When you are diagnosed with COPD, your Doctor will ask if you have any questions. If you are anything like me, I might have one or two. But, without a complete understanding of the illness, it is hard to know exactly what questions to ask. Of course, your doctor cannot spend the time to explain EVERYTHING to you. So there are many things you can do on your own to learn about this.
No, I don't expect you to understand everything you read. BUT, you will gain a much better understanding if you do some reading, and watch some videos. We are living in an amazing time, where information is out there and free for use to learn.
Plus, I am a strong believer that you have to be your own health advocate. Of course, I do not want you to barge into your physicians office acting like you know more than they do. Some general practitioners admit that they don't feel confident about their knowledge of COPD. I think it is best to learn all you can, so that if they are not admitting this, you can push for someone who does.
When I first thought something was wrong, my GP said I was sick because I have asthma and smoke. I have never had asthma! Sure, I smoked, but really? There is something worse than those two things going on. So, I switched to an APN who was terrible, but admitted she didn't understand lung diseases. She sent in a respiratory specialist who ran some tests. This confirmed COPD. She put me on the appropriate meds, referred me to a pulmonologist AT a lung transplant hospital, and pulmonary rehab. I am forever grateful for her knowledge!
Learning more about COPD will help you know what to look for in yourself. What questions to ask, and what medications are available as well as other treatment options. You CAN ask your doctor to try these things. Who knows, something you suggest might help more.
I have listed the links to several The American Thoracic Society PDF files where you can read more about COPD. These will be especially helpful to newly diagnosed patients.
First, I highly recommend visiting the COPD GOLD PATIENT PAGE
for some great information.
Please check them out, print them for your family or caretaker if desired.
A complete list of files can be found at this address http://patients.thoracic.org/?page_id=2226
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd.pdf
COPD Exacerbations
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ATS-Patient-Ed-ECOPD-Proof-2-for-IT-posting.pdf
COPD, Pulmonary Function Tests
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/pulmonary-function-tests-in-copd.pdf
COPD, Signs & Symptoms
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/signs-and-symptoms-of-copd.pdf
COPD, Sleep Problems in
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ATS_Patient_Ed_Sleep_Problems_d_MT-09112013-Final.pdf
COPD, Surgery
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surgery-for-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease.pdf
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ATS_Patient_Ed_Circadian_C.pdf
No, I don't expect you to understand everything you read. BUT, you will gain a much better understanding if you do some reading, and watch some videos. We are living in an amazing time, where information is out there and free for use to learn.
Plus, I am a strong believer that you have to be your own health advocate. Of course, I do not want you to barge into your physicians office acting like you know more than they do. Some general practitioners admit that they don't feel confident about their knowledge of COPD. I think it is best to learn all you can, so that if they are not admitting this, you can push for someone who does.
When I first thought something was wrong, my GP said I was sick because I have asthma and smoke. I have never had asthma! Sure, I smoked, but really? There is something worse than those two things going on. So, I switched to an APN who was terrible, but admitted she didn't understand lung diseases. She sent in a respiratory specialist who ran some tests. This confirmed COPD. She put me on the appropriate meds, referred me to a pulmonologist AT a lung transplant hospital, and pulmonary rehab. I am forever grateful for her knowledge!
Learning more about COPD will help you know what to look for in yourself. What questions to ask, and what medications are available as well as other treatment options. You CAN ask your doctor to try these things. Who knows, something you suggest might help more.
I have listed the links to several The American Thoracic Society PDF files where you can read more about COPD. These will be especially helpful to newly diagnosed patients.
First, I highly recommend visiting the COPD GOLD PATIENT PAGE
for some great information.
Please check them out, print them for your family or caretaker if desired.
A complete list of files can be found at this address http://patients.thoracic.org/?page_id=2226
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd.pdf
COPD Exacerbations
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ATS-Patient-Ed-ECOPD-Proof-2-for-IT-posting.pdf
COPD, Pulmonary Function Tests
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/pulmonary-function-tests-in-copd.pdf
COPD, Signs & Symptoms
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/signs-and-symptoms-of-copd.pdf
COPD, Sleep Problems in
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ATS_Patient_Ed_Sleep_Problems_d_MT-09112013-Final.pdf
COPD, Surgery
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surgery-for-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease.pdf
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
http://patients.thoracic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ATS_Patient_Ed_Circadian_C.pdf
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