What type of exercise or new hobbies has anyone taken up whilst struggling with a lung disease. My boyfriend has hypersensitivity pneumonitis and hes gained alot of weight I think due to steroids maybe and struggles to exercise due to breathe.
Any ideas where to start would be great thank you
Have a look in the BLF site it has an exercise regime that you can do at any level even sitting if need be. I find not sitting about all day helps, getting up and pottering about. What about a little walk every day and increasing it bit by bit.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...
Thank you and yes he's walking every day around our local duck pond tying to start with that first
That’s great!
I have joined an exercise class where we sit on our chairs and use a long stretchy band. Its a real work out but I feel its doing me the world of good. It helps as I suffer with arthritis, a painful back (curvature of spine) and bronchiectasis.
Thank you ☺️
Hello Leanna try some chair exercises like Kristicats said look at the BLFsite and also You Tube they have lots of different ones on there for people who have lung conditions and other disabilities. Hope this helps please let us know how you are doing. Have a goodnight and take care both of you😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx
Thank you very much 😊
Thinking about the hobbies, I found jigsaws, both soothing and enjoyable (provided nobody had stolen the last piece). These pieces live with the lost socks on some outer planet. I did know someone who cultivated bonsai trees in their sitting room, a little too fiddly for me. A good friend took up doing the Mindfulness style paintings, where you fill in pictures. I often found the jigsaws in charity shops, so saved money that way. I did find I needed activity to help ignore the "feed me" cravings from high doses of steroids otherwise I found myself raiding the fridge. Sometimes I find myself on here, telling a story, late at night, to avoid hitting the second Blueberry Muffin.
Yes BLF excercise are a good start. They will send you a CD. I started that way when I began to recover from Organising pneumonia. Took bucket loads of steroids, which was ok with the eating thing at first as I had lost 9kg being so ill before diagnosis. Still taking 10mg. Sadly I can’t give you much advice, except don’t fill the biscuit and cake tins, then you can’t eat them. Only way I can manage😪
Hello 👋😊
It's very good that you have noticed this. Too much excess weight will just make his breathing worse. If he is ever assessed for a lung transplant, being overweight will be detrimental. When shopping stay away from the biscuit and chocolate isles. That is my weakness. 😐 Everyone has given great advice. I started making miniature villages when I first got sick. It helped me mentally to have something to build and create. The important thing is to stay as active as possible. Even if he is out of breath go slowly but don't stop trying. Best wishes to you both. xx
Blf tai chi class and seated xumba gym for lung conditions like pulmonary rehab exercises and walking the dog
Good morning... I'm in the same boat..exercise and me don't go together, at least not on my own. The chair exercises are great but I just don't have enough self motivation do do these on my own. If there are exercise classes locally, we have 'Fit4life' referral scheme in our local sports centre. The classes are accessible through a doctors referral, which is a laugh as they cost a fair bit but I have to say I find them great, or maybe its just that peer support helps to keep you going. I certainly would recommend going to classes, not only as the support from fellow participants is there but also the instructors are always on the lookout and making sure you are OK all the time. If you have the self motivation to do exercises on your own look at the BLF and other exercises otherwise if not don't give up, try some classes, at best you'll find them great, at worst you can stop whenever you want or need to.
I just bought an e bike, still gets the heart rate up but can choose whether or not to use the motor on the odd hill for some cardio. Worth considering.
Hi that’s great he is waking everyday. Trying to lose weight with limited exercise tolerance is hard for me too. I have looked at my diet and try to eat healthier but not avoiding a little treat now and again. I have a hobby that keeps my hands busy sewing and when I’m sewing away I’m not reaching out for a mindless snack. Boredom is a great cause of mindless eating. Try to keep busy and I see you’ve been given lots of great suggestions in earlier posts. Steroids do give me an increased appetite and very little will power to resist temptation so don’t be to hard on yourself if you occasionally slip up.
I have severe breathing problems and 3 years ago I was put on steroids for Colitis, made sure that I kept a diary of what I ate each day to ensure that I didn't eat any more than normal but still put on two stone in weight, have never been able to shift it. I found some exercises on You Tube there are lots on there catering for different levels of ability, I started with the 7 minute one, then the 10 minute one and gradually increased to a 20 minute one as the time has gone on. I do have a problem when walking outside as the cold makes my breathing worse and even a cold breeze can make me breathless so finding the exercises on You Tube where I can do them indoors to me as been a godsend. Hope you find something suitable. Best wishes. xx
Yes the BLF have a great DVD specifically designed for people with lung issues. It's brilliant, versions of sitting or standing. He could start with the sitting and progress to the standing.It's a tough one for sure. Basically we need to use up more calories than we consume on a daily basis, so kick the crisps, buns, biscuits etc to touch for starters.
At the beginning of the first lockdown I did the Joe Wicks 10 minute exercise workout for seniors daily then twice daily - its only 10 minutes . Personally I eat very low carbs to keep diabetes at bay so no spuds, white pasta bread or rice, have a lot of complex carbs at breakfast only. Occasionally a slice of wholemeal toast with eggs. Once he starts to lose a little it will be really encouraging. Extending the walks incrementally will be great too.
All the best
My partner bought me a second hand electric bike off ebay about 4 years ago and it,s the best present i,v ever had . So i would highly recommend getting one for fresh air and exercise and also some added help when needed.
I fully recommend pulmonary rehabilitation even though I was dragged there kicking and screaming. I now enjoy yoga, pilates and have just started zumba, I remain seated. It's great fun. I have always been a bookworm so now I read even more. I revisited embroidery during lockdown which is very calming. My husband flirts with family history/genealogy during winter.
You have had lots of advice re exercise and I can only reiterate the need to exercise as much as each individual can do. For some people it can be walking several miles a day. For others it may be chair based exercise or just moving around the home. Remember cleaning the home can be classed as exercise.With regards hobbies there are lots of ideas. I love reading, especially with my kindle. I watch (not just rubbish) tv and will save up a series then binge watch it.
My big favourite is painting by numbers on canvas. I get a great deal of satisfaction doing these. They can be quite complicated and mean I switch off whilst doing them. Strongly recommend especially as we move in to the cold winter months.
Just another couple of points on the ebike, its great for the psychological benefits also. Theres the distraction element of buying, maintaining & looking after it, choosing locks, clothes / helmets etc. With research, reading articles, watching youtube reviews, visiting shops etc theres a good few weeks or months there to occupy his mind. After this the freedom it gives to explore and go to places new is ideal for those of us dealing with life's challenges. I live near the coast and head off on a Saturday for a few hours, stopping for a coffee / cake and read of the papers mid-way. Over on the Facebook E-Bike UK Group theres many with similar conditions including heart / lung disease singing the praises of their new found interest.
Hi i started bee keeping with a friend, but i also folow the rehab exercise routien, and started embrodary and walking. Sometimes its hard to motivate to do anything especialy when breathing is hard and everything is difficult so somtimes i do nothing..... but not for too long 😉
I started a singing for lung health group that meets every week. We use singing exercises and karaoke videos, and as I sing I move to the rhythm in a gentle form of line dancing on the spot, which helps to keep me moving.
I’m very empathetic to the weight gain, as I’m on 30 mg of prednisone/day and Cellcept for my HP and even walking three miles/day have gained 10#. A lot of it is water weight with steroids, but regardless it makes me feel unattractive and more SOB. I have always been very active in my life, constantly moving and doing things, but sedentary re exercise. When COVID came in 3/2020 I started walking each day for a mental break from working at home and the isolation of lockdowns. I’ve kept it up and am convinced it’s why I’ve not needed oxygen yet (in addition to my meds). Rain or shine, hot or cold, I put on my sneakers and walk, typically listening to podcasts or music. My HP was diagnosed after my hospitalization with COVID. When I was discharged I was afraid to walk, bc I felt I was taxing my lungs. But my pulm told me it’s the opposite. Your lungs must be worked everyday to maintain function, so I walk for pulm rehab and looking at it that way makes a difference in my motivation. I would definitely avoid exposure to ducks and their feathers and dust from their feathers. A huge issue for many with HP.
Thank you for this advice. He's trying to walk every day. Little by little He has hypersensitivity pneumonitis I believe from having Covid before too. He's gained 2 stone that's 14lbs so quite depressing for him.
Sorry for the late reply, many people with HP test positive fir avian proteins as a trigger. If this is the case for your partner, maybe try walking somewhere different than the duck pond.
Thanks for the advice
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