Is it time for a change?

It began in early April after I had made a trip to the Pulmonologist, and my GP. In both cases I felt that they were normal trips for this time of year. The portable oxygen was doing what it does and I felt the usual level of discomfort.

I was getting back to daily workouts building up the intensity slowly, as I have found to be best.
In other words, for the time of year...ups and downs in weather changes...all seemed to be ontrack to get through to the more stable Summer.

But then about the 3rd week of April we had a sudden cold snap. To state it simply, whatever happened took me out at the knees. The sudden drop in my Peak Flow meant that movement was not tolerated as well, and thus I become short of breath quicker and everyday life takes a change.

Now, because of the suddenness in the change, I became somewhat alarmed.

Why did it happen?
Did it have anything to do with the heart function and the medications I am taking for it?

That I would soon find out as I already had an appointment with my Cardiologist( it was a full year since I had seen him) and the changes in my Medications over the past year may need adjustment.

He scheduled me for an Echo Scan and that came back normal. Well, normal in my situation.
He did take me off the Lipitor temporarily, and that has reduced the headaches and muscle discomforts that I had been also experiencing. But with his diagnosis at least I was relieved to know the heart was more than likely not a player in this situation.

He also asked me to follow up with my Pulmonologist earlier than my schedules visit if possible.
That brings us to the present.

Oh ya, I had gone on a Burst of Prednisone and that took the edge off things. But now I am just coming out of the side effects from that drug.

I am on 2 inhaler drugs that are for lung function. Advair, which is a widely used drug. It has some steroid in it. Also I am taking Spiriva. When I went on this drug I have to say that it is about the only drug that I can honestly attribute to being good for me. Stamina increased and overall it helped me feel better most of the time.

Since my COPD is more influenced by Emphysema, I am beginning to wonder whether these two drugs really are doing any good.

I am beginning to think that perhaps now is the time to get rid of those two also so that I can get back to a more "Base" level in my condition.

What will be the situation of my life if I don't have any steroids going into me?

This will be my question to the Dr tomorrow when I visit him.

More later...