Followed this forum since diagnosis many years ago. I am now at C.O.P.D Stage four, on 24/7 oxygen, I have been under and over many bridges since day one as have all that use this site, thought it was time to say hello and to say I have a question at last, can anyone help with exercises that I can do to reduce my stomach spread partly not knowing what to do, partly steroid use the given being is lung function of 14%, last time checked, or do I need specialist input? Anyway thanks for listening, hope someone can help. Bye for now.
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Airless
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Cross you arms on your shoulders. Turn your upper body fully to the left, back to centre then turn fully to right. Start with 10/20 seconds working up to 2 minutes over a couple of weeks.
Can you be referred to pulmonary rehabilitation, one hour exercise one hour education.
Many thanks for your help stone-UK I will try that, also yes pulmonary rehab is an option if I talk to my C.O.P.D Nurse. Thank you again.
Not much help I'm afraid Airless but I feel your pain I've been off and on steroids for year so much that it has caused damage to my spine osteoporosis? Currency on 5th box of ten box's of the necessary evil pills,I tried to hover a few crumbs today ended gasping for breath so no gym for me lol..I'm blown like the Mitchellin man both what can you do..ask you GP or respiratory nurse about tummy exercises and maybe take it from there,not great but hope this helps a bit..Ger
Thanks Ger67, yes currently munching my way through another box, sorry to hear about the damage to your spine, as if one thing isn't enough. Anyway thanks for your reply, respiratory nurse is one option in mind at mo. Keep smiling and stay safe.
I have been battling with the same problem, and nothing I have tried to do reduced my stomach. All the pulmonary exercises are to help strengthen the lungs which they do I have to say, but they do nothing for the stomach problem
Seems to me that we all have this problem, trouble is I now find that when I eat because of all the usual stuff that goes on with C.O.P.D my diaphragm feels like it's trying to join with my lungs, squeezing. Had to speak to my G.P yesterday about it to change eating habits now seems smaller by more times is my new way. Other prob is getting shoes on and the breathlessness it causes, lung streathening is good as well but it doesn't help with all the rest. Anyway sorry to go on many thanks for your time I'll let you all know if I have any luck, have a lovely evening and keep safe, bye for now.
Yes I agree think I'll invest in some, just feels like another thing lost from my independence, but it could also be seen as a gain at least I'll be able to put the slip ons on my feet. Many thanks to you again have a peaceful evening, bye for now.
Have you tried crossing your legs and tying them that way, it's because when you bend over to tie them on the floor your diaphragm gets squashed and you can't get air.
I did get a call from my GP yesterday after requesting a telephone consultation she suggested that I get in touch with my community nurse and she can put me in touch with the rest of the team which I believe includes that resource, so fingers crossed. Thank you for your reply to my question PollyP. All the replies I have received so far are all helping to point me in the right direction. Keep we'll have a pleasant evening.
Hi Airless you might find the BLF exercise DVD useful. It’s free and shows lots of exercises to do whilst sitting including someone on oxygen. Hope this helps Barbs x
Hi Airless your very welcome. BLF also does a rely good exercise book it costs £5 it has the same exercises as the DVD but I find it very useful as I can do the exercises at my own pace or if there is one I want to do I can have the book open at that page. Best of luck Barbs x
I agree with Barbs, the BLF DVD is excellent and has adapted exercise from the chair.
Any exercise you can do is good, do them slowly. Even lifting the arms every so often, start with one or two and build up. 3 months ago I couldn't lift my arms from pain, now I can.
PS Stone's exercise above is great. Have a look on YouTube, just google exercise for torso followed by your health issue and see what comes up. If you can get on a PR course a good trainer will be able to help you adapt exercises, plenty of people on O2 go to PR. Good luck. P
Thanks for both of your replies I'll follow up on both those suggestions, good to have something to research, feel like I may be getting somewhere. Thanks, enjoy the rest of the evening, have a good night, A.
Feel for you Airless, I too have the bulging tummy syndrome. Nothing I do will help the problem.
Have tried most excercises but with COPD it becomes almost impossible. One excercise I was given by health and vitality is to sit at table with both arms on it and lift knees up as far as you can. You can actually feel the stomach pulling. But afraid not done it for a while. You have brought it to my attention so will get down to it again. Thank you.
Yes, I'm afraid things have become a lot more difficult but I need to try something so your suggestion is very welcome and I can add it to a small training programme and I guess hope. Thanks for your help, have a pleasant evening Ellana, bye for now A.
A simple exercise if you're lying down on your back. Put a book or other non-breakable object on your abdomen, and try to raise and lower it by breathing in and out. It will help you use your diaphragm and stomach muscles. Once you get used to feeling those muscles move, you will be able to do the exercise sitting down without anything on your abdomen, in any spare moment when you remember.
Many thanks for that suggestion that's another one for the training programme, thank you for your interest and help I feel that with your help and all the other suggestions I have received I will certainly have a good session of exercises to do. Thanks again, have a pleasant evening, A.
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