Pulmonary Physiotherapy

Hi

Following 2 admissions and 8 other flare ups needing pred in the last 7 months, consultant had referred me for physio. My first session is next week. Had anyone had this and what should I expect? Thanks

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Hi

I saw a physiotherapist a couple of years ago and she went through some breathing and relaxation exercises with me. I suffer with anxiety and asthma. I found them really useful.

Hope this helps but can't say for sure if this is what will happen.

Hope you get on ok.

Debbie

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Hi,

I've seen them a few time for a few different issues so I think it depends on what your consultant has referred you for.

A few years ago I was having a lot of problems with breathlessness when my asthma was quite bad for a while but not so bad having an actual attack. The physio taught me a few exercises to help control breathing and gave me a sheet to take home and practice. She then phoned me a few times over the next few months to see how I was getting on and I was discharged from them at the next appointment. I was familiar with the exercises though as I studied music and play woodwind instruments.

Then I saw the same physio when I was having problems with mucus plugging. Again she taught me a few exercises but I had more follow up appointments than previously.

In the summer, I was referred to the same physio as I changed cons and he was questioning my asthma attacks (I had 7 admissions over 3 months) saying I was hyperventilating. This was much more of an assessment and she asked lots of questions. At the end she said it was probably over breathing due to struggling to breathe rather than hyperventialiting and checked my breathing technique from the first time I saw her!

I hope this helps. I have found the physio very helpful in all of these referrals.

[justTUX]

I have seen a pulmonary physio several different times for various different things.

1) I initially saw them for what I called breathing lessons where they taught me to breath properly or in the way they wanted as they thought this might help in an attack. I was breathing in a way that protected my chest as I have a lot of pain associated with lbroken ribs and repeated infections and pleurisy etc.

2) I saw them for them to beat me up!! They did a lot of percussion when I had a lot of mucus from an infection and was having difficulty clearing it! So they helped.

3) The last time I saw the physic was during my last admission a week ago where I was given an apace device to use to help me clear secretions I get. It is a device you breathe into and it sends vibrations into your chest to loosen up everything and make it easier to cough and clear it.

The physios I find can be a bit bossy but hope you find it useful!

justTUX