It finally happend...Yes, it did...Wow....

So, Monday afternoon 2:11 pm. I put out my smoke and went into work, a bit feverish, coughing and shaky. But I started working. At a little after 4:15 pm, one co-worker came up to me and said

"I'm taking you to the lunchroom Dude, you do NOT look good" 

I was sweating, breathing hard and staggering while deburring parts. Supervisor called 911, and soon I was in the hospital and asked to stay over night. Long story short, I had a "COPD Flare-Up" which meant I was not following instructions as prescribed..

I was released Tuesday at 6:15 and they paid for the taxi to my work. I then got there, spoke briefly with boss and then went home. The company has a "Go home and heal" policy for non-injury job matters. 

In short, they have NO light duty and will never provide such. So, I spoke with my doctor (This Saturday, which I was VERY fortunate to get to see him so quickly) After discussing my "Occurrence" he said that if I ever went back there, he'd kick my butt.  >:( >:( >:(

So, I'll be applying for UI, I don't know how successful I'd be getting SSDI so I'll be haunting the state for retraining to a desk job. 

I take no shame in this, a bit of embarrassment, but I made my choice even with the evidence pointing that something like this might occur. 

So, I now join the ranks of "Non-Smokers" and sit on the sidelines, breathing heavily after some exertion, knowing it didn't HAVE to be this way, but I DID make that choice. 


Oh and check out that little pic of my inhaler...It's only $272.00 for each one I have to buy so I can breathe easier...(I also get the $26 buck one for my main use, this is a "Rescue" inhaler) So you can see, by me rolling my own smokes, I saved alot...Yeah, wow...Great... :'( :'(

Social Security Disability has very specific guidelines for COPD.  I know, 'cus I'm on it.  The hospital social worker applied for it, for me, last time I was hospitalized (2010).  Turns out I had been qualified for 3 yrs before ever applying - it never occurred to me.

Anyway, if you qualify for Disability, you'll also get Medicare which pays/helps to pay for all those prescriptions.  You can find the guidelines on their website, although I don't know where offhand.

Hope you feel better soon.

Yes, I'd have to stay somewhere around 90 all the time to qualify (From what I read on some COPD forums) My main complaint is the cost of the inhaler, It WAS $144 a couple years ago, but they "Reformulated" (Read, changed the packaging to a fancier type) so the price damn near doubled.

I'll be really haunting the state for retraining for a desk job, I really doubt I'll be getting that so I may just have to find part time restaurant work and see if I can do it and survive.

Actually, the "90" they're talking about is your Blood Oxygen level, or SO2.  That's what determines whether or not you need oxygen all the time, and they determine that with a test called the "6 minute walk".  I'm on oxygen 24/7, wherever I am - in the shower, when I'm sleeping, whatever.  I have a machine at home, and portable tanks for going out of the house, which is a big pain in the butt when you're on oxygen.  But I do go shopping a couple of times a month at stores with electric carts.

The numbers I'm talking about that qualify you for Disability are your lung function numbers (particularly your FEV1) which show how much of your lungs are still functioning.  Has anyone run tests on you yet?  If not, you need to get them done, preferably by a pulmonologist.  $234 is nothing compared to what it will be as it goes along.  I'm self-employed with no insurance & used to spend $1000/mo on prescriptions (I also have severe asthma).

COPD is not a disease to play with.  It's the #3 killer in our country and is on the rise.  It's miserable on its own, and even worse if not managed well.  It's like sitting on the bottom of the pool in the deep end and being out of air. 

I'll have to wait till late July to have any further tests unless the State of Washington decides I need to have someone look at me sooner. The doctor wants to do a couple of tests and then I guess (If needed) some more specialized.

          Genenco,  I'm glad you finally decided to quit but I'm sorry it had to come to this point.  Please be compliant and follow your doctor's advice and don't try to sneak any in 'cause it can land you right back in the ER and I really love hearing your stories so get better soon.  Lhasalover,  thank you for the info; you saved me having to give a lecture on it.  And that looks like a new version of Combivent,  basically the same old med., just more expensive. 

The worst thing (Besides cost) is that the new Combivent makes me nauseous I  never had that issue with the old formulation.

On a sidenote for any1 giving up cigs i found the electronic cigs are the best things since sliced bread to help quit the habit!

I think the worst thing you can do is beat yourself up for smoking after the damage is done. My mom had COPD and smoked like 3 packs a cigs a day before she finally quit but it was too late. I would hear her say all the time - why oh why didn't i quit years ago.

It is hard enough coping with an illness associated with poor choices we make and we can't turn back the hands of time so enjoy your life now as much as possible and live in the moment.

Lips

Thanks to all who replied. My only one fear (It's a BIG one) is to NOT become a "Anti-smoking Nazi" After all, I DID enjoy my smoking, the sharing with others, agreeing with some that "It's a terrible habit" and then taking another puff

Kind of funny right now, I still have a bag of tobacco, roller and papers...Why? I either am too lazy to toss them out, thinking of rolling that "1 more" smoke (No, not going to happen) or just having fun torturing myself having the stuff just close to me and seeing if I can resist...

Ahhhh...I've got better things to do then be rolling a smoke anyway.