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The ConfidentPatient:A Doctor Discussion Guide forCOPD Maintenance

A doctor and patient

Well-controlled or not?

Living with COPD often means playing a waiting game – doing what you can to manage your symptoms during the “maintenance phase” before the next flare.

In these uncertain moments, it can be hard to tell whether your COPD is well-controlled or not. Your symptoms might come and go, with changes that are hard to track. The drugs you take for maintenance might work for a while, then suddenly not work as well, or even stop working altogether.

If this game is getting exhausting, it might be time to talk to your doctor about your options.

A woman walking on a path toward a bright sunset

When it’s time for a change

While standard treatment for COPD maintenance often includes medications like steroids, these treatments will not be the right fit for everyone. Some people cannot tolerate steroids, or the medications take longer to work than other options. Not everyone will notice a difference in their symptoms either.

If your symptoms feel harder to control than they did before, even with standard treatment, sharing your experience with your care team can help you work together to explore your options and come up with a plan that meets your needs.

Questions for your care team

Have an upcoming appointment with someone on your care team? It’s a great time to check in with yourself about any changes to your symptoms and get your questions in order. Having honest conversations about how your symptoms are impacting your life can help you determine next steps.

Not sure where to start? These questions can help guide your conversation.

    Tracking symptoms and severity
  • What symptoms should I be tracking, and what’s the best way to record them?
  • If my symptoms flare or suddenly worsen, what should I do?
  • How do you determine whether my COPD is well-controlled or not? How will that inform your treatment approach?

    Understanding treatment options
  • Based on my symptoms and treatment history, what treatment options am I a good candidate for?
  • What are the non-steroidal treatment options available, and how do they work?
  • How are non-corticosteroid inhaled medications different from inhaled corticosteroids?

    Treatment that fits your needs
  • If my treatment plan includes inhaled medications, what will my treatment schedule look like?
  • How will you evaluate whether my treatment is working or not? How will we measure and track this?
  • If we decide it’s time to make a treatment change, what does that process look like?

Coming prepared to your appointment with questions like these can help you get the most out of the time with your doctor and ensure you’re getting the care you need.

Symptom Check-in

How are you feeling lately?

COPD maintenance looks different for everyone, but if your symptoms have recently gotten worse or you’re having flares more frequently, it may be time to address them. Let’s check in about how you’ve been feeling lately.

In the last month, have you experienced a worsening of any of the following?

☐ Persistent cough
☐ Wheezing
☐ Increased mucus that causes coughing or the need to clear the throat
☐ Shortness of breath or feeling out of breath
☐ Chest tightness, with a feeling of pressure in or around the chest

The Check-up
2 speech bubbles. One has a question mark in it while the other has an ellipsis in it.

Sharing your concerns

Describing symptoms, especially between flares, can be hard. Here are some ways to share your experience with your doctor:

  • “Some of my symptoms are still being kept in check, but others have worsened. How do I know when to be concerned?”
  • “Even with treatment, I don’t feel like my COPD is well-controlled. Can we talk about that?”
  • “I’m looking to explore my treatment options, but I don’t want to take a steroid. Can we talk about what else we can do to help manage my symptoms?”

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