Hi everyone, I'm new here and hope you don't mind me joining you!
As a bit of background, my Mum is in her mid 70's and has been diagnosed with COPD for around 10 years. To date, its mostly been treated with inhalers as and when needed and for a long time she's been (relatively) fit - up until Covid hit, she was capable of a robust 9 holes of golf but shielding and so on have really knocked her fitness down and mostly now her activity is limited to a quick trip to town, around the garden centre or the shops.
In the last year or so, she has had instances of exerting herself a bit much (for example walking too far) and this has resulted in her oxygen levels getting low, feeling or being sick and feeling faint/weak - it seems to really set her back. This most recently occurred yesterday and now she is in hospital after her oxygen levels plummeted - it seems she is also being treated for a viral infection. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Is this a normal characteristic of COPD? And can anyone explain to me what is physically happening when she experiences this?
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LandscapeLass
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Hello and welcome LandscapeLass. You are most welcome and with people in similar circumstances to your Mom with copd. I am still learning as I go along and I am sure others will be along to explain things better for you. In the meantime she is in the best place to get treatment and sort the problem out and change the medication if necessary. Best thing to do is ask as many questions as possible of the doctors so you understand your Mom's condition. Keep us informed how she gets on and give her our best wishes. Brian
Hi, welcome. I have had copd since 2016 and at the moment I get very breathless just walking round the block to the point as you said, you start shaking, your legs go weak and dizziness. I was on a great inhaler for years but it stopped working so well. It is very frightening and zaps all your energy because your desperately trying to get air into you. In my case they can't find a medication at the moment to help me. But having a virus on top of that to deal with, I can only imagine what she's going through. I hope she gets the help she needs. 🙂
We need oxygen to help us use our muscles. If there isn't enough oxygen in the blood to do everything, we become dizzy and weak. Our bodies use what oxygen there is to keep the vital organs running, like the brain and the heart. Sitting down and breathing slowly and deeply can help us recover a bit, especially if you sit at a table and lean forward on your elbows as you breathe.
If you're breathless like that, having a virus on top can be a real pain. It will help your mum's immune system to eat healthily, and perhaps have a vitamin supplement like Floradix. If she is struggling to eat, consider build up drinks.
Hi LandscapeLass and welcome to the site. I can't advise on copd as I have bronchiectasis, there are plenty on here with the same conditions as your Mum who will be along to shortly. I am sure your mum will get better soon now she is in hospital being treated, make a list and ask the doctors/nurses there so you know what you are dealing with x
Hi , sorry can't advise on COPD as I have Bronchiectasis but just wanted to welcome you to this very friendly and supportive group. There will be members who can and will help you. Keep us posted how your mum gets on. xx
Hi there, sorry your Mum is so unwell, although it sounds like she is in the right place to help her regain her health.
Keeping as fit as possible is really important with having COPD and infections leave scarring in the lungs with doesn’t help us at all. Of course sadly COPD is a progressive condition although there is much we can do to slow the course of the progression. Some of need to use oxygen anyway, even when well and even then it isn’t the end of the world.
So has your Mum completed a Pulmonary Rehabilitation course ? Whilst she is in hospital would be a ideal time to find out if someone will refer her for an assessment ( there is usually a long waiting list anyway ) Has she seen a chest physio in hospital ?
Once she is feeling better then encouraging her to build her fitness levels up can help enormously in many ways.
This is a video for our local service here in Gloucestershire
age hit s hard i found after 70 when i broke my leg and lost fitness but recovered . until years later when covid islation cut down all activity for me, all meetings closed and then i ended u upi n hospitall with blocked gut due to adhesions after emergency op for strangulated hernia . After 13 days confined to bed with no phy sio and with drip and catheter could not walk. It has been very difficult and cannot see me ever getting back to anything near normal again. muscles have been lost and cannot see me getting them back again .So everyone do your exercises , keep moving,
So landscape lass do see that your mum gets some help with exercises when she is recovering from and after t his virus infection.
Thank you. Sounds like you've had a rough ride and similar challenges, with the muscles going. Really sorry to hear that. She isn't the best at helping herself but thankfully I live nearby so I'll do what I can to advocate for her and encourage her to do her exercises
Welcome to the forum Landscape Lass. I hope your mum is beginning to recover now. I have bronchiectasis, but the 2 conditions have something in common, particularly the emphasis on activity. I was referred to Pulmonary Rehabilitation after my diagnosis and found it invaluable. They show you just how much exercise you are capable of (usually more than you would think) in a safe environment. They also teach lung clearance techniques. It would be nice if the hospital had a physiotherapist to help your mum, but I fear that is unlikely. Any movement is better than none- sitting in a chair and wriggling you r toes or raising your legs is a start. Afterthought: I was told if you start to get breathless while walking, sit down. If there's nowhere to sit, lean on a wall. Best wishes to both of you.
Thank you so much for you advice - so many people are raising the pulmonary rehabilitation. I have a dreadful feeling that she was once on the waiting list but was too scared to go as she also has a bit of anxiety, but I will do some digging with her doctors.
Somebody on my course asked if she could have her husband with her for moral support. No objection was made and he ended up doing the course too. Would this be possible for your mum?
Hi, I have COPD, as some have already said it’s a progressive disease so trying to stay as healthy & active as possible is key, I have very low sats when exercising etc & was tested for oxygen levels in my blood which was seen to drop when active, I have been given ambulatory oxygen, it ensures when active oxygen reaches all vital organs, I have also experienced similar to your mum, I would say she is in the right place for getting tests done to check on this, good luck to her & you for the future & I hope she gets all the necessary tests & help so she continue her recovery & activities, hope this helps 😊💐🌷🌹 xx
Hi lots of good advice given already, I have COPD and now I don’t try and walk more than a few paces I use a mobility scooter. Learn correct breathing techniques e.g. diaphragm breathing and try and get on a pulmonary rehab course and or see a respiratory physio. Try not to dwell on what you can’t do and concentrate on the things you can do and look for new things that you can do.
Welcome to the forum.hope yr mums better soon.Id make a bullet point list of any questions u need to ask
It maybe work asking for respiratory physio for advice+ breathing techniques.
Sounds like mum needs to be honest,and move her goalposts to help avoid over exerting hersellf
U could read up on ALUK " controlled breathing techniques,pursed lips breathing" its one to practise so its familiar to use when needed - its 1 of the most useful tips& has saved me whn airways collapse,during severe asthma attacks etc etc.it also focuses yr mind & helps u to stay calm x
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