Interpretation of S.O.B.

[Skatergirl1]

When asked how breathless I get, I answer...not much. I am basing it on the fact that I am not gasping for breath unless I am going up a hill and have to puff on the inhaler. Yes I breath more deeply at times and just slow down a bit, but to me that is normal and I don't consider it to be sob....am I being nieve or in denial??? Not sure if I have forgotten what normal is anymore!! What is your definition of being sob and symptoms please x

[christina1947]

Hi skater girl everyone of us is very different some people with low lung function have no SOB others with only very mild according to spirometry test have lot worse symptoms. When I had pneumonia I had SOB and I couldn’t walk up 5 steps on the stairs without stopping for breath now 18 months on never get SOB even run for the bus my spirometry result 16 months back was 69 % no meds Take care xxx

[Skatergirl1 in reply to christina1947]

Thank you for your answer x

[moogle]

My SOB appears after 30 minutes of activity and steadily gets worse. Resulting in voice cracking up if I speak and roaring in ears. If I keep to 30 I function ok

[Skatergirl1 in reply to moogle]

Is that any activity ie doing house work, or walking for half h

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Skatergirl1]

Sorry cut off, phone keeps doing it's own thing lol xx. Meant to say half hour ECT?

[moogle in reply to Skatergirl1]

In the house I can have a sit down when required. So it isn't a problem. eg cup of coffee in the middle of a chore so it doesn't reach the SOB stage.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to moogle]

Thank you for your reply xx

[Hidden]

I find these questions so hard to answer. It is so subjective and most of us tend to downplay how difficult it can get.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Hidden]

I agree littlepom....I never know how to answer doctor and down play it by saying I feel fine with very little symptoms and then they treat you as if nothing is wrong. Just trying to put things into perspective prior to seeing a consultant. I just hate making a fuss, but also need to make them take notice and get Checked out properly xx

[powderpuff]

Any SOB I have only manifests itself with pollen, stairs or even slight inclines - walking on the level & flat I'm ok for a reasonable dog walk, probably 30 - 40 minutes of relaxed walking. They tell me I'm mild Emphysema with some moderate characteristics which I assume are the SOB with stairs etc. I use breathing techniques which do help somewhat.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to powderpuff]

Thank you for your reply, it is very informative xx

[knitter]

Hi, check out the Borg Breathlessness Scale.....that may help you.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to knitter]

Thank you x

[Badbessie]

As others have stated it is a very subjective question. Since my diagnosis of copd following pneumonia I purse lip breath when I undertake activity. I started and exercise program and practiced purse lip breathing. It became almost automatic. The strange thing is that people think I am short of breath. On a recent ESA examination the nurse gave me various physical things to do and automatically I started purse lip breathing. she wrote I became short of breath when doing any exercise. Which was not the case I was just doing a breathing exercise to help prevent shortness of breath.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Badbessie]

Thank you for your reply. Interesting x

[wheezyof]

SOB, differs from day to day, even within a few hours.

The test about how far you walk is pretty useless for me as, with a wheeled walker, I can manage 200 yards on a very good day. Okay controlled breathing and slowly. I must look strange ambling slowly along, breathing in slowly through my nose and blowing out via pursed lips. Then there's my frequent stops for an extra breath or five. However that's only on the flat and not carrying anything.

Stairs. slopes (even slight ones) are my nemesis.

Any activity that means stretching up, out, forward or anything bending down causes terrible SOB and if I don't do it slowly and rest frequently it's painful too.

Washing, dressing,brushing my hair, making a cuppa all cause SOB.

Strangely I manage a bit of gardening. Don't imagine digging, raking and lifting. I mean on my hands and knees, grubbing about in the soil. Watering is quite odd to watch. I put a deep tray on my wheeled walker. Partly fill a lightweight watering can and stand it in the tray. Wheel slowly to the plant that needs a drink, water. Rest. Repeat.

My FEV is 30% I have bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis obliterans.

Hope this helps xx

[Skatergirl1 in reply to wheezyof]

HI Wheezof, thank you for your reply. The information you have offered is very informative. I hope you can make the most of summer and enjoy your garden xx

[Hidden]

As you are preparing for an assessment I suggest that you make a list of the times that you get breathless and the activities that tend to make you breathless. Also, if you can be breathless doing something on one day but not on another, note that down too. This was how I realised that my heart had packed up because I was breathless all of the time rather than very variably ( when I needed to empty my lungs, when I had an exacerbation etc). Although it took two years to convince my GP and bronch consultant that it wasn’t because I was failing to control my bronch.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your suggestion, that's a good idea that I will do xx

[flicky1]

I am generally short of breath when I exercise, but I consider it normal and work through it. I can still do everything I have always been able to do, but with SOB. For example, I can still swim a kilometer in 40 minutes, can walk miles, do Zumba, Yoga etc. At first I was scared that if I pushed myself I would collapse, but this has never happened.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to flicky1]

Omg...I would be out of breath without copd with that ammount of excercise lol....but well done you xx

[Schmicter]

If you have to slow down normal activity like walking or going up stairs or talking to catch your breath, then you are SOB. If you have to stop what you are doing than you are SOB.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Schmicter]

Thank you for your rreply xx

[Johnem]

Hi Skatergirl. It has been correctly mentioned that breathlessness is a subjective thing, it sure does vary from person to person and can progress, NOT ALWAYS, with age and also depending upon IF and how one's medical condition progressively worsens. It may help to give you my own quite recent circumstances. I have COPD/Asthma, diagnosed 40 yrs ago for asthma and approx 12 yrs ago for COPD. Recently, also heart failure, which is left side and not the usual right side (Cor pulmonale) associated with COPD.

When I did rehab 22 months ago, the 6 minute walk and the other exercises had a question box which asked among other things the degree of breathlessness after completing each exercise based upon marks out of 1 to 10,... 1 being hardly at all and 10 very severe, in effect : Mild...Moderate...Severe...Very Severe. The idea being that the exercises at each weekly session should hopefully show improved scores by the end. The replies obviously varied from person to person depending not so much on age, but upon the severity of their condition and health and weight in general. Some were like spring chickens and did not seem ill at all and others were noticeably knackered and breathless.

In my case, breathlessness after each exercise was mild and to be honest, there was no noticeable improvement at the end. This was because I was fairly active and was walking some 4/5 miles each day, on the flat, uphill and downhill with no problem at age 79.

However, my COPD/Asthma gradually worsened with increasing breathlessness, my FEV1 at GP's March 2018, had dropped from 58 to 37 over 12 months, which was confirmed 5 months later by a full test at hospital. At the same time, my pulmonary nurse specialist sent me for an echocardiogram which revealed advanced heart failure and my recent spirometry test showed my FEV1 to be 20%. I have now needed oxygen therapy 24/7 for the last 14 months and without it I am now pretty breathless just washing my face.

Each of us here has a pulmonary condition which is diagnosed as the same as others have, but in reality can affect each of us in different ways. I just have to accept my breathlessness and get on with life as best as I can and as healthily as I can.

All the best.

John.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Johnem]

Thank you so much for all that information. You are an inspiration, especially for 79. I myself am 57 and hope to have a good more years yet being able to do what I do today. I have attended pulrehab which I enjoyed and go ice skating Every week. My fev1 is 42 so am trying to keep it that way for as long as possible. Xx

[Johnem]

Well thanks for that, I'm actually 81 as of last March, so one can keep going with COPD. It's the heart failure that is getting me and which I have to fight. I'm not used to giving up so will do my best to look after my heart as it has looked after me all these years.

Yes, pulmonary rehab is most enjoyable and I sometimes pop in and see the Physio & co.

Ice skating is brilliant, glad you enjoy it.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Johnem]

Even more amazing....and yes I do enjoy the skating, re living my youth with some jumps and spins lol xx

[Thomac]

Look at the Borg scale, it’s good to be a bit breathless but this scale will help you know when you have gone too far.

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Thomac]

Thank you for the info x

[Caspiana]

Hmmm...interesting question Skatergirl1 . The first symptoms I had of lung disease was a tight chest and heart flutters. And I never thought my being a bit out of breath was abnormal. Turns out my lung function of FEV1 was already down to 30 something percent by that time. How could I have not thought my shortness of breath was abnormal? I really have no idea. My only explanation that I could come up with is that the decline was so very slow I barely felt it.

Shortness of breath now for me is having to stop what I'm doing sit down and rest my head on my arms whilst my arms are resting on a table to gain control again. No matter how I try I can't get the air out, so no new air gets in. It's very hard on my heart so I am careful as I can be. Sometimes, I see stars 🌟. I think it's very individual. Hope this helps. *HUGS* xx 🌿🌼🍃

[Skatergirl1 in reply to Caspiana]

Hi Caspiana thank you for your reply. I can relate to what you are saying, I was making excuses for myself thinking oh its down to me getting a bit older, using the car too much and 2nd walking anywhere and having too many cigs on said day I was getting breathless. I too was diagnosed as Fev1 43%, not as low as you, and as yes it is stable. I wish you well Caspian a and enjoy looking at your little village as it progresses xx