How to deal with breathlessness

[Mella20]

I was diagnosed with COPD 2 weeks ago. Over these past few weeks I have suffered with extreme breathlessness that sometimes lasts for 2 or 3 hours. It normally happens in the late afternoon to evening. Could anyone help with how to deal with these episodes or even how to avoid them??

[Lakeland]

Try this

youtube.com/watch?v=31Ew1og...(Not working as expected?)

[Mella20 in reply to Lakeland]

Thank you for posting this. I will give it a go

[Toci]

The person to offer help or advice would be your doctor. If your breathlessness is more severe or in a different pattern from when you were diagnosed, then your doctor needs to know about the changes so they can ensure you have the right medication and treatment.

[Puffthemagicdragon]

I agree Toci. When I was finally given the correct medication my life changed quite a lot for the better and I could do a lot more than when first diagnosed. Stupid doctor's fault. I'm glad I changed to the one I have now.

To Mella20. Until you see your doctor the best way to breathe in those circumstances is to do exactly the opposite of what your brain is telling your lungs to do. Don't breathe fast but try to breathe deeper and slower. It comes with practice but it makes a lot of difference. Best of luck to you.

[Mella20 in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

What medication are you on?

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to Mella20]

I'm on Spiriva and Seratide.

[grandadbrian in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

Me too Puff but also Oramorph for anxiety I believe, my spiriva was recently reducedfrom two puffs to one puff .

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to grandadbrian]

I have heard Oramorph also helps to make breathing a bit easier.

[grandadbrian in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

Should add I take the Oramorph rarely but it is prescribed at 2,5 m 3 times daily. I take

only when I feel I need something extra

[Mella20 in reply to grandadbrian]

I suffer with extreme anxiety so maybe i can suggest this to my dr

[grandadbrian in reply to Mella20]

Anxiety is an awful thing to cope with but it is hard to decide what comes first the anxiety or the. breathlessness. Hope things improve for you Mella.

[helingmic in reply to Mella20]

Yes, indeed.

I find the exercises shown in the video excellent.

I am not going to compete with this one, but I found another lady explaining what happens when you are acutely short of breath. with some solution too:

youtube.com/watch?v=wUr0YVZ...(Not working as expected?)

[Mella20 in reply to helingmic]

Thank you for this everyone has been so helpful.

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to grandadbrian]

One Puff is enough. Imagine two of me !

[initial]

It's interesting to see that it's happening during a specific time of the day. Is that when you're outside, or perhaps when your heating comes on? And what are you doing immediately before this happens? I found out (the hard way) that going from outside to inside, and vice versa, brought on my breathlessness, as too going from a room with low heat, into a warmer room.

I would let the doctor know about this new symptom, as the doctor may be able to throw more light on it. Take care x

[Mella20 in reply to initial]

Nothing seems to trigger it it just happens even when I'm sitting down. I now dread the evenings. A lot of it is anxiety. I have been extremely depressed since being given the diagnosis. I just don't want to do anything. I went to the drs today and they have given me new steroids, hopefully these will help. I just wish I could do more.

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to Mella20]

What level of COPD did they say you were at ? Please don't get down about it. The initial diagnosis can be quite traumatic so just chat away on here and we'll help you enjoy things like you should.

[Mella20 in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

They haven't said what level. 9 mths ago my chest X-ray was clear as 2 years ago I had TB but recently I have been more out of breath etc. I went back to the doctors for my chest X-ray results and the dr just said "Oh you have chronic lung disease" this was obviously a huge shock. I have always suffered with bronchitis, and chest infections so I think the TB has brought about the COPD. I just don't feel like doing anything Thank you for your comment.

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to Mella20]

Your doctor sounds like my previous one. " You have COPD. Here's some Salbutamol " and that was it. After having to go to A&E I decided to change my doctor. I saw the new one two days later and he straight away got me an appointment with a pulmonary consultant who gave me a proper lung function test. Now I'm on the correct medicines I am a whole lot better. You should tell.your doctor you want to be seen by a pulmonary consultant for a proper assessment. Don't let him/her fob you off. In my opinion it's very important.

[Mella20 in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

Yes they have sent a referral to the hospital so I'm just waiting for an appointment and that was after me asking for the referral if I hadn't asked they wouldn't have bothered. Funny thing is they have COPD advertised in the waiting room at my doctors but don't seem to know much about it or if they do they haven't spoken to me about it.

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to Mella20]

To be honest, not a l.lot do. I have a good doctor and he listens to my suggestions. I asked about pulmonary rehab and he said he hadn't heard of it so I explained it to him.

[caroleoctober]

I find that I am more breathless in the evening after I have eaten. I put it down to my stomach taking up lung space when it is full, so I just sit and relax for the evening. I think tiredness contributes as well.. Keep smiling

Carole x

[Mella20 in reply to caroleoctober]

Thank you Carole, at present I just don't feel like smiling or doing anything. I do feel very bloated at times, I'm thinking that maybe this has something to do with me trying to take deep breaths. Once again I have mentioned this to my dr and they just palm me off with mess without giving me a reason as to why it's happening.

[Ed-b in reply to Mella20]

Hello Mella....

You remind me of how I felt 6 or 7 weeks ago !

I also was diagnosed recently, ...... looking back, I had 'bloated' times before that and still do; I take some bicarb and cut down on meal size and hope it sorts itself out but thats just my style. I don't feel that for me it has just to be to do with the COPD ...... could be that my digestive system and general fitness is not so good because of taking no excercise .... because I kept getting breathless / because of the cold and wet / because I knew something was wrong / because I did not smoke in the house but I knew that I would when outside and I was desperately trying to give up / because I felt lethargic, off-colour and a bit fed up .... and then I had a lung infection --- frightening effect. BUT, Hey Presto ! Now there was a name for something I must have had for years, there was a treatment that started to make me feel better than I had for a long time and a real reason not to start smoking again.

Yes, I feel really bothered at times, but I have to remember that all my life I have been living with, and, more importantly, coping with the fatal complaint diagnosed as Ageing. At 77 its a big worry; at least the life-style changes to help COPD should make me healthier and so live longer than I probably would have. But I still remember enjoying a cigarette...... the electronic dummy is not quite the same. And I sometimes can't stop wanting to eat.

I feel better after writing that ....... I really meant to point you towards the following site that I found today called The COPD Survival Guide that I found encouraging copd-international.com/COPD... . No-one's selling anything, its not a spiritual thing, its telling it as he/she copes. Heres a quote that I liked :

" It isn’t a death sentence.

It isn’t untreatable.

It isn’t necessarily progressive.

It isn’t necessarily crippling."

You and me are new to all this: we'll just take it as it comes and (I'm whispering this --- steroid spray effect) try to encourage the others !

Regards, Ted-b

[Mella20 in reply to Ed-b]

A lovely post thank you. Wishing you well. I'm so glad I found this site. My daughter showed it to me as she was getting so upset seeing me so depressed. I feel a little happier today but it's still early days. I'm hoping once I've seen a consultant and I have some more answers I can come to terms with it all and make the lifestyle changes that I need to enjoy life again.

[FarmerD]

After being told I had emphysema I assumed the end was near but as you get to know your bodies reactions things get a lot easier.Try not to let things get you down,there is always some one worse off than you.When I understood the lungs are designed for breathing OUT rather than in it became clearer.Fighting panic is a big part of copd.Learn to relax as much as you can.Good luck.D.

[Mella20 in reply to FarmerD]

Thank you

[Hidden]

My husband has severe COPD and if he sits for any length of time he gets very breathless. We have a high table and have got a jigsaw for him to do standing up because if he sits in the lounge for any length of time he can get very breathless and feels quite ill with it. He is absolutely dreadful after he has eaten and finds it very uncomfortable. Could I suggest you ring the helpline (click on the red balloon) - the BLF nurses might have some practical advise for you and could advise on how to tackle your Doctor. He doesn't sound very helpful - perhaps it is time to change? If nothing else the helpline will be able to suggest what medications could help and if this is a normal symptom? Good Luck and try to stay proactive - my experience has been that we have had to go back to the doctors a number of times to get the information/medications my husband needs. TAD xxx

[Mella20 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for comments and advice