Hello,
As you were a smoker and
COPD patient what I will suggest is something I have been trying from last 12 years of my clinical practice. it has helped improve the quality of life overall.
First thing is to stop
smoking. Next, take antibiotics for now and get rid of infection.
Take
Nebulizer at home for which the pulmonologist can prescribe medicine for the same.
Next, do regular breathing exercises. in COPD there is a severe problem with them of not having enough of FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) and this is the one which can assess the PFT and guide towards the progress of the condition.
Having an O2 saturation machine while doing exercises as it may help a lot.
Taking a
pulse oximeter at home which can be available online to assess the
oxygen Saturation and pulse.
If the oxygen saturation drops below 94% then you need to accept that lungs have some issues.
Monitoring and providing good
pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD patients has helped my clinical patient achieve what we expected for.
Kindly understand that certain things are irreversible and COPD is one of them.
Before COPD goes to its peak I will recommend getting conscious for your own good quality of life.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Jay Indravadan Patel, Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist