Useful contacts/agencies. Self Management Plan: Information and Advice To help you manage your COPD And what to do if you feel unwell

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Linette Dennis
7 years ago
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Useful contacts/agencies BLF (British Lung Foundation) Asthma UK http://www.blf.org.

uk Self Management Plan: Information and Advice To help you manage your COPD And what to do if you feel unwell Smoke Free

aspx This booklet contains information about the medication used for treatment of your condition and an Action Plan to use if

The patient passport is derived from the PCRS and BLF COPD tool If you would like this leaflet in large print, audio, Braille,

1 Useful contacts/agencies BLF (British Lung Foundation) Asthma UK Self Management Plan: Information and Advice To help you manage your COPD And what to do if you feel unwell Smoke Free Norfolk /Emergencyandurgentcareservices/Pages/NHS-111.aspx This booklet contains information about the medication used for treatment of your condition and an Action Plan to use if your condition gets worse due to an infection. The patient passport is derived from the PCRS and BLF COPD tool If you would like this leaflet in large print, audio, Braille, alternative format or in a different language, please contact your surgery and they will do their best to help. 12 If you are taken into hospital, please show them this booklet and bring this document with you whenever you see your doctor or nurse about your COPD Instructions for Emergency Treatment: This patient has COPD. Use Low Flow Oxygen.

2 COPD Patient Passport 1. My diagnosis of COPD was confirmed with a lung function test (spirometry). Date of test: Useful contacts/agencies Norfolk County Council contacts: 2. I understand my COPD and my health care professional has explained where to find information, advice and emotional support. 2a. My local Breathe Easy Group meets at: Adult Care 3. I am supported to manage my care and have agreed and been given a copy of my self-management plan. Care & Support Services Directory and_support_services_d 4. I have contacted my GP to get a free flu vaccination by November each year And I have also had the one-off pneumonia injection Date of my pneumonia injection: 5. If I smoke, I am offered support and treatment to stop every time I meet with a health care professional. Customer Service Centre Tel:

3 Your Name: Your GP s name: Patient Details Please bring this document with you when you see your doctor or nurse about your COPD. Tel: COPD Patient Passport 6. I know the importance of keeping active and eating well. I have had a referral to pulmonary rehabilitation, and received advice about ongoing exercise and nutrition. Date of this referral was: Date of first rehabilitation session: Your Nurse s name: Name of your GP Practice: Tel: 7. I know what all my medicines are for and when to take them, and can also refer to the information about my medication in the following pages GP s out of hours Telephone Number: Lung Function Measurements - to be completed by the doctor or nurse. Date FEV1 CAT SCORE Sa02 8. My health care professional reviews how I use my inhaler every time I meet them. 9. I can spot the signs of a flare-up (exacerbation), and know who to contact and what medicines to take when this happens. 10. I see my nurse or doctor at least once a year to review my health, my care and my treatment, and to discuss all the points in this passport. 10 3

4 Information about your medication 11. Inhalers Short acting Bronchodilators These relax the muscles in your airways and make it easier for you to breathe. Bronchodilators that are short-acting, start to work within about 10 minutes and the effect should last for about 4 hours. Your short-acting medication is: Long acting Bronchodilators These take more time before they have an effect but last hours. Your long-acting medication is: Dual acting Bronchodilators: Combination inhalers Some inhalers contain more than one drug. These may be taken once or twice a day depending on the preparation. Your combination inhaler is: Other medication Sometimes, tablets or capsules may be prescribed. These are to be taken regularly to help your breathing or reduce the amount of phlegm you produce. Things you can do to keep well Talk to your nurse or GP about joining a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Course near you Avoid sedatives or too much alcohol In very cold weather, make sure you have enough heating indoors Try to exercise every day Walk for ten minutes, three times a day. You will not cause any harm by getting slightly short of breath Have a flu vaccination every year Maintain a healthy body weight and eat a balanced diet Have a pneumococcal vaccination (this only needs to be done once) Stop Smoking It is never too late for this to be beneficial Make sure you know how to use your inhalers properly. Your nurse will be able to help Avoid places where other people are smoking 4 9

5 Medication to use when your symptoms are worse Be aware of signs that your breathing or cough is getting worse and use the colour-coded Action Plan (see pages 6 and 7). Take immediate steps to increase your treatment and take additional medication as this may reduce the risks of your breathing becoming worse. Your GP may allow you to have reserve antibiotics and steroids at home to use if your symptoms become worse. If you are in any doubt about what to do, contact your doctor or nurse, or the Out of Hours service for advice. Extra reliever - to reduce breathlessness: Take up to puffs of every hours. Use aerosol inhalers through a spacer for maximum effect. Antibiotic - to use if your sputum becomes coloured or the amount increases due to infection: Take mg of times a day for seven days. Prednisolone (steroid) tablets to use to reduce inflammation in the lungs when your breathing is bad Take six, 5mg tablets as a single dose, once a day for seven days. Let your doctor or nurse know if you start your rescue medication; ideally see them within 4 days. Your usual treatment (To be taken when your condition is stable) Regular medication Name Dose Morning Lunch Evening Bedtime Medication to be taken, when necessary Name Instructions Important Note: Make sure you do not run out of your medication. When you ask for a repeat prescription from your surgery, always allow time (usually two to three days) for them to arrange it. 8 5

6 COPD Action Plan When you are well, be aware of the following: How much activity you can do each day. What your breathing is like when you are resting and when you are active. How much phlegm you cough up and what colour it is. Things that make your breathing worse. What your appetite is like. How well you are sleeping. The following are signs that your symptoms are getting worse: More breathless or wheezy than usual. Reduced energy for daily activities. Coughing up more phlegm. Change in colour of phlegm. Poor sleep and/or symptoms waking you in the night. The following are signs of a severe attack: Breathlessness and cough getting worse. You are not able to carry out your normal daily activities. Your medications are not working. The following are danger signs: Very short of breath at rest with no relief from medication. Chest pains. High fever. A feeling of agitation, fear, drowsiness or confusion. COPD Action Plan Have something to look forward to each day. Plan ahead pace yourself and allow enough time to do things. Exercise every day. Take your medication as directed by your doctor. Never allow your medications to run out. Avoid things that make your condition worse. Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids. Contact your doctor or nurse if you need to talk about increasing your reliever medication and starting antibiotics and/or steroids (see next page). Allow more time for things. Get plenty of rest. Use relaxation and controlled breathing techniques. Eat small amounts more often and drink enough fluids. YOUR SURGERY NUMBER IS: During surgery hours phone your doctor for an urgent appointment or home visit. After 6.30pm and weekends ring 111; please tell them you have COPD and a self management plan, ask them to put you through to a nurse or doctor if you do not think you need an ambulance. Dial 999 for an ambulance or ring the emergency doctor. 6 7

Medication and Devices for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Medication and Devices for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients with COPD take a wide variety of medicines to manage their symptoms these include: Inhaled Short Acting Bronchodilators