Dust

[andyrrc]

Hi All

I am new here but after my latest exacerbation I have decided to change my way of life to cope with the COPD. I am going to try Yoga and Tai Chi and have a fundamental change of lifestyle. Working in the Middle East has a major effect on me as there is continual dust (sand) in the air along with the pollution from the petroleum industry. Maybe thinking of returning to the UK for a better air quality after being away for 9 years in bad areas for pollution like Moscow Russia and here in Saudi Arabia.

I am likely to be asking a lot of questions as time progresses so if I am too much then please feel free to let me know))

[Caspiana]

Hello andyrrc .

Welcome to the forum 👋. You should ask and ask as much as you want to. No one will mind. We all do it all the time. The dust sounds very unpleasant. Hoping to hear more from you soon.

Cas xx 🌹

[pergola]

You have my sympathies. I visited Dubai, for at least 15 years to see family. Be careful where you choose to live in the UK. Air quality wasn't good where I lived in North Herts. Mainly chemical works and farmers spraying their fields.

[andyrrc in reply to pergola]

Thank you Pergola, It is the winter here now as you are probably aware (temperatures a chilly 18C ) and that brings the wind, sand storms and the continual fine dust. Waiting with anticipation for the beginning of February when the rain comes for a few days to get some relief.

As for the UK I have my house about 25 miles east of Northampton in a village with fields around the location so not so bad. But my intent when I return is to move back to North Wales around Snowdonia so hopefully much better air quality.

[Pam1952]

Good luck. I hope that all goes well for you. Snowdonia is beautiful, and the air quality is about as good as you can get in the UK. Please let us know how you're getting on. XXX

[Sandy-]

I lived in West Africa many years ago and at certain times of the year we had wind from the Sahara called the Harmattan, that brought fine dust that got everywhere. I’m sure it’s not good for the lungs. The Snowdonia area is lovely with clean air.

Best wishes. x

[sungazer]

Hi and welcome. I moved to South West Wales within 6months of my diagnosis. I did lots of research on the benefits of salt in the air and initially invested in a Himalayan salt lamp and eventually progressed to the Atlantic coast. I have not had an infection or hospital admission since. I still have challenging days but my two dogs insure that I get out and breathe the air daily. It also removes negative thoughts from my mind when gazing at the waves or watching the amazing variety of birds. I can also walk barefoot (grounding) which helps release positive ions and help restore balance in the body. Enjoy your new life. Best of luck. Rose

[andyrrc in reply to sungazer]

Living in Bahrain has some up sides in as much as I look out of my apartment and see the sea but as for beaches no chance of walking barefoot. Also no chance for pets. The life here can be very stressful due to the different cultures but I have a good Doctor who is pushing me to do the right things and medical insurance that pays for almost everything. The hospital I go to has no waiting lists so I can get an appointment the same day if something is wrong. The medication is paid by the insurance but I can walk into a chemist and buy without prescription if I need to.

That said I envy you - being a Welshman through and through I really miss the hills and valleys of my mother country

[santisuk]

UK is dead in the water mate. Come to Asia, come to Thailand!

[andyrrc in reply to santisuk]

Thinking about it

[andyrrc in reply to santisuk]

Thailand is one of the alternate locations along with some of the ex-soviet union countries. Here in the office we have several guys who have taken up the lure of Thailand, mainly Americans, and they continually sing the praises of the lifestyle and country.

[santisuk in reply to andyrrc]

Many oil expats ex-Middle East from English speaking countries here in Thailand - even in my rural region (which is the Thai equivalent of East Anglia), which is why I commented as I did.

I'm very happy with the country - lifestyle and weather suits me fantastically and the cost of living and taxation system is very favourable compared to UK. But I do still rely on going back to the UK once or twice a year for monitoring check ups of my bronchiectasis at Papworth Hospital. I still pay my ex-company (UK) medical insurance premiums, which cover full treatment in the UK and (subject to a bit more rigourous review by the insurer) here in Thailand. Ad hoc treatment is affordable here - I have a pulmonologist in my local regional city who can advise me on any unusual exacerbations and several of the big private hospitals in Bangkok have extensive and OK pulmonolgy departments (though I find that specialists here work with far less technical collegiality than say Papworth or Royal Brompton).

I buy my own meds (no prescriptions needed and nearly all drugs are available here without prescription - I can buy any antibi I like and many are not expensive even buying the western brands (eg Azithromycin from Sandoz available at £3.50 for 6 tabs). An X-Ray costs about 5 quid and a CT scan £200. I reckon I spend about £1,000 a year on the meds for my bronch-X (Symbicort not cheap!) and my osteoarthrictic hips combined.

For exercise I have a year-round lap pool in the back garden and walking round local villages is fun - choose your time right and you get invited in to drink beer with complete strangers. But you do need to learn some of the language to really get the latter type of benefit

Of course the women are legend, but I'd better keep away from that subject in this day and age ..... and anyway I'm enjoying living a second time around life with my Thai wife and Thaiglish kids in my 60s, having not gone round that route in my earlier 20s to 40s UK marriage!