perhaps her doctor will have other ideas. I hope this helps. John. copd.net community moderator. Thanks for the reply! I did not give her any of her Pulmicort...waiting to hear back from her doc. MOM seems to be better today so far. Her 1.5 hour nap seems to have helped her energy level, but is still getting sob quicker than usual. Are there specific triggers that may be causing that? She is indoors with no smoking.
I am struggling with not knowing what to expect on this journey...as I really don't know how long it will be. I also don't know when it will be time for palliative or hospice care...although I am prepared for it. I want to keep Mom with me and out of a nursing home....yet it is hard to make any plans for myself and husband with the future uncertain. Any advice is appreciated.Thanks, John. I am doing my best. Her pulmonologist said to start giving her the Pulmicort again, and to update him after 3-4 days. Today was day 3....and it has been a rough one. Mom slept until 4pm. Tried several times to get her up, bit she was too tired and refused. Once up, she ate 2 full meals, had a snack and took her meds. She really fought me on her nebulizer treatments, and did not tolerate them well. She gets short of breath doing them. She's been inactive (pretry much the norm, other than bathroom visits), tired and dozing off in the recliner as well. I struggle with hownnuch to let her stay in bed and sleep. Hoping she will feel better tomorrow. I plan to contact her pulmonologist again, as I don't know what else to do. Thank you for the update. Glad to hear your mom's pulmonologist got back with you and restarted the pulmicort. Although sorry to hear that your mom is struggling with taking them and is wanting to sleep. I think you did the right thing by contacting her pulmonologist again about this. Hopefully he/she gets back with you soon. How are you and your mom doing today? John. copd.net community moderator.
Hi. I just wanted to check in and see how you and Mom are doing ... I hope she has started to get some of her energy back. As for triggers, while it could be environmental, sometimes it's just about being worn down or developing a cold, any number of things. Sometimes a flare-up is simply a consequence of COPD, unfortunately. It seems like you are doing the best you can. Clearly you care deeply for her -- don't forget to care for yourself too. We're here for you. -Melissa, copd.net team
