Hi everyone! I'm still pretty new to asthma / COPD, I have moderate persistent asthma and stage 2 COPD, just diagnosed last fall at 59 years old. I take an allergy pill and Advair 250/50, with a rescue inhaler when needed. For quite awhile there last fall before going on Advair, using Qvar first, I was using my ProAir rescue 4, 5, 6 times a day. Big difference with Advair.
Not being familiar with either disease, I'm just not sure how much better I should be feeling, what constitutes shortness of breath that would warrant using my rescue inhaler. When I get up in the morning, it feels like I have a fairly heavy weight on my chest. Taking a shower is now, no fun. I don't use hot water, just warm, with plenty of room ventilation. But I am always short of breath. When I check my O2 it's usually around 92-95. If I pick up one of our small dogs, it goes down to 88-92. And within a minute or so it goes back up to where my normal range, 93-95. If I'm short of breath, or I have that feeling of a weight on my chest, why is my O2 still fairly normal? Quite often I get sob when I'm eating, and always when I'm talking. Is that from the COPD?
Any information on life with COPD, and asthma, greatly appreciated! I've read many stories on the site, so very informative!! Thanks in advance!