Sunday, March 21, 2010

Acute Exacerbation with COPD

Greeting to all here at "Welcome To My Little Corner of The World" Where do the days go..Imagine yesterday was the first day of spring ! For some it is not so springy especially with the flooding and snow.

As usual I write my blog based on my own health sometimes it could be a while in between posts, that could be a good thing. Anyway last week I went to see my Pulmo for a check up he could hear wheezing and noticed shortness of breath..well after a few questions from him he determined it was an "Acute Exacerbation" with COPD. He put me on an Inhaler Xopenex HFA, Avelox 400 mg which is an antibiotic, continue with my regular inhalers and if necessary use the Nebulizer, and start of with 40mg of Prednisone and taper off till I am done with it. Also, continue with my o2 as prescribed 24/7.


Today I do feel better I am going to share some info I read on the Internet with regards to COPD Exacerbation I found it quite interesting.

In it's simplest terms, an exacerbation is a worsening of symptoms. In more in-depth terms, a COPD exacerbation can be defined as "an event in the natural course of the disease characterized by a change in the pt's baseline dyspnea,cough, and or sputum that is beyond normal day-to -day variations, is acute in onset and may warrant a change in medication in a patient with underlying COPD", according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)

The main sympton-of an acute exacerbation of COPD is increased breathlessness which is often accompanied by the following: increased cough and sputum production, wheezing,fever, chest tightness. Treatment is the same as I had listed above. I was lucky this time I did not end up in the hospital..it could happen. Let me know if you have any comments.

Until we meet again my friends,

Remember....

Inhale~~~123

Exhale~~~~1234

Breathe Easy,

Sandy