I'm now struggling to walk outside, it's a case of walk stop rest walk stop rest only metre's, (can be embarrassing at times) do I give up and get a mobility scooter knowing my fitness will reduce even more, I know things are getting worse..........what does everyone do when they get to this stage?
Merry Christmas x
If it were a choice for me between mobility scooter and staying in the house all day, I'd choose the former. Could be an idea to talk to your consultant/GP and see what they think.
Pete has a mobility scooter and couldn’t get out without it. It folds up to fit into the car. He manages to walk around a bit indoors but can’t walk far at all. Speak to your GP about keeping as fit as you can by all means but don’t shut yourself away. Xxx
I think having a scooter would be good for certain times but it wouldn’t have to completely replace walking. You should probably still go out and walk as much as you can as often as you can but still have the scooter when you know you will be required to travel more than you can walk or faster than you can by walking.
Hi, I don’t know if you’ve tried pulmonary rehabilitation? I’m a huge advocate for it as it turned my life around. I have very severe COPD and approximately 20% lung capacity. I went from feeling trapped in my own home, unable to walk more than a few meters, to feeling confident enough to go to a shop by myself…..on a good day!!
It might be worth a conversation with your GP or consultant to see if you could be referred. You could still get your scooter, but you may have the option to get off it & have a walk too…
I do hope this gives a little hope 🤞🥰
Best wishes
Lynne xx
Totally with you on pulmonary rehab Lynne. Really helps to empower rather than feel debilitated having lung conditions. Exercising, eating well and resting when necessary all contribute to feeling in charge of your life….well, it did for me!! Sounds like it worked for you too!
Hi Polly, yes, it was a total life turn around for me. After finishing the initial 8 week course, I decided a lifestyle change was required. I now still go to the same gym twice a week when I’m well. They do a chair Zumba class too which is brilliant! So much fun!
I’ve made fast friends there with the same similar conditions and we meet to workout and then have a coffee and giggle after.
It’s changed my life and I can never sing it’s praises high enough 🥰
So glad it’s given you a positive experience too Polly 😊 xx
Hallo. Can I ask if you are on oxygen ? I am 38% and my consultant wants me to have oxygen so I can exercise more
Hi Lesley, no, my oxygen sats do drop during exercise but come back up quite quickly. So at the moment I’m ok without. There are several people at my rehab gym who have oxygen whilst exercising though, so it seems it’s pretty common 😊 xx
Thank you. I'll try harder without oxygen!!!
Oh gosh! Maybe check with your consultant before you do! I’d done a six minute walk test for my consultant and a bleep test assessment when joining the pulmonary rehab, both times wearing a pulse oximeter and my oxygen was pretty stable. That’s the only reason I’m able to exercise without.
Just for your comfort and safety, probably best to check 🙈🤞🥰xx
Another advocate for pulmonary rehab from me. Also asthma+lung.org.uk offer a free excercise book with sections for all levels of activity. Good luck
I chose a mobility scooter when needed, as it got me out of staring at four walls. I still moved and stretched getting things down from shelves in the supermarket, and walked to pick up interesting conkers in the park.
the-db, sorry to read that you are struggling with breathlessness when out and about?
You have said anything about your condition so not sure where you are in your COPD journey ?
As others have said if you can be referred for an assessment for Pulmonary Rehab that would be a great start to learn to manage your lung health and general condition. PR definitely has a big impact on our ability to breather and feel better.
Am also wondering if you have had your medication reviewed recently ? Does that need looking at?
Lets us know how you go on won’t you.
Go well,
Pauline
I hope you can get some help and support. You have received some good advice here as usual. I would see my respiratory nurse and explain to them. Perhaps a change of inhaler would help you. Take care and I hope you can enjoy Christmas. Brian
I have used a walking aid for over two and a half years, at first just to transport my portable oxygen cylinder which is quite heavy. A scooter is out of the question because of where I live - in an upstairs maisonette with no facilities for charging or storage. I keep my walker in the stairwell as it folds flat but find that when I do venture out on foot I have to stop more frequently and yes, it can be embarrassing. My other problem is the ache in my legs as I tend not to go out unless I have to so they don't get enough exercise and am way past pulmonary rehab at this stage. Despite having gone from a tinsel junkie to the Grinch in three years I do wish all on here a very Happy Christmas. Dorothy
so sorry to hear you're having a difficult time! one thing i did a little while back was a series of online webinars/zooms for pre-diabetic people. learned tons about food etc, but another thing which may be useful was gently, very gently, increasing the amount of exercise/physical activiity. i got a pedometer and would walk, at home, 100 steps one day. then 110 the next. or 150, and you build up and build up and it does make a difference. not on day 2, not perhaps on day 10 either, but in the longer run. you start re-training your body, helping it re-learn and re-adjust... and you're fully in charge of the pace, or if you need to stop and have a bit of a rest, why not? hope this helps a bit
I chose to get a mobility scooter this year when worsening breathlessness affected my mobility. I intended to walk when I could. Haven't been able to do much with or without the scooter due to the poor summer.
good morning, I understand how you feel, I was the Sam , been diagnosed with Enphasema 1999
Which was manageable, and I was able to quit smoking without any problem, wish I had tried earlier
But last 2-3 years has been a struggle, I did live in 3rd floor apartment , but was unable to manage stairs so I moved to ground level, which has helped, but I still getting weak , when out even in my garden , I have collapsed a few times indoors, which was not nice at all for my husband, who is a retired nurse, which am very grateful for all his help. It has been rough , I decided to get a scooter, hesitant at first but not anymore, it’s great to get out , sunlight and fresh air , I would recommend it to you . I love mine . I have been told about possible LVR next year if I pass all criteria, fingers crossed, my dear mum , passed away at 47 with this terrible disease, although medical surgery was not available then , I wish you well ,
Trevor. Brighton
Hi there I have the same problem but getting a mobility walker has helped me a lot as when i’m tired and breathless I just sit on it then proceed when i’m feeling better. Best thing I ever bought. Merry Christmas.
i was the same when I was considering having a stairlift I so this was reduce my fitness.
Eventually I decided to have a stairlift, it was suggested to me that if I was not struggling to get upstairs, I would have more energy for other things. I got the stair lift then I fell broke my hip.. during surgery and I had a heart attack so I had a long stay in hospital was eventually away from home for 10 weeks.
If you get a mobility scooter, you can still go out and walk and try to keep your fitness up a bit.
Have another think about it. Take care
This may help. My sister is partially paralysed from a stroke & cannot stand so wheelchair bound. She has some pedals which are placed on the floor in front of her wheelchair and she pedals away for 10 minutes at a time which is a great help to use her leg muscles and therefore get oxygen pumping around her body & strengthening her leg muscles. They aren't very expensive at all, a good Christmas present, they might help maintain some stamina whilst sitting so you can slowly build up ready for nicer spring weather.
Thinking of you, Peege ××
Sometimes it's just lovely to be outside and interact with folks. ××
from the DB.......... thank you so much for all the valued advise, I can honestly say it has helped, after Christmas I've decided perhaps I will purchase a second-hand scoot, just to see how this may effect my fitness, purchase a couple of basic exercise units for home, I've completed a PR course with a struggle and if I'm honest....I didn't enjoy it, I'm not on oxygen as yet, and it has not helped my issues as my wife ran out on me after a very long marriage when she saw me struggling, it certainly knocked my confidence big time, hoping 2024 will bring some joyful moments , thank you everybody have a wonderful Christmas xx
forget the fitness angle, I have Aspergillosis and emphysema both progressive conditions which aren’t suddenly going to get better. So my fitness is going to slowly decline, I started using a scooter as soon as I couldn’t walk very far, in fact my wife who was with me walking back from the shops some time ago said that’s it you can’t carry on like this get a scooter. I use every thing I can to make life easy, stair lift, pickup sticks in every room to save having bending extra handles in the bathroom etc. I did a pulmonary rehab course a few years ago, it was hard work and know I’m being booked in for another one but no date yet. I’m not expecting fantastic results from it though, I can still manage all the jobs around home, laundry, ironing changing bedding etc. it just takes a bit longer now days so that’s my exercise
I am not the best of walkers outside - I have a stick but also our bungalow has a step which I forget when going out, some protector seems to have saved me injury,
I have IHD, Lung Fibrosis and long standing Emphysema - I do get breathless but I manage, at the moment my breathing is worse at the moment.
The ailments are progressive - To answer your question we do what we can, and sometimes when we can.
Unlike some I have a car - I think mobility scooters are good, a problem with me is I soon feel cold, so a scooter would be no good to me.
I need to keep more fit than I do, that's important but I seem to tolerate more in summer.
I have COPD and can walk just a few steps (max 20, counted) then I have to stop. I do not think that other people are much interested in my 'style' of walking. I only make sure that I am not in the way of other people when I am stopping - I stop at a side of the pavement, near a doorway or entry to a garden etc. IMHO, scooter may be useful to you when you need to get somewhere fast or have to carry some load (shopping).
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