COPD diagnosis
I see stage numbers and various names for the particular aspects of COPD. Is there a reference list for these stages and other names used to describe or label the progression of the disease. My diagnosis upon discharge from hospital just over a month ago says "chronic obstructive disease, unspecified". What would some of you with some experience say that means? What specific symptoms are associated with different COPD progression steps? Thanks for your feedback.
I have posted a couple of times as a new participant. I am trying to maintain a positive attitude. Any suggestions??
Regards, JohnG43
Hi JohnG43 and welcome. You have certainly come to the right place as we are all about all things COPD and COPD related. We do not provide medical advice or diagnostics over the internet (for your own safety), but your concerns certainly warrant a reply. It is always best, following a discharge from a hospital stay, to take up your genuine concerns with your private physician. The hospital can just do so much. Drilling down and getting into the details of your own particular level of illness is always best handled by your personal physician.
Having said that, I thought you might be interested in some of our published material that addresses your questions.
This article speaks to COPD and it's symptoms: https://copd.net/symptoms/.
And this article addresses the staging of COPD: https://copd.net/basics/copd-stages/.
I think this is a good place to start and provides you with some basics about COPD.
We're glad to have you as a member of our website and will look forward to interacting further with you. Wishing you well, Leon (site moderator)
Hi Johng43.
This is definitely the place to come for answers and support.Pretty
new myself but the moderators are all very well versed in all of the ins and outs..
The various stages of this disease to me have been such a slow progression that it is hard to really differentiate were one stops and the other begins.Was diagnosed myself over twenty years ago and now have been promoted to stage four after a recent hospital visit.I find myself that what has helped the most is trying to stay positive and always see the upside to things,not to say I can cry a river some days. The physiological issues are just as important as the physiological ones in my opinion and if you are having issues with, seek help and support .If you have a lung guy he can perform a series of tests that will narrow down your number if you really want to know a good pulmanologist is a huge help in managing this disease although I am sure a lot of gp can facilitate treatment as well.I wish you well and look forward to our walk down this path together.Take care bobI do have a pulmonologist, who looked after me during my recent hospital stay. He has put me in a respiratory rehab program, and has arranged a consult with a pulmonary surgeon in July.
I have questions that I am discovering I need help with lately. Some of my concerns are for new or different symptoms that I'm not sure are related to COPD, but can't connect them to anything else. I can identify with the recent posts about bloating, and solutions to that.
I have not adjusted to sleeping with the oxygen canula, and it gets displaced several times a night. I have nose bleeds sometimes when the humidity is very dry. About 50% in the house is most comfortable for me, but outdoors we are sometimes as low as 15-20%. Usually the nose bleeds are manageable, but last night when I blew my nose the right side bled quite a lot for maybe 15 minutes before I could get it stopped. I looked up "nose bleed - oxygen canula" on the web, and found a suggestion for cutting the end off of the canula on the affected side. That took away some of the irritation, and I got through the night without it restarting.
I am experiencing more than usual cramping in my toes, calves, knees and hips. It's random as to time and place and activity. Is this common, and what remedies are there. I eat a banana every day, so think my potassium should be OK, but wonder about magnesium level.
I lost about 13 pounds during my week in the hospital I am taking a high calorie protein shake every day, and have gained back almost 6 pounds. I only weighed 132 before I was admitted, so that weight gain and loss are more significant than in some other people. My appetite is not as good as it had been either so along with the bloating my diet doesn't really support a lot of weight gain.
I realize that these are kind of disconnected symptoms. I am looking for a COPD support group in my area without much luck so far. I would like to hear of other people's experience with this disease, and what remedies they have found.
Regards,
JohnG43hI JOHN
Can only respond to the cramps you mentioned,had same issue and it was found that symbocort was the culprit.If your on this medication I would consult your lung guy to prescribe an alternate as there are many available.Hope this helps take care..bob
Hi bobmmm54 and thanks for joining this conversation. We appreciate you sharing your medical circumstances going back over the years and your current viewpoint and perspective.
We're glad to have you as a member of our online community.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator)
