C.o.p.d. How do you cope with the fatigue, ?...when I am well I tend to do to much and then I am seven days flat out.

[Baily]

I live alone and find it hard to even fill the kettle, Does anyone else feel this ?.

[Baily]

Don,t give up, walk every day even for ten min. Fresh air is sooo good I come from the Highlands of Scotland, been fighting this for leaven years, iy,s not easy."

[tomc]

I think, I am just a natural sleepy dozie zombie by nature, ( at least that`s what my wife tells me) constantly......LOL.

Just got to keep pushing yourself to do what has to be done I`m afraid.

The up side to that is, the more you do the better you get at it.

Tom.

[butter-fly]

I think there are a lot of us Baily!

It is too tempting not to get in all the things we are afraid we may not be able to do tomorrow. Then sometimes we can't do anything when tomorrow comes because we're whacked from yesterday! The only answer is to space ourselves. And for most people this is probably a sensible answer.

Not one I personally subscribe to as I believe in Sod's Law. I may feel whacked tomorrow anyway so I'm afraid I give my good days my all!

Sorry I'm not much help. Take care Baily. Sara.

[Steph57 in reply to butter-fly]

I do as much as I can on good days I think it's the only way it works for me most of the time but hey ho each to their own everyone's different thank god.

[butter-fly in reply to Steph57]

Too true Steph! Some of us just can't pace ourselves! I think we've lead such busy lives especially if we've been busy a houseful and doing for others we don't know how to stop anyway unless we are almost flat on our face. It's not easy to accept that sometimes we are not able to do the simplest of things for ourselves and that the worst thing about this rotten illness. But hey ho we get there in the end! It's good to kick out now and then! Suspect that's what Baily is doing. Sara x

[Steph57 in reply to butter-fly]

Hi butterfly even a shower is too much sometimes when I'm at my worse strip wash in the kitchen I can keep sitting down till I get my breath. X

[Baily in reply to Steph57]

I am new to this site but it is wonderful to be understood. Thanks

[Baily in reply to butter-fly]

A kindred sprit, live for to-day to hell with to-morrow, to-morrow may never come

[dukes]

I also live on my own, Baily, and find that the only way I can do it is the same as 'butter-fly' and 'Steph57'.

I batch cook, do Tesco on-line shopping, have a large laundry basket and the flat is rarely as I would like it to be,

but I'm afraid that is how it has to be !

[Steph57 in reply to dukes]

Good morning Dukes I also shop on line my poison is asda for most stuff local butcher and green grocer once a week. You have to adapt.

[Baily in reply to dukes]

Thanks for answering me, yes I cook for Scotland when I am well, so do not have to depend on anyone when Ill but down in the dumps today as I now realise I am going to have to re-home my darling Grayhound, I inherited him from my Daughter who does not live here, he is young and I am old, it,s breaking my heart.....but that's life. It,s really good being able to share this with people who understand.....Thanks

[dukes in reply to Baily]

So sorry to hear that Baily, it must be such a terrible wrench to have to part with a loyal friend and companion. I love dogs, but pre COPD I was working all the hours that God sent so I was never home. Since I’ve had it I can just about make the post box on a good day, and it just wouldn’t be fair to have one, so I have to make do with the TV and computer for company.

Still, from what I’ve seen you will always find someone on this site to chat to and share your problems with, so it’s not all bad.

Good luck to you pal, Brian.

[dukes]

Hi Steph, I would also love to use the local Butcher & G/grocer, but even with a 'blue-badge' there is nowhere to park around here. The car might have to go this year (only did 150 miles last one) !

I get Tesco man to leave shop crates at front door, but even the 15 ft to the kitchen to store it away takes me over an hour these days and leaves me quite exhausted. Who needs a gym workout eh ?

[pollyjj in reply to dukes]

I always put a note on my order asking the Tesco driver to carry the boxes through to the kitchen it is a great help, they even help me to unpack them.

Never had a moan yet.

polly xx

[poppyval in reply to dukes]

Dukes. When I used to get my shop from Tesco the lovely man always used to carry them into the kitchen for me. If you read their adverts it tells you they will leave them where you want them. You can ask, and they can only say yes or no. Good luck with it. Cheryl

[dukes]

Hi Polly, my flat is so small that doing so would mean we just got in each others' way, and as i only shop once a fortnight it is quite an art to find a home for it all. But at least now I don't have to lug it all up the stairs to the flat, which was starting to take an age and requiring a couple of sit-down breaks. Hard to adjust, I was always a 'one man band' and tough as old boots ! Old age and C.O.P.D. takes its toll !

[Steph57 in reply to dukes]

Hi dukes why don't you ask for your groceries to be delivered to your door instead of you traipsing up and down. X

[dukes in reply to Steph57]

See reply to 'Polly' above Steph, I live in a very small 1st floor flat (50 years) and stashing it all away is like doing a jigsaw, freezer is bulging at the seams! Cooking is a bit like when I was crewing on a yacht, but without the movement! Thanks for the thought :<) X

[poppyval in reply to dukes]

Sorry Dukes didn't read your next reply before I replied to you.

[dukes in reply to poppyval]

All help gratefully received, Polly, many thanks !

[shilevy]

I do the same with Sainsburys! They are very good and put everything on the table for me.

Shilevy xx

[Hidden]

I too find Sainsburys brilliant...they've delivered my groceries for several years now and I have had 3 house moves!

Even though it's not always the same driver they come to my door, they go through to the kitchen and put all the carrier bags out on the worktops. All helpful and cheerful even though I'm now in a first floor property!

To Baily and especially others who live alone; yes, it's not easy when it almost feels too much to make a simple drink.

My own personal routine is to try and work slowly through the morning on household chores, etc, resting where possible. Also get anything done towards evening meal and this leaves the afternoons free for more enjoyable things - if we have enough energy left that is! Lovelight x

[operatic]

Same here Pollyjj !

[antan]

Asda bring mine into the kitchen and help me unpack them on to the working surface. They always tell me where the freezer stuff is so I can put it away then the rest can be stored away when I have the energy.

[undine]

thanks for all the advice everyone - I am currently renting a room from a friend who has been great in getting shopping, cooking etc. but cannot stay long term and with him away now for a week have realised how ill equipped I am to live alone again - as you all say it is the simple tasks that can seem mountains - filling a hot water bottle and carrying it upstairs does me in, actually getting upstairs (to the toilet) is bad enough, but carrying something means a rest on about every step - pathetic isn't it- people just do not realise how difficult things can get for us especially if they just chat while you are sitting and on your oxygen - look normal (ok except for the cannulas) oh well thanks again for advice - at least I'm not alone xx

[Toci in reply to undine]

Looking normal - (ok except for the cannulas) - ha, ha, ha, ha. That's me.

[jimmyw123]

im the same as you baily, live alone, tried to shower this morning, you would think i did an 8 hour shift, just couldnt get my breath back, i think most of us are alike, we do tend to overdo it,, but i think sometimes we should do what our body tells us to do,and sometimes thats rest., but i fully understand what your saying.

[Suzy6]

I so agree jimmy. I've just slept on the sofa for 4 hours, most unusual for me. I must have overdone it today and needed it. Must say I don't feel better for it.

[jimmyw123 in reply to Suzy6]

its strange when you do that suzie, you often wake feeling awfull, but then again you often get the benefit a bit later,, i hope you do anyway jw x

[Suzy6 in reply to jimmyw123]

Thanks jimmy, yes, actually I do. Got my second wind now. xx

[gloriajean]

Most days the simplest things, laundry, putting on clothes, making the bed, walking next door, leave me breathless even if I use oxygen while I'm doing them. I have to sit and rest, try to get back to breathing normal. Sometimes I breathe so hard, my muscles in my stomach and ribs hurt. I find one of my problems is trying to rush through a task when I start breathing hard--which makes me breathe harder. I need to learn to slow down, even sit down before I'm through. Anything that requires raising my arms takes me down fast. Thanks so much for your posts. It's wonderful knowing I'm not alone. One thing I would like to ask: Has anyone had trouble with their voice when they get SOB--I don't mean panting--My voice becomes very high-pitched and weak. Just wondering if I'm a medical anomaly.

[Baily in reply to gloriajean]

Don,t know what SOB means but every time I get overtired my voice goes, it is so frustrating as I try to hide my illness from my family.....

[scrobbitty]

In this context, 'SOB' is 'short of breath'

[Baily]

I am a pensioner not not up on all the gardgen, family don,t want to know and so try hard to hide it."....not easy

[becraftygirl]

it is really very hard because you really have to fight with yourself to do things because its a true saying use it or loose it very much like cycle

u sit about you get worse

you become overweight

less likely to feel like doing anything any way so if u that bad right down what needs doing that dzay if poss tick of each task you manage if you manage just two its great because you may not of done any

[Steph57]

Hi baily I agree with stitch about your dog mines not 2 yet and can be a handful but he brightens my days no end and stitch is right again greyhounds don't require lots of excercise. Think long and hard. You'll come to the right answer for you. Xx

[Baily in reply to Steph57]

Thanks Steph, well three months on and I still have my Hound, I adore him and friends have started to help me out re walks. As well as copd. I have a bad foot which needs operating, I am holding of as it means being in plaster for three months,, what a thought.

[Baily]

Yes but my Grayhound is young and needs walking twice a day, an hour each time. Big problem....

[JustSandra]

I am so pleased I found this site. I have to cope with this COPD on my own. Its not easy but it is nice to know that others are finding same if not similar problems to mine.

I have 2 kittens 6month and 13months and they in all honesty keep me going. If not for them I am pretty sure I would have left the planet a year ago. Keep your beloved greyhound Baily anything that makes you smile is a good thing.

[Baily in reply to JustSandra]

Thanks Sandra, yes a smile goes a long way plus his cuddles, things have a way of sorting themselves out, will keep you all posted...

[Hidden]

Hi Sandra & welcome! Glad you found this site,it is good to know we are not alone.

Your kittens sound delightful,& I'm sure would be great company,you'll have to post a picture of them! xxx

[JustSandra]

Thanks Wendells, I shall try to do that if I can work out how to on this site

[jimmyw123]

i hope you can manage your pet greyhound , wonder if you could get some one to walk it for you,i have found out that you often find that what you worry about at the time, can always eventually be sorted out, best wishes on that one.i am a pensioner and have pets, and again find people have been quite good at looking after them for me when ill,

as i said previously also live alone and can understand your feelings, i now get these wiltshire farm foods delivered , the delivery guy is always cheery, carries everything in, and puts it all away [i dont mean he eats them lol],, when i am feeling better i might make the odd [very odd sometimes lol] stew at times, with plenty veg etc.,, although you dont often think like this when your "down a bit" but something always turns up, somehow,, hope your keeping well ,,jimmy

[Baily in reply to jimmyw123]

Yes Jimmy, Wiltshire foods are excellent, fortunately I have managed to do my own cooking for some time now things are looking up, it must be this good Scottish weather plus a wee dram of course. Take care...