Walking

[Roessner541]

Just started walking again, want to be able to do things again. I am doing it without oxygen as I am trying to make my lungs stronger only been out twice but going well.

[Badbessie]

Well done, but gently build up. Are you monitoring your saturations? I started by doing step ups. I stood at the bottom of the stairs and stepped up and down. slowly building up the time until I could do six minutes. I then started walking outside. Slowly building up speed and distance. Remember your breathing I found purse lip breathing allowed me to increase both my distance and speed. Let us know how you are getting on.

[Roessner541 in reply to Badbessie]

I am I stop when tired and rest til recovered. I just try to go a little further each time

[Time_2_drink in reply to Roessner541]

Congratulations go steady though xxx

[belzy in reply to Roessner541]

determination x

[ol-ly11 in reply to Badbessie]

How long did this take you please?

[Roessner541 in reply to ol-ly11]

I just starting but plan to go on short walks daily or at least every other day.

[Geronimo]

I too am on oxygen. Just take things slowly and gently. Remember that you are on oxygen to protect your other organs and always keep an eye on your stats. Good luck with your progress.

[katieoxo60]

Well done, take care and don't push yourself too hard xx

[punkyb]

I would be worried about exercise without oxygen. I increase my oxygen with exercise so I can work out harder without desaturating

[O2Trees]

Hi Roessner, well done on getting going again. Slowly but surely as people here are saying.

However Im concerned that you say you're doing it without oxygen. If you've been prescribed oxygen, this is to protect your vital organs, especially your heart and not using it would be dangerous. And doing so will do nothing to "strengthen your lungs". What you need to do with exercise is to strengthen your MUSCLES, which decondition easily when we have copd, which means its harder to walk or do other activities.

You do not want to be risking your health. If you are someone who desaturates without getting very breathless you may not know if you're desaturating without the oxygen but it will have been given to you because you do desaturate and doing without it is dangerous. It might be a good idea to discuss your exercise plans with your respiratory nurse. Good luck

[stone-UK]

Hi

If your are using Ambulitory oxygen, which is for walking and exercise. I would be reluctant to discontinue when exercising. Your lungs will not be any less stronger using oxygen and you will be protecting your major organs

I use Ambulitory oxygen at 4lpm quite often as I am now I drop it down to 2lpm if just moving around my home. Out and about I keep to 4lpm.

One of the characteristics of COPD emphysema is poor gas exchange, hence the need for supplementary oxygen.

[Ef0lumps4]

Have to ask why if you have been prescribed oxygen do you want to exercise without it, won't this be harmful. I am an oxygen user and use ambulatory oxygen it takes the stress out of walking and protects your organs. It has its frustrations but there to help us. Take Care X

[Catnip]

Nooooo!!!!!!! You were given oxygen for a reason: your body doesn't function properly without it. All you are doing is making things SO much harder for your poor lungs and heart. I can appreciate your thinking -- but please, please use the oxygen as it is intended: as a medicine.

Catnip

[Titchykath]

I feel very fatigued when I walk distances without my oxygen, I went shopping the other day with my o2 on , well I thought it was on! It wasn't. I said to hubby my chest feels tight and I feel un well , got back to car and realised cylinder was empty. Felt unwell most of the day. So if you have o2 then it's best to use it when moving around. 😀

[alvorite]

I see this s lot "watch your stats"...what are stats and how do you check them please ??

[Roessner541 in reply to alvorite]

It is a meter that you place on your finger that measures the level of oxygen in your blood you can get them at drugstore and if it drops below 89 you need to use oxygen to get it back up.

[rogerw117 in reply to alvorite]

Get yourself a Pulse Oximeter - it goes on your finger; your doctor will have used one on you I'm sure. It shows your oxygen saturation. There's plenty on Amazon (e.g. amazon.co.uk/d/8jm/Finger-P... ). Other retailers are, of course, available. When I last exercised without oxygen (well, walked to the post box would be more accurate) my saturation dropped below 80 which really isn't a good thing to happen! Using a portable oxygen converter, my stats hover round the 95-96 mark which is fine. It means I get far more exercise which can only be good. I endorse what others are saying - don't do it without oxygen if it's been prescribed; you're putting yourself at risk for absolutely no benefit.

[Roessner541]

Sometimes I think you use things to much and then your body can't function without it I go very slow and rest as soon as my SATs drop I am sorry if people don't think it is a good idea but for me I feel that it is.

[Sarahem1965 in reply to Roessner541]

Hi Roessner541... trust me when I tell you, I can relate.. However, I can also tell you that by doing exactly what you are, I damaged my heart.. I've been on oxygen for a number of years and it gets so frustrating having to put it on, take it off, change cylinders, you get my point..I decided a few months ago I wanted to have Bariatric Surgery so on the side I was removing my oxygen and attempting to walk, exercise and such. Going in for Cardiac clearance I thought I'd be in and out.. Nope , I found out I had heart damage and I had to tell them what I had been doing.. So please, listen to what these other posters are saying, they are telling you what you NEED to hear not what you WANT to hear.. Good luck!!!

[O2Trees in reply to Roessner541]

Roessner - if you are using the lift instead of taking the stairs, then Id agree with you - for that kind of thing what you say makes sense. But you have been prescribed O2 because already your body can't function without using it. See it like insulin - if you were a type 1 diabetic you would need insulin, and doing without it wouldn't make your blood sugar levels better, it would make them WORSE!!

Oxygen is similar to insulin for diabetes or thyroxine for low thyroid function. Stopping any of them would make the condition worse. And don't you think there would be loads of us leaving off our oxygen if there was the remotest chance we would be better without it?

In terms of what you say above, if you are having to rest every time your sats drop, then you won't be able to improve your fitness. If you were to use the oxygen to do MORE exercise then your muscles would become more functional so that they would use the available O2 better and as you get fitter you might you then need less supplemental O2. At the moment your thinking isn't logical - it's the wrong way round.

[belzy]

keep at it x i go out once a day on me mobility scooter + fresh air is lush x