stairs and AF

[Gillybean123]

hi everyone, I am moving to be close to my daughter. The house has steep stairs. When I was there yesterday it knocked me up when I walked up them. Does this happen to anyone else. I live in a park home so haven’t done stairs for many years.

[Paulbounce]

Hi Gilly.

I hope you are well. OK click on the link below. This explains how to help with breathless when climbing stairs. Just take it steady and follow the instructions in the video - I think it may help you overcome the climb a little. Its only a short video and easy to put into practise.

Paul

[Paulbounce in reply to Paulbounce]

Silly me forgot the link - doh. Here it is 😉

youtube.com/watch?v=wXmKBff...(Not working as expected?)

[Gillybean123 in reply to Paulbounce]

Thank you, if this works it will save m e a lot of money on a stairlift. Thanks again.

[Singwell in reply to Paulbounce]

I don't need this right now but it's great. Thanks for sharing!

[Becksagogo in reply to Paulbounce]

Thank you for sharing this link. Will give it a go.

[paolina in reply to Paulbounce]

Probably good advise but am I the only one who couldn't stand that woman's voice and way of speaking?

I have to go up 4 flights of stairs to my daughter's and find I can usually do the first 2 alright but then need to rest or as my grandmother used to say "catch my breath". The best technique I have is 1 or 2 grandchildren at the top saying "come on Granny, you can do it". 😆

[Gumbie_Cat]

I must try that technique just mentioned! I’m sure you’re not alone with this. Every time I am in A Fib (and I’ve just been stuck in it for 7 weeks), one of my main problems is stairs and hills. Usually not exactly breathless, but my heart rate rising too much, and a feeling of lack of oxygen in my legs. Luckily I live in a ground floor flat, but still need to go up stairs to visit so many places, and I live in a hilly city.

Now that I have been in it this long, I have started to get a little breathless too. I have an ablation just next week, so I’m really crossing fingers that it helps.

[Gillybean123 in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

good luck with ablation.

[Paulbounce in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Yep Gumbie - good luck with ablation.

Paul

[bassets in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Best of luck

[secondtry]

I read recently to make it easier to climb stairs splay your feet out sideways like a duck. I've tried it and it does work reducing pressure on the knees. I got interested as my office is in our converted roof space and I climb 2 lots of stairs probably 20 times a day. I also have a stout walking stick (despite being very active and fit!) at the bottom of the 2nd flight just as a precaution to help me up as before I got a scare when my knee started objecting.

[Gumbie_Cat]

Thank you and   Gillybean123

So glad that I went on the list now - had worried that it was a sledgehammer to crack a nut. That was before another medication stopped working.

[Qualipop]

Are the stairs too narrow for a stair lift? I have one because of spinal problems b ut i find going up on hands and feet much easier than when upright. A good stair lift company would give you a quote and say whether they could fit one. You may even be able to get one through social services.

[Ducky2003]

When I'm AF ing, going upstairs is like climbing the North face of the Eiger.

[Gillybean123 in reply to Ducky2003]

Hi there, when I’m not in AF I really struggle but I think it is my medication. Never got any umff.

[Janey1955]

Irrespective of whether I am in afib or not, and whereas stairs seem ok, I find a gradual but prolonged incline very difficult. Hard to describe I just needed to keep stopping a I feel I am just not going to make it. It’s strange really but the same sort of thing. Why that is happening when I am not in afib I don’t know. I have a slow heart rate but they don’t seem to think that’s a problem

[Gillybean123 in reply to Janey1955]

I have to stop, sometimes when I am walking the dogs. Feel like I am not getting enough oxygen into my lungs. As soon as I am back home I am fine. I used to garden all day but now an hour is enough. Have to take many rests and have a cuppa. Oh the joys of AF in it or out of it.

[Janey1955 in reply to Gillybean123]

do you have any heart condition other than afib ?

Jane

[Gillybean123 in reply to Janey1955]

hi there, No

[Buffafly]

I haven’t watched the video yet but I learned a technique from my father who had COPD which I found really helpful. When I am walking and get breathless I start panting and that makes it worse. So when I remember I take deep breaths in and blow gently out. This gets the feeling of suffocation under control. Maybe it only works because I am asthmatic and tend to hyperventilate but I am interested to know if it is helpful to you.

[Gillybean123 in reply to Buffafly]

I will give it a try and let you know. Thanks.