Based on a leaflet produced by the Respiratory Research Unit, Plymouth, PL6 BBX.

             

Self Management Care Plan for COPD

E12 HEALTH Passionate About Keeping You Healthy  

E12 HEALTH    Partners  Dr  Bhupinder  Kohli  &  Susan  Paul    30 Church Road, London E12 6AQ  Tel:  020  8553  7440  Fax:  020  8553  7441  www.e12health.com  

This leaflet is to help you recognise when you are having a flare-up of your COPD/bronchitis. Early treatment of flare-ups can reduce your chance of going to hospital. Flare-ups start with either a change in your sputum or a worsening of your breathlessness. If this happens, follow the instructions below. If at any time you are unsure what to do, please contact your practice nurse, or your GP. FIRST, think about your sputum (cough some onto a white tissue to inspect colour). Are you are getting more sputum than usual, or has your sputum changed colour from clear or pale to darker yellow or green? If so, this is a sign of infection Start your antibiotics. Your antibiotics are:

Amoxicillin 500mg. Take three times a day for 5 days (delete as appropriate)

Erythromycin 500mg/1OOOmg twice daily for 5 days (delete as appropriate)

Or (name). Take (number/strength) tablets times a day for days. SECOND, thinking about how breathless you are: Is your breathlessness the same as usual? Continue your usual inhaler treatments. Is your breathlessness worse than usual? Start taking your steroid tablets immediately. See below for dose. Increase your reliever inhaler to maximum doses (remember to use your spacer device). Doses: Your steroids are prednisolone 30mg every day for 7 or 14 days (delete as approprtate) Your reliever is: Salbutamol (blue inhaler) maximum 2-4 puffs 4 hourly via spacer Or (delete as appropriate) FINALLY, arrange a check-up: If you use either the antibiotics or the steroid tablets, you need to book a telephone consultation with a nurse practitioner or your GP 2-3 days later so we can check you are on the mend and re-issue your prescriptions for the next time you have a flare-up. IN SUMMARY: If you have more sputum or a change in the colour of your sputum, start your antibiotics. If you are more short of breath than usual, start your steroids. If you ever have any of the following contact the surgery immediately or dial 999: • Very short of breath. • Chest pains. • High fever. • Feeling of agitation, fear, drowsiness or confusion.