I Have Returned

It's been six months since I left the COPD topic, and now events have made it possible for me to return. I'm very glad to be back and I'll be doing weekly articles to keep you informed of any new research, treatments, or general developments in the COPD/Lung Disease community.

In my own case, while my COPD was reasonably stable, a recent bout with bronchitis has thrown me into some respiratory problems and as a result, I'm back using my inhaler on a more frequent basis. This is always a problem for COPD patients, since any major change in our respiratory status, even a temporary one, can cause major problems in our breathing. My physician put me on an antibiotic for the bronchitis, but it didn't seem to help reduce the effects on the underlying COPD.

I would strongly recommend that when a person with COPD or any other lung disease catches an acute illness like bronchitis, that treatment for it begin immediately and that the patient begin looking for signs that it has affected the underlying disease process as well. Some of these signs are slow response to the antibiotics prescribed by the physician, increased breathing difficulty even after the antibiotics have had a chance to work, and generalized chest tightness and a deep, productive cough. Any of these could be the sign that your acute bronchitis may have impacted your chronic disease process as well.

Again, it's good to be back in the health area, and doing the COPD/Lung Disease site. I hope my former readers will find their way back and that together we'll find out more about our journey through Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

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