COPD

[songbird32]

Mums due to finish her steroids she was given when in hospital, been on them for nearly 3 weeks.
COPD nurse said they want to keep an eye on her as she might not feel as well as when on them.

What is likely to happen to her which might make her feel different, just so i know what to expect.
Thanks.x

[Davy9]

The steroids given for COPD are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. Ideally they are administered, the inflammation subsides and they can be stooped. Sometimes the inflammation returns and the problems it causes returns.

Steroids can be administered to the entire body or they can be administered directly to the location of the inflammation topically. Because they have a number of side effects long term use of steroids delivered to the whole body is avoided. They have fewer side effects when administered topically and can be used for longer periods. In treating the lungs steroids can be inhaled and if they get to where the inflammation is they can help control it. Ask your clinicians if your Mum is using inhaled steroids and, if so, make certain that she adheres to using them exactly as directed to insure that they will work as expected.

[songbird32]

Thanks for replying. Mum has been taking the steroids in tablet form starting with 5 a day, then 4, then 3, then 2, then 1, 5 days on each, not sure what they're called though.
She's now been given another lot with antibiotics to have as a back up incase of another infection, been told it's a routine thing with all COPD patients at her surgery. which is good.

COPD team are visiting again this week to see how she feels on the lower dosage and to also look at her legs and feet as they are very, very swollen. In hospital they gave her duretics which brought them right down. The only trouble is, is that she suffers with incontinence and gets puffed out just going to the toilet normally, so not sure if it will make matters better or worse.
The skin is not weeping though, just very swollen but on one leg which she's had on and off for years a large seperate swelling appears and goes really red, this worries me because every time she's been in hospital for other reasons they've seen thins swelling and said it's an infection.
Mums never took any notice of it before just bared with it, it's not painful but very solid and red.
Hospital said it could have been the cause of the chest infection when she first went in.
Mum won't have it and says i've had it for years but has also had a few bad infections which put her in hospital too.

Could this be something to worry about?
It went right down and normal skin colour in hospital but has since swollen and turning red again now she's at home.keeps her feet up most of the time too.

[Davy9]

You would like to avoid the dependent edema in her legs and the sores that it can predispose. If the diuretics helped in the hospital why were they not continued at home? Keeping them elevated helps. Ask the nurses about compression stockings and/or wrapping the legs to help keep the problem at bay.

As to the steroids she was given what is called a steroid burst and then weaned off the medication. But, her breathing might still benefit from using inhaled steroids. If she is getting inhaled steroids she must adhere to the prescribed dosages if they are to work correctly. In other words she cannot start, stop or greatly vary the times of her treatments or the steroids will not work as they're supposed to.

Regarding the red spot on her leg. It could be a pressure location. If she keeps pressure on that one spot for very long it will begin to break down. It happens on the heels of feet or if someone mostly lays on one side. Have the physical therapist assess the sore an look for possible causes.