I have COPD (moderate) Although I was doing a bit of work in the garden today, cut two small lawns and did the lawn edgeing. When I finished I felt very breathless, my ventolin did'nt appear to do anything, also my legs felt very tired and shakey, is this normal?
Thanks
Vangellis
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.That sounds about right you just have to learn to do what you can and then rest for a while. Exercise is a good thing just don't over do it. I have been told three breaths in thro the nose and four out thro the mouth to settle you down. It does work. Good luck Susie xx
Hi Vangelis, I've learned the hard way to stop immediately I start getting breathless, breathing calmly as seyre says above. For me, that means a rest between going to the kitchen and coming back! It's not good to let yourself get too breathless as you just don't have the oxygen and will start to feel weak and shakey. What you are feeling is perfectly normal but I personally wouldn't recommend letting it get to that stage. Libby
Thank you both for your very swift replies.
To be honest I was getting rather concerned and a bit frightened. (I had a heart attack in 2007 with similar symptoms) although those symptoms got MUCH worse and did'nt go away,
these have.
I still feel a little anxious, but feel much better after reading your posts.
You see my dilema is, I get scared to do much in case I bring these symptoms on and that in turn leaves me to live a very sedentary lifestyle, which I know is not the answer, but it's very frightening all the same.
Thank's again
Vangellis
All of us on here have all been scared out of our wits at sometime Vangelis. It comes with the lung disease I'm afraid. Pacing ourselves seems to be the answer. Steady does it.
Regards, Bobby
Pursed lip breathing our old favourite. Inhale count 2,slight pause exhale count 4.
Relax visualise something calming.
Just the same for me, Evangelis. Plus the fact I am overweight. Get breathless, tired and legs go funny. Very hard to explain until I was told lack of oxygen. It is so frustrating since I used to be so active. I am considering pulmonary rehab, to getting the oxygen on the move. We can live in hope!! Wondering if Pulmonary would help you but I simply dont enough to say. Bye annieseed
Pulmonary rehab would be a great help as they teach you how to control your breathlessness and build up your exercise tolerance. You also learn a great many other helpful tips on how to manage the condition. If you can get on a course I'd give it a go. It was the best help I ever had.
Good luck.
Hi Vangellis
I too have 'wobbly legs' sometimes.
I was told that it was because the oxygen in my body was being used for the most important thing, ie breathing, and that as use of my legs is not a requisite of staying alive they missed out on getting enough oxygen to the muscles to make them work properly. (I hope that makes sense.)
Panic seems to be a part of my life at the moment (when I am breathless) but I have found that carrying out some of the suggestions on this site has helped me a lot. I find that the 'pursed lip breathing' is really helpful (although a friend said that my mouth looks like a cat's a**e when I am doing it).
Do what the lovely people on this forum suggest - stop when you are anywhere near breathless - you know it makes sense.
Love and hugs
Annec
xxxxx
Walking does the same for me,makes my legs shaky and I can not seem to controle them. Am trying to build a little more strength by exercising which I find boring when I am on my own. Started pulminary rehab last week and it was such good fun. Everyone with similar problems which we didnt really discuss as we were too busy chatting and laughing.
Please feel free to come and attack my weeds, and cut my grass anytime x
As has been suggested Pulmonary rehab would be a good thing for you Vangellis. It will help with the panic as you will be more knowledgeable about the subject.
As soon as you feel breathless take a minute or two to get back to normal and then carry on.
I can say i know how you fell .
But when you pick up the grassbox and when you
do the border do not put your neck down keep it up
and breath slowly and rest as much as you can .and as
offen as you can as there is always another day . Good luck
You may have over done it Vangellis, that can affect the legs and breathing. This oil seed rape that is in full bloom at the moment is enough to affect anyone's respiratory system, a lot of pollen is floating about in the air we breathe. Having said that just cutting the grass can do it for some.
If your symptoms don't improve check in with your doc to be sure.
Hope you are doing better today.
Well, what can I say, what a fantastic response, I could'nt believe all the answers/suggestions I got, but I thank you all and can assure you I am very gratefull to each and every one of you.
With regard to pulmonary rehab, I asked my COPD nurse about it and she said "you don't have it bad enough for them to accept you on a course"
I did'nt know wether to feel relieved or upset, relieved is the best I think.
Well, I woke up this morning feeling very tired, although my legs were fine today, as was my breathing. I sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea and thought to myself, sod this for a game of soldiers, so I got the lawnmower out again and tackled the side garden lawn, now that is HUGE, I would say it is 20 times bigger than the 2 small back garden lawns put together, to give you an example there is our drive that is the full length of the lawn and we can fit 7 cars on there in a row front to back.and its about 40 foot wide.
I took heed on what you guys said, I did a bit then when I started to feel myself getting warm, I took a 10 min break, then did some more. Well I finished the damn lawn and cut it very short so once a week will do now instead of the usual twice a week.
Then to go and spoil it, when I was putting the mower away, I noticed my car had a flat front tyre, so of course I had to change the wheel, I felt myself getting really tired then so I sat down for half an hour and had a cup of tea, then carried on.
At least I did'nt get to the stage I needed my ventolin today.
I don't think I have been so busy this weekend as I have since before christmas.
So thinking about it, after doing absolutely nothing for the best part of 6 months, then to suddenly burst into action so to speak, it's rather obvious I am going to feel a difference.
I think I am going to have to ty and do more exercise, that is the only answer as I can see.
Thanks again for all your replies
Take care
Vangellis
hi,well im copd moderate and 2 week ago at breathe easy in oldham there were 2 nurse there ,they asked me if i did rehab/i told them no as gps nurse not done nothin.rite they put me down for rehab i start 11 june,was my 1st time at breathe easy to im glad i went,never had no info just wat ive learned of hear nice ppl.any probs r advice get from ppl on hear r blv nurses nice ppl .ive learned loads of ppl hear,im 63 yrs
hi apparently there's a link between the muscles in the legs and the lungs which is why when i get breathless it feels like my legs won't work. you need to build up strengthen in your muscles, have u been to pulmonary rehabilition ?
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Severe copd and breathlessness 
Breathlessness
Lingering breathlessness 
breathlessness 
