Emphysema symptoms and conditions

I have been taking prednisone on and off since '04, totally unaware of the problems associated with it. In '07 I got double pneumonia and almost died, and that resulted in nearly 3 months of the 6 I was sick, of on and off prednisone use. I have never recovered from it, the inflammation that kept me from breathing and nearly killed me, comes right back within 2 weeks now, and back on the prednisone I go for another 2-3 weeks. I have been sick now for almost 14 months like this. What saved my life from pneumonia, now appears to be taking it slowly.

My doctor said I have to come off of it, or it will kill me. As it is, without it, I'm like someone with emphysema and I've never smoked a day in my life. At present, I have refused to do the re-dose, and my abdomen is so swollen it hurts and is so tight you could bounce a quarter off of it. My ankles, which never swelled before, now swell constantly and I now have to take a water pill now to wear shoes.

I'm 52 years old and had never been on ANY long term MEDS AT ALL, until they put me on prednisone. Now I take half a dozen. If there is any way, any of you can NOT take it, don't do it, not even for a short time unless it's the only thing that will save your life. It is like inviting a cobra into your home and then sitting there watching and waiting for it to make it's final strike. I think it has damaged me beyond repair. I go to a lung specialist the end of month.

My husband has Kenalog injections to help with his breathing. He has emphysema. Last year he came down with Shingles and the Dr. said it is due to the Kenalog

I am my husbands caregiver. He is on many medications the last 26 years due to chemical poisoning thanks to our government not protecting their civilian painters at the Army Depot where he worked.
He has permanent brain damage, CRS damage, memory loss and short term memory, CHF and Bollis Emphysema. Now he also has Type II diabetes a severe case as he was not diagnosed for 7+ years of testing.
To make this short. He has been on many drugs for pain, diabetes, blood pressure, the brain damage, ( he is a recovering, not drinking alcoholic)
Recently the doctor took him off the Codeine # 3 that he had been taking for almost 15 years, 8 per day. and gave him time release Morphine Sulfate.15 MG. They also gave him Gabapentin for the neuropathy which is severe in his feet and starting to go up his legs. He is over weight, above the waist, and has not had a problem with High Blood Pressure, for many years since taking 60 mg daily of Inderal. His Blood Sugars have been between 98-140 without medication. When he was first diagnosed he was put on glyberide and it worked so good he was off it in 6 months and totally diet controlled since then but about every 3 years he would go on it for about 6 months and then he was ok again.
He has not needed it for the last 7 years. Since starting the gabapentin he went from 300 to 600 to 900 and slowly increased the dose to 1600 mg. The 300's are caps, the 600's are tablets.
All the sudden he has pounding headaches, I took his BP which we had not been watching and it was 198/115 with a 98 pulse. The only change was the gabapentin and Morphine. The morphine does not seem to be causing any side effects, once he was used to getting sleepy.. but once the gabapentin was added, all he does is sleep. The blood sugars also went up with the blood pressure. His were 358 higher than they have ever been except when he was first diagnosed. I was able to get the glyberide and that is bring down the sugar levels only taking 1/4 tab 2 x a day, and the blood pressure is also coming down, it was 139/85 with a pluse of 76 which is still too fast. I talked to some pharmancy friends and they said " Its the gabapentin " so I told the doc I wanted to stop it and he said to start leveling off, one 300 mg cap every 4 days. We were down to 2 a day till Friday and saw the doctor. Due to his taking Cymbalta they did not want to give him any of the other anti depressants so they want him to back on the gabapentin up to 1200 a day instead of the 1600 a day.
Taking into consideration his medical issues and meds, I don't believe this is a safe or sound decision, but I know how much pain he was in before the gabapentin.
I wish they would be more forthright about the side effects of this medication. They said it only causes blood sugar issues in 1 % and they did not even address the high blood pressure etc.
His pupils are also different, he has the kidney pain, but his biggest problem is sleepy.. hopefully it's not his kidneys or his heart. They did blood tests on Friday and I am asking for a EKG.. in the mean time we are monitoring both blood pressure and blood sugar 6 or more times a day. Thank you so much for sharing. It really helps to know we are not alone.

I have had asthma for about 12 years. It has progressed fast but don't believe it is emphysema yet. Stupidly I still smoke...or try to. I have used mostly salbutamol regularily and every now and again my doctor will try other types. I too have gained weight, lots of it, have leg pains and restless leg syndrome, blurred vision and fatigue. Many days I barely make to and from work. And all of these in just since taking Advair. I trust the doctors too much. Reading all of these are scary. It seems many doctors don't really have our best interest at heart. It begins and ends with money doesn't it? Another problem I have is because I am so sensitive to different thing, how can I know what is causing what??? I went for allergy tests last month and I could have told them more than what their tests showed and then some. I have since tried not to smoke and seriously looking into alternative treatments...stop the smoking for sure withpatches if I have to.

I'm posting for my father as he's not into computers. He went to the hospital for COPD - emphysema and he was on Prednisone for 10 days that he was there followed by 3 weeks of tapering it off. I didn't listen to his complaints and now I feel bad, it seems that his blurred vision and teeth and gum pain are serious, and a couple of his teeth have basically fallen out. Does anyone know if the vision problems were permanent? Obviously it's too late for his teeth...

I have been on Lisinopril for about 2 and 1/2 months for borderline hbp. About 135/85. I have two cats which have always have caused some allergic reactions but I had that controlled with an air purifier. I really haven't had any bothersome symptoms until about 3 weeks ago when I noticed that I was wheezing during the day (while away from the house, so I couldn't blame the cat allergies) and I was getting very short of breath doing everyday tasks and just talking to people. Then I started noticing a strong post nasal drip and a lot of congestion during the night. To the point where I sounded like something from the Excorcist, my breathing at night was rattly and wheezing. It suddenly occured to me that all of this could be developing side effects from the Lisinopril. But I didn't want to give up so I started taking Claritin at night and in the morning to relieve some of the exasperated allergy symptoms. That worked for about a week, but then I would wake up coughing and finally last night the wheezing got so bad that I thought I would need to go the ER. Today the coughing started pretty badly and just taking my dogs for a walk was taxing and I started getting really tired and developing a headache (which never happens to me). After researching Lisinopril and now reading everyone's posts and symptoms and obviously experiencing this terrible cough and wheezing, I have made up my mind to go off this terrible drug. I can't live with this. I am only 42 yrs old and I feel like I am an 90 year old with emphysema. Bye bye Lisinopril.

I was prescribed Levaquin 1000 mg. for 5 days for pneumonia the last week of December 2006. I was also prescribed Prednisone. Everything I ate tasted like metal. A couple of days after I started taking the Levaquin I started experiencing muscle cramps in my rib cage which are so severe it makes me double over in pain. After more than a year I still have the muscle cramps which now include not only my rib cage, but the arch of my feet and sometimes legs. I have a torn tendon in my left arm which didn't happen until about a month ago, but I am sure it is caused from muscle damage from the Levaquin. I am also on Advair Discus 250 which I didn't take before using the Levaquin. I didn't require inhalers or other medication before the pneumonia. My doctor now says I have COPD caused from asthma and chronic bronchitis. I used an Albuterol inhaler when I first got sick because the pneumonia was so bad. I thought after taking the Levaquin I would get back to normal. But even after the infection was cleared up I would get out of breath, so I returned to my doctor. She did an x-ray and said I had COPD and prescribed the inhalant. What I don't understand is that I didn't have breathing problems before the Pneumonia. I didn't have joint pain and muscle cramps either. I have had to quit working this past year because of it. I cannot go without the Advair, I can no longer walk long distances without pain. I have constant muscle pain just trying to do normal housework. How long do the effects last? Must be a lifetime.

I was given 20 mg of Prednisone for 10 days for a rash and joint pain.
The pain went away and I felt great the rash got a little better. Two days ago I took my last pill. I woke up that night and my knees gave out. By morning I was great! Next night I woke with knee problem again had to slide down the stairs to the living room. I got to wondering if the knee thing could be associated with the Prednisone. I got on line and read all this terrible stuff. I am so Horrified! Today I am in pain like my body is bruised and my face is swollen a little. I have acid reflux as well. Non of this is typical for me. My knee thing is ok again, but I am just appalled! I have no MED insurance. I hope this isn't the beginning of worse things I am not taking that drug now. The Dr. didn't say I needed to taper...

I hope I have not damaged myself by taking this drug! My heart goes out to all of you! My question is - Why are the Dr.'s prescribing this terrible drug?

My diagnosis for needing this med was taccycardia, irregular heart beat, and now very slightly evalated blood pressure (that seems to bother me more than the DR says it should )I have been trying to find a new drug that doesn't interfer with my COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease...in other words trouble breathing) Most of the heart meds add to your symptoms causing thick phlegm to build up, or wheezing. Most of the side effects for Betaxolol did go away eventually. I had horrible anxiety that seemed to ache from the inside out - that has finally dissipated. Itching & irritability also went away. I don't sleep well on this med at all - find my self waking in the middle of the nite and can't get back to sleep. To reduce the breathing problems this med causes for my lung condition I have tried taking the drug every other day and I experience my heart bouncing around in my chest, squeezed throat, serious trouble breathing cause my lungs don't work when my heart rhythm is wacky. Of course nothing shows up on the 30 day Event Heart Monitor they put me on so I might as well talk to the moon. Boy would I love to hear from anyone with asthma, COPD, emphysema, etc that needs BP meds and what works for them!

I am a 71 year old man with COPD (emphysema) My pulmonologist has prescribed Spiriva and Advair. I have taken Advair for over three years and Spiriva for about 18 months. Lately, I have experience a rapid heart beat (sometimes 138 bpm), problems with hoarseness, thick mucus in the throat, weight gain including an unpleasant, distended belly after eating, leg cramps at night, heartburn, dizziness and slow stream urination. I've been checked for prostate problems, the results of which were normal. My heart has always been healthy but lately with the rapid heartbeat, I've become very concerned. I am going to stop taking the Advair and see what the results are. The Spiriva seems to be doing a good job for me and I will continue with it since it is not a steroid.

OMG!! I thought I was losing my mind untiil I read a post here with my symptoms. Sensations of heat and cold at the same time. Very cold and body temp below 97 degrees. Have been on Advair 250/50 for about 2 years. Shortly afterwards, started having low thyroid and hard to maintain weight. Used to be on Albuteral, Atrovent and Pulmocort. Have emphysema along with asthma component. It is hard to breathe for about 30 min after taking Advair. Want to go back to my old meds, or at least try something different like Foradil, maybe.

I have emphysema and have been on Advair for years, as well as 02 and other meds - no problems - back in December I developed a "frog" in my throat. The docs are watching it. Went back in January - frog still there - sent me for a chest x-ray - said it looked like pneumonia. Put me on Levaquin - when back in two weeks - still had symptoms - had another chest x-ray - pneuomonia like appearance was still on the films. Put me on an antifungal - have been on that for almost two weeks - still feel not so good - some decent days - lots of bad days. Just heard a commerrcial on tv today about Advair - says it can cause pneumonia and should not be used long term???

I'm a 49 yoa ex-smoker with emphysema; smoke free x 5 years. I had 20x15 vision up until I started using Advair. My wife, for the last year or two, has continuously reminded me to stand up straight. Evidently I've developed a slouch.

This morning during an Advair commercial, I heard that side effects can include eye problems and Osteoporosis.

I'm not so sure about this stuff anymore.

I have been on Advair 250/50 for about 2 years. About 6 months ago I started experiencing feelings of heat on my back....like hot/cold clammy feeling. Hard to explain. My skin feels cool to the touch even when I feel like I am burning up. I feel more or less normal when I wake up and then progressively get these sensations of heat as the day progresses. The steroid in the Advair makes it hard to keep my weight where it should be. Before I was on Advair, I was on Albuteral inhaler, Atrovent and Azmacort. I notice, too, that immediately after inhaling Advair, it is hard to breathe for about 30 minutes. Hoarse voice comes and goes. I think I will try to go back to my previous meds or maybe ask if I can go on Foradil and another type of inhaled steroid as I have a strong asthma component with my Emphysema.

IRON DEFICIENCY or ANEMIA

I already told you ladies about iron deficiency in one of my earlier posts. But yesterday my doc finally supposed the same when I told him about my now again upcoming symptoms (tight chest, breathlessness after walking or doing anything, muscle weakness, nausea, tiredness, circulation problems, etc.).

So I'll finally get my iron levels checked on friday (my gyn, whom I had visited a few weeks before, didn't do anything like that at all, he again just told me to "wait and see" if the problems perhaps get better by themselves..... Wow, what a nice suggestion in such a bad situation. Thank you!).

Perhaps one thing for some of you to get checked, too!? I think it might be worth it and could be another chance to find a solution!!

Check the symptoms of iron deficiency over google or whatever, I'm sure you'll find some of yours!!

All the best to you out there!!

Silke

I take 10 mg prednisone for my emphysema.Since I started taking it I have gained twenty pounds and have unusal skin rash on my face plus I become irratated at times for very little reason.Up until I started taking it I was allways skinny.I hate this stuff!!!!

I have been on Advair 500/50 for 2 years taking 1 puff twice daily. I have had these side effects:

weight gain
dry skin
itchy skin
pain in muscles and joints, mostly legs
thin skin on arms
bleeding problems/ clotting disorder
rapid heart beat
thinning hair
difficulty sleeping
thirsty throughout the night
dental problems
water retention
heartburn
I hate taking this drug but it does help keep my COPD(emphysema) under control. I get depressed at times due the side effects of this drug and the impact it has on my life and how I feel about myself. I often think of just stopping the drug and seeing how I feel but I am afraid to.

I found this site by going on Advairs site. Thank God! All the symptoms I have been having are the same ones mentioned on this site. The pain in my back and legs are so bad I can hardly walk. My throat is sore all the time. I had problems with my stomach all along, but now they are worse. I have been having tests done to find out why, now I know. My appointment is Wed and I will be going off Advair. I have asthma and emphysema so it won't be easy but there must be another way. Good luck to all!

Glad I found this site. I've had perhaps a handful of serious asthma attacks in the last 15 years. However, at age 49, I've smoked since I was 11. Nov 24th, was told I probably have moderate emphysema. No more smoking for me. Was put on Advair 3 weeks prior when they thought I was only asthmatic. I've experienced hoarsness, and inability to sing, and I suspect some weight gain (already).

Question: Are there any side effects from stopping Advair? I wan't to quit right away.

Thanks

Like many of you, I experienced weight gain (all around the middle); high blood pressure; already had an irregular heart beat; chronic sinusitius with thick thick mucous constantly running down the back of my throat (antibiotics offered no relief); the need to clear my throat many times before I could speak; and the terrible sounding voice. In addition, I had the worst leg crams inaminable in the upper thighs. These cramps completely paralyzed my ability to move and they came on n the middle of the night. Also developed dry skin and break outs on the scalp requiring the use of special shampoos. Two doctors told me they had never heard of any of these symptoms. . .told me that over and over and over and wanted to add drugs for blood pressure, sprays for the sinuses. . .had no idea why the voice even bothered me. Now the clincher is that I was on Advair for 2 years. At the time I started I had a diagnoses of moderate asthma. Two years later - of continuing to faithfully take the medication - I have a diagnoses of emphysema with only 46% capacity for oxygen/carbon dioxide excahnge. I am a non smoker (never smoked) and genetics was ruled out in a test. The doctors STILL want me to continue on Advair. The urrent pulmonologist insistes he, too, has NEVER heard any of these side effects and cannot imagine why I think any of them are connected to Advair. Needless to say, he apparently hasn't ever read the Advair insert as the company now owns up to at least a few. I wonder if . . instead of posting OUR eamil addresses and names (leaving us open to SPAM . .. we start naming the physicians who tell us they have NEVER heard these syptoms before. They can, truthfully, only make that statement one time each . . . after that they are out and out lying and if thier name in here we'll all know who they are. I no longer take Advair . . am very fearful of my lung disease and very inquisitive as to how my condiition could deteriorate so completely while I was following all the medical advice; even allowing myself to be convinced that the doctors are right. And, my blood pressure is now normal and I have lost 20 pounds so far. Everyone wants to know which diet I am following and I just say I have "changed a few habits."