Hello everyone,
I am new here and am having a really hard time recently. Although I had never formerly been diagnosed, I have known that I have COPD for a number of years as a 40+ year heavy smoker. I also have other health issues as well.
I had been trying to work out a plan with my Dr. to quit smoking when I came down with acute bronchitis. Everyone I know has been sick and no matter how much I tried to stay well, it hit me.
When I went to my Dr. office on Feb. 1st, my O2 levels were horrible - they were in the low to mid 80's and even on oxygen, were barely hitting the high 80's to low 90's. I was sent to the emergency room by ambulance. After several breathing treatments, a chest xray and fluids I was diagnosed with the acute bronchitis and sent home on oxygen.
I had a follow-up with my Dr. this week and she stated that she did not think I was ready to return to work. My o2 level was now staying around 93 or 94 but that was on the oxygen. I asked her about returning to work and she said that she did not feel that I was ready and that this was a bad exacerbation which I didn't even know what that meant.
I also have sleep apnea and even with the oxygen my levels are at 82 or 83 when I wake up. They stay right about 91 to 93 throughout the day while on the O2 but if I try to take it off for short periods of time my level drops to 88 or so.
Unfortunately I am still smoking but my Dr. just gave me the patches and the lozenges and told me to pick a date which I have (next few days).
I really want to go back to work but not carrying 2 oxygen tanks and I have to be out of the office at meetings etc. which will be hard for me to do and I don't know if I want to be out in public yet with the oxygen (I also use a walker due to spinal stenosis).
What I know is that prior to this bronchitis, I was not on any oxygen although I don't know what my levels were then. Only that any time I went to the Dr. my levels were about 93 or so. Is it possible that the oxygen use is temporary and due to the exacerbation? It has only been 2 weeks and I am reading that it can take much longer to bounce back.
The other thing I wanted to say is that this site is giving me hope. Other than the day I went to my Dr. I haven't left the house or gotten dressed or done much of anything because I have been afraid to move and have frankly been pretty depressed. So I am just sitting here pretty much all day. I now see how important it is to push myself.
My Dr. is setting up my first appt. with a pulmonologist but wanted me to get through this first. I have another follow-up on the 26th. Any support is so greatly appreciated. Sorry this is so long. :-(