. Hi all, I'm new here. My husband was recently diagnosed with COPD, we're not sure of the exact stage yet since his pulmonologist did the spirometry test during a flare up (and hasn'tscheduled a new one yet 🤦♀️). Even so, that spirometry showed 50%. Since November he's been admitted into the hospital at least once a month due to exacerbations, in the past month he was admitted twice. His oxygen levels were below 88% each time as well (the lowest it ever was was 68 while walking to his car, usually its 82-89). He has a nebulizer he uses multiple times a day, a inhaler, and a 'rescue' inhaler with spacer. The hospital would'nt let him go home without his nebulizer and oxygen at one point, though his pulmonologist stated that he didn't need the oxygen later so it was returned🤦♀️.
He's only 44, over 30 years of smoking though (he quit months ago) and every job he's had is around some type of dust (masonry, drywall, welder) so it explains it sadly. We have three young kids, youngest is 5. I just want some advice mostly, it's hard to navigate. He's being admitted in the hospital once a month minimum that has me thinking it's minimally stage 3. Is anyone here dealing with similar? Constant exacerbations every month? He's currently working from home for the past month yet he still has them. Any advice is very helpful, his next pulmonologist visit isn't until June sadly.
ETA : It seems that if he's on prednisone he's somewhat fine but a few days after being off of it he's back in the hospital.
Thank you in advance for any advice, Cam