When I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer I remember reading an article that said that if you overcome the cancer then you had to watch out for your heart and diabetes. The problem I have found is that you end up with a catalog of problems that leads to a spiraling decline in your health.
My COPD has had a significant impact, am really struggling at the moment to breath and using my inhalers a lot. I have also had multiple exacerbation's in the past two months that have led me to having to take anti biotics and steriods. Am certain the steroids have had an impact on my weight and as a knock on to my blood glucose levels.
I have completed pulmonary rehabilitation and now have just completed 12 weeks of fitness4life at the gym in Telford&Wrekin. These are supervised cardio-respiratory sessions. Am about to sign up for a membership to continue these as I have to get my exercise under control to enable me to breathe easy. But also this has to be done to fight my weight and help with my diet.
Have just had my annual blood test for HBA1c as I am high risk for Diabetes. Last year it was 46 (2016), this year (2017) it is 47. I have already been suffering foot sores that could have been really serious. I am getting numbness in one foot and toes. I was hoping with the work in the gym and cutting down on various foods that this HBA1c would have gone down not up. So I am in the pre-diabetic range. Diet and exercise is the only way forward. Its hard work with having COPD.
I have been given a Peak Flow meter for the COPD so I can measure my flow to see what my best is so i can detect when i am bad and heading toward an exacerbation. On a good day i am scoring 350 to 400 on the meter. A healthy person my age and height should be in the 600s. On my bad days and currently with this heat and pollen / air quality I am scoring 250 if I am lucky. Lots of blockage in my lungs.
I dont seem to be improving. Time will tell however. If I can do more exercise. My FEV1 was 53% , hopefully i can make improvements in the next 6 months so i dont drop below 50% into Severe.
Until the next update....
Breathe Easy everyone
Friday, 23 June 2017
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
COPD and Bronchiectasis - what is it all about
So my blog started about my prostate cancer. This seems to have been the catalyst for problems to start that I have never had before.
People have bucket lists of what they want to do before the die. I seem to be starting to collect a bucket list of illnesses.
Considering that until about 2012 with the cancer diagnosis i had hardly been ill in my whole life and hadnt had an admission into hospital, all that has changed.
I feel like I am a car thats starting to fall to bits. I have a dressing table full of medication , tablets for the morning, tablets for the evening, tablets for bedtime, tablets for those special times . Give me a shake and I probably rattle.
So, this post, COPD and Bronchiectasis. C.O.P.D. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease , an umbrella term for multiple diseases that impact breathing. The British Lung Foundation have lots of info at https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/copd . Bronchiectasis is where the lungs get damaged - http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/C/Pages/Introduction.aspx
It seems I have both of these. In October 2016 I was told by my GP after having a spirometry test that my FEV1 or lung function was 53%. I have just had a further review, Feb 2017 and been told that it is now 2.06 or 54% so roughly the same. Since october I have had access to a Ventolin Inhaler and also an inhaler called Spiriva. The Spiriva is a preventer which slows down deterioration of my lungs, minimizing what they call exacerbation's or flareups that can cause more damage. I have also had my flu jab and a pneumonia jab. The fact that my GP got me on these has probably arrested potential deterioration of my lungs. Now as a COPD patient I am also undertaking Pulmonary Rehabilitation which will also help me,
Am a little disappointed as it seems that back in march 2015 the hospital did spirometry tests on me. Those results shown in the graphic below would seem to indicate that I had COPD back in 2015 - but no one told me about it. It also seems that at the same time the found that I had Bronchiectasis.
Well at least now I am under monitoring and treatment for these conditions. I have read lots of good advice on forums that say i should be able to live many years managing this condition. There does have to be some drastic lifestyle changes though, diet, weight, exercise.
People have bucket lists of what they want to do before the die. I seem to be starting to collect a bucket list of illnesses.
Considering that until about 2012 with the cancer diagnosis i had hardly been ill in my whole life and hadnt had an admission into hospital, all that has changed.
I feel like I am a car thats starting to fall to bits. I have a dressing table full of medication , tablets for the morning, tablets for the evening, tablets for bedtime, tablets for those special times . Give me a shake and I probably rattle.
So, this post, COPD and Bronchiectasis. C.O.P.D. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease , an umbrella term for multiple diseases that impact breathing. The British Lung Foundation have lots of info at https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/copd . Bronchiectasis is where the lungs get damaged - http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/C/Pages/Introduction.aspx
It seems I have both of these. In October 2016 I was told by my GP after having a spirometry test that my FEV1 or lung function was 53%. I have just had a further review, Feb 2017 and been told that it is now 2.06 or 54% so roughly the same. Since october I have had access to a Ventolin Inhaler and also an inhaler called Spiriva. The Spiriva is a preventer which slows down deterioration of my lungs, minimizing what they call exacerbation's or flareups that can cause more damage. I have also had my flu jab and a pneumonia jab. The fact that my GP got me on these has probably arrested potential deterioration of my lungs. Now as a COPD patient I am also undertaking Pulmonary Rehabilitation which will also help me,
Am a little disappointed as it seems that back in march 2015 the hospital did spirometry tests on me. Those results shown in the graphic below would seem to indicate that I had COPD back in 2015 - but no one told me about it. It also seems that at the same time the found that I had Bronchiectasis.
4 Years on - Cancer Free - PSA still undetectable
For those following the blog I had my PSA tested before Christmas 2016 and I am still cancer free, my PSA being undetectable at below 0.01 with the ultra sensitive test. Agreed with consultant to continue to take the tadalafil and sidenafil for ED . Am continuing to attend a monthly support group that is fabulous as we can talk through the mental impact of this surgery/cancer that still plays on the mind. Does tend to get me down a lot what has happened at my age. Tend to keep thinking about it.
Other issues to worry about now though as I have problems with my breathing that they have finally confirmed as COPD. So its, get over cancer and now fight the fight to keep my lungs working.
Other issues to worry about now though as I have problems with my breathing that they have finally confirmed as COPD. So its, get over cancer and now fight the fight to keep my lungs working.
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