Acute Exacerbation is the abrupt or sudden increase in symptoms...you know, breathing harder, coughing. Try very hard to stop your doctor every time he/she says something you don't understand and make them explain. Did your doctor change medication or want a follow up sooner than expected?

Acute Exacerbation is the abrupt or sudden increase in symptoms...you know, breathing harder, coughing. Try very hard to stop your doctor every time he/she says something you don't understand and make them explain. Did your doctor change medication or want a follow up sooner than expected?

Thanks you for your reply Im stil doing a lot of reading and learning about COPD some times I get over my head with all the different advise would like toknow if any other spouse go through this feeling

Thanks you for your reply Im stil doing a lot of reading and learning about COPD some times I get over my head with all the different advise would like toknow if any other spouse go through this feeling

Dear Bearsfan, You are not alone. I was friend with a lady who had COPD for 18years. She lived to be 86! She did experience exacerbations along the way and toward the end they were a little more frequent and a little more severe.

The ironic part is that 3 years later I married someone who was diagnosed with COPD after having a heart attack and a quadruple bypass. He smoked for like 40 years so who knows how long he had it before he was diagnosed. Still, it was a shocker. Since I had a little experience with it, when I heard the news it almost took MY breath away. That's been about a year ago now. He's 60 with the lungs of an 80 year old, so our PCP advises. He did at least quit smoking and he takes all of his meds faithfully. Today, he has more energy than he did before and he walks three dogs three times a day. I don't think he quite understands that it is a progressive disease but we're both so happy that he's still here (we've only been married 2 years!) that we only focus on the positive.

This is a great site and anytime you need to talk, everyon that's interested in what you have to say about what you're going through get's notified. So keep in touch. The support definitely helps. Just take one day at a time and treasure each one.

LOL Jan

Dear Bearsfan, You are not alone. I was friend with a lady who had COPD for 18years. She lived to be 86! She did experience exacerbations along the way and toward the end they were a little more frequent and a little more severe.

The ironic part is that 3 years later I married someone who was diagnosed with COPD after having a heart attack and a quadruple bypass. He smoked for like 40 years so who knows how long he had it before he was diagnosed. Still, it was a shocker. Since I had a little experience with it, when I heard the news it almost took MY breath away. That's been about a year ago now. He's 60 with the lungs of an 80 year old, so our PCP advises. He did at least quit smoking and he takes all of his meds faithfully. Today, he has more energy than he did before and he walks three dogs three times a day. I don't think he quite understands that it is a progressive disease but we're both so happy that he's still here (we've only been married 2 years!) that we only focus on the positive.

This is a great site and anytime you need to talk, everyon that's interested in what you have to say about what you're going through get's notified. So keep in touch. The support definitely helps. Just take one day at a time and treasure each one.

LOL Jan

Good advice from all posters.

My wife has COPD, since 1/2000. Progression in her case: aspirators (puffers) & meds.; then oxygen 24 X 7 since about 5 yrs. ago & more scripts. We are on Medicare, so u didn't mention the financial aspects of this chronic condition.

There are many COPD websites: some more for the professional & others for the layman. www.efforts.org is a site where u can ask questions that you forgot to ask during the visit to MD. The replies come from other "experienced" COPD persons, so they share your frustration & symptoms as a care giver.

You should buy an oximeter n : a measuring instrument that measures the oxygen in arterial blood

I bought one for only $100. works great. We use it to determine just how bad is the aspiration "attack".

For instance, my wife became so ill with a viral infection to lungs that I measured her oxygen percentage in blood & it was 48%. I called 911 & she was rushed to the hospital, etc.

This then prevents the newbie from calling 911 every time a bad attack occurs.

Now, my wife is supported by Hospice palliative care at home. She could die the next time she become infected, as her % of dead lung cells is too great to cope. That's the way it goes. Therefore, every day is worth trying to get the most of the positive, as this disease is terminal.

Our best to you for caring enough to start the "education" re. care giving. Jim

Good advice from all posters.

My wife has COPD, since 1/2000. Progression in her case: aspirators (puffers) & meds.; then oxygen 24 X 7 since about 5 yrs. ago & more scripts. We are on Medicare, so u didn't mention the financial aspects of this chronic condition.

There are many COPD websites: some more for the professional & others for the layman. www.efforts.org is a site where u can ask questions that you forgot to ask during the visit to MD. The replies come from other "experienced" COPD persons, so they share your frustration & symptoms as a care giver.

You should buy an oximeter n : a measuring instrument that measures the oxygen in arterial blood

I bought one for only $100. works great. We use it to determine just how bad is the aspiration "attack".

For instance, my wife became so ill with a viral infection to lungs that I measured her oxygen percentage in blood & it was 48%. I called 911 & she was rushed to the hospital, etc.

This then prevents the newbie from calling 911 every time a bad attack occurs.

Now, my wife is supported by Hospice palliative care at home. She could die the next time she become infected, as her % of dead lung cells is too great to cope. That's the way it goes. Therefore, every day is worth trying to get the most of the positive, as this disease is terminal.

Our best to you for caring enough to start the "education" re. care giving. Jim

Another good idea for COPD folks is a pulmonary rehab program, which is set up very similiar to cardiac rehab. It teaches how to manage lung disease, understand the different process and meds, as well as some excercise tolerance. I have seen some excellent results with rehab, and even better, people learn how to manage their symptoms and take action before they have major issues/complications.

Another good idea for COPD folks is a pulmonary rehab program, which is set up very similiar to cardiac rehab. It teaches how to manage lung disease, understand the different process and meds, as well as some excercise tolerance. I have seen some excellent results with rehab, and even better, people learn how to manage their symptoms and take action before they have major issues/complications.

This is a great question, and thank you to our community members for providing good answers. You can also find more information about COPD exacerbations here.

This is a great question, and thank you to our community members for providing good answers. You can also find more information about COPD exacerbations here.

There are several supportive web sites out there with chats for those with COPD and those charged with being a caregiver to one of us who has the disease. One excellent site is COPD-International.com. There is also an information phone line for COPD patients 1-866-316-COPD (2763) run by the COPD foundation and staffed by patients. You can get free magazines and support materials from them. The also have a caregiver program that sets caregivers up for regular phone calls. This resourse especially helps those folks not fortunate enough to have computer access.

There are several supportive web sites out there with chats for those with COPD and those charged with being a caregiver to one of us who has the disease. One excellent site is COPD-International.com. There is also an information phone line for COPD patients 1-866-316-COPD (2763) run by the COPD foundation and staffed by patients. You can get free magazines and support materials from them. The also have a caregiver program that sets caregivers up for regular phone calls. This resourse especially helps those folks not fortunate enough to have computer access.

Hi to all. I am learning about COPD from all that you share. One thing I was not doing was using my Combivent inhaler and I was wheezing and sounding sqeeky. I've started back at using it three times a day and I breath much better. I don't know what exaserbation with COPD are. Sounds funny to me because I have MS and I do know what exaserbations mean dealing with that. Thank you all for sharing your information

Hi to all. I am learning about COPD from all that you share. One thing I was not doing was using my Combivent inhaler and I was wheezing and sounding sqeeky. I've started back at using it three times a day and I breath much better. I don't know what exaserbation with COPD are. Sounds funny to me because I have MS and I do know what exaserbations mean dealing with that. Thank you all for sharing your information