COPD

[songbird32]

my mum was diagnosed 2yrs ago and kept smoking.Recentley she had a cold and felt bad still after 2 weeks.
The COPD team came and prescribed her antibiotics but she got worse later that evening.
Was taken to hospital with breathing difficulty, oxygen levels were at 66%.
Eventually ended up on pap machine in HDU unit and we were told it wasnt looking good and that she has Emphysema and probably won't make it.
Was on constant 24/7 oxygen and nebs for 2 weeks.Was making good progress and then one night had another bad exasparation.
Has now been discharged and oxygen levels up to 91%.
Since beening discharged mums started to cough up really thick sputum thats also yellow.
she also sleeps most of the time even when she's had a good nights sleep.
Has quit smoking of cause as doctors said she will die if she didnt and her lungs are very bad.
She also finds it hard to walk even to the toilet, her whole body hurts and her legs and feet are very swollen, she also has more trouble remembering and speaking things than usual, she had a mild stroke 2 yrs ago which initionaly caused this.
She says she is o.k but i'm worried she's not doing as well as she says.
I am over joyed that she's pulled though and is at home but feel it may have been a bit premature and am now worried she's gonna have another turn for the worst.
Please can you give me your opinion about her condition and my concerns. thankyou.

[mama's angel]

Wow! your Mum sound like my mama minus the stroke. I just continue to pray of course and then I try and take her places she love to go. "Walmart" I fill up the oxgyen tank and load her up. Walmart has the riding carts. Once we get back she call her friends up and tell them what a good time she had shopping. I put the ideal in the air the night before because it takes her awhile to get dress. We can't do sper of the moments. I ask her to ride with me every chance I get even if she sit in the car. She will be find.

[songbird32]

thanks for your kind words. i don't want to be negative but just realistic.
i have four older brothers and dont want them to see mum in the way she was 2 weeks ago, we only have her now as dad passed away over 20 yrs ago.
mum has always been strong and hate to see her so weak and in discomfort.
it's really hard just having to sit and watch her deteriate.
all the best to you, your mum and family.x

[Davy9]

songbird32... Sadly the episode your Mum experienced is often how COPD presents as the sufferers progress into the disease. They are predisposed to getting respiratory infections yet have little physical reserves to deal with them. Often they have other problems related to COPD, heart troubles being common.

Learn the early signs of these infections and get medical help as soon as possible. Do not wait to get help. Try not to let one wear her down. Work to get her strong again after she experiences one. Work at keeping her as strong and active as possible using a care/rehabilitation plan your doctors can define. Avoid exposing her to people who are sick, crowds and families who have an illness coursing amongst them. Have her get her annual flu vaccination and any vaccinations your doctors recommend to help her defenses against acute infections.

I know this stuff is easy for me to say and not so easy to do or deal with. Best to you, your Mum and to mama's angel and her Mother. Some day governments will see the wisdom in ending the scourge that tobacco truly is.

Regarding her current situation with the thick mucous. Ask your doctors about her ability to tolerate adequate hydration to help thin them. Ask them about expectorants to help thin them. Ask them about using postural drainage with manual or mechanical percussion to help dislodge and evacuate the mucous. Ask your doctors about using inhaled aerosols or mucous thinning drugs to help thin and loosen them. Let the doctors know about the color of and the volume of mucous and any distinct odors it might emit. You can actually collect some of it to show them (many times patients produce all sorts of mucous until they get into the doctors office, and then they can't). Just capture it in a jar or some such thing.

I expect that the moderator "Lung Doc' will comment here as well to add to or modify my input.

[songbird32]

Thanks for your advice. I am constantly reading on any info i can get on COPD to learn about the early signs of exacerbations and get them sorted before the worst happens.
I am also trying to educate everyone else in the family but feel sometimes that i might be being a bit pushy. I don't live with my mum but 2 of my brothers do.
The COPD team asked mum to do a sputum sample which i have sent straight to pathology and the team will call us with results and what medication to have. Sample was green and thick with watery clear mucas as well, is this bad?
She said she woke late last night with terrible chest pain and upper back pain, rating 9 out of 10 for pain. Felt the need to burp and did so after an hour and it eased off.
When she was in the HDU ward she was sick about 4 times in one day and it was brown so they put her on Lansprazole. They've sent it home with her but she won't take it cause she's convinced it made her sick, but in hospital they said it could be an ulcer. she also complains of indigestion but has never had it before, is this comman in COPD?
Keep telling her that the Lansprazole will heal the ulcer as my husband also takes it but she wont have it. Keeps saying she han't got an ulcer.
She sleeps so much in the day now is that normal or should i be concerned.
Your advice is greatly appreciated.

[Davy9]

I like to hear that you have access to a "COPD team". They should be a excellent resource for your needs.

Lansprazole is administered to control gastric acid and unless taken as prescribed will not work. Yes, stress ulcers can accompany COPD and as well as other chronic ailments. Are they certain that she has an ulcer and, if so, do they feel it is actively bleeding? You might suggest that they track her red blood cell count if they are concerned about a gastric bleeding ulcer. I'd think her current gastric upset could be related to an ulcer, especially if it is relieved when gastric tension is reduced.

Changes in sleeping habits are not uncommon with any illness. Even healthy people sleep differently when they are or have been sick. She may just feel safer sleeping during the day or there maybe any number of factors contributing to her somnolence. Discuss it with the "team".

[songbird32]

would you say that my mum would be in the late stages of the desiese or would that be something you couldnt say without assesment?

[Davy9]

Really I could not advance an honest assessment of your Mums overall situation. You are describing an incident of acuity superimposed on her known COPD diagnosis and nothing more. Hopefully she will recuperate from this event and return to her prior level of health, or maybe better. Your COPD team are the ones who can answer this question. They know your Mum and they have her data. They should be able to advise you as to her relative prognosis and asisst you and your family in managing her care.

[songbird32]

Thanks very much for talking to me, i'm very glad i joined this forum.x

[mama's angel]

Sorry. I have only one brother and no sisters. Mom only had two kids. I am the oldest. Last post I got interupted and had to sign off hurrily. But my mom's lung are really bad also. She still smokes. The lung doctor gave her a prescription for some Chantix which stopped her from smoking. She was smoke free for 3 months. She was weak, I had to bathe her, I had to put her clothes on her. Her stomach area is so swollen. Her ankles and face is swollen. I had to remove the thoughts of her dying in front of my face out of my mind. In my Praying I ask my God to let His Will Be Done. I am at peace with the situation. I hate my mother is going through this. But one day my mother said "Baby"that's what she call me. "The damage has been done to my lungs." I am going to die so I don't want to deprive myself of nothing else go buy mama a pack of cigarettes Please." Needless to say I did. After 1 cigarette my mother had some much energy it was as if She was revived. We went to the Casinos, church, grocery stores and just riding around. I was so afraid but I had always heard people say you get better than you die. Well once we went to the Lung doctor he explained that the lung are very bad but smoking will make the worst. Not smoking keeps them at the stage they are for a little longer. So he gave her another prestription for the same medication she had before and the results are the same. She is in the bed can't do anything for her self. I stay up at night to take her to the restroom and things. I nap when she nap. She said she don't want to smoke but she don't like the way it make her feel not smoking. She has been smoking over 48 years. Will not smoking prolong her life what 15mins? 1 or 2 hrs? 1yr? or what? those or the type of question my mama asked me. I am hear to make her as comfortable as I can. I follow doctors order but if my mama said no the it's No. I believe it's all in God's hand. Seeing her grandkids and great kids are a highlight for her but when my brother come around she gets and added joy Baby come comb mama's hair. He visit at least once a week. Never know when. He works two full time jobs to help support us fiancially because I gave up working to care for mama so just hang in there it is okay to allow your brothers to see mum because I believe God does thing for a reason. (I am not trying to put my beliefs on you nor am I trying to offend your beliefs or Relgion) There could be a lesson learn and it will that the stress off of you also. I tell my mama all the time. You are my sunshine, You make me happy when I am sad. Because it is sad and it affects the entire family. I miss not beening able to eat mamas cooking and hearing her fuss at the grandkids and me too. :) Just having you on the other end is a big help for me. I have never talked online ever and even though the situation is grey it feel good to share my experience with someone. Hang in there you are not along.