COPD and Bronchiectasis

[guitarman1947]

I was recently discharged from Hospital after having an Excerbation but i am left with Breathless on Exertion and having Anxiety Attacks which are becoming more frequent.

Does anyone know if anything can be done for Breathless on Exertion.

Thanks

Alan

[Alberta56]

Have you been referred for Pulmonary Rehabilitation? If not ask for it. You need information about how to breathe as well as possible, how much exercise to take and above all reassurance that it is possible to keep the beastly bronc under control (well most of the time anyway) so you can live a decent life. Best wishes.

[guitarman1947 in reply to Alberta56]

Hi Alberta56 I have done the Rehab Course but i am past that now...I struggle to breathe just getting up and sitting on the bed of a morning and the Anxiety Attacks are getting more frequent...Thanks for the reply.

[Yoga2011 in reply to guitarman1947]

Is it your anxiety about your breathlessthat is making you breathless? Anxiety affects my breathing and I breathe very quickly all the time when anxious. You need to take control of your breathing by trying to breathe in deeply and exhale slowly and put your hands on your stomach and abdomen when you do this. Also do you need to use your inhaler before getting out of bed? This might help? Perhaps your GP can help with your anxiety as they can refer you for CBT or prescribe an antidepressant to stop your anxiety.

[guitarman1947 in reply to Yoga2011]

Thanks for the reply.I do have Lorezepam 0.5mg to take half a tablet but when it’s a bit late when the anxiety has kicked in.

[Yoga2011 in reply to guitarman1947]

Shouldn’t you be taking it every day so you don’t get the anxiety? Seems a very low dose when it sounds like your anxiety is bad. I’m on a med that I take every day,10mg, and it works very well.

[guitarman1947 in reply to Yoga2011]

Hi Yoga2011 - I thought that but the instructions on the label read Half a Tablet as Required no more than 4 tablets a day....If they take 30 mins to work whats the point

[Alberta56 in reply to guitarman1947]

It seems to me that you need to talk to a sympathetic and well informed professional. Sadly they seem to be fairly rare birds these, to judge by the crass advice which has been handed out to people on this forum. I wonder if the nurses on this site could help. (Tel at the top of these answers.)

Afterthought: some of the people on the pulmonary rehab course I did were very ill-on oxygen and using walkers. The talking sessions were helpful without involving any exertion.

[Patk1 in reply to Alberta56]

0300 222 5800

[Alberta56 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you. I'm not very well at the moment and I thought that, if I tried to copy the phone number, I would be bound to get it wrong.🤪🙃 xxx

[Patk1 in reply to Alberta56]

Hope u feel better soon Alberta 56.roll on spring, had enough of feeling ill ths winter x

[Alberta56 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you. I'm beginning to recover and the plants in my garden are ignoring the nasty weather - they think it's spring.🌱🌱🌷🌼

[Germantara]

Sorry to here you being so unwell mybe best to see respertory nurse to see if you can get some help in managing you're anxiety and breathing

[guitarman1947 in reply to Germantara]

Respiratory nurse booked but it’s in April.Meantime I have an appointment with GP on 4 March

[Biker88]

unfortunately breathlessness with exertion is normal with a lot of lung conditions, it’s something that I have come to accept and adjust my day accordingly. I’m on Oramorph which helps it’s a standard treatment for breathlessness

[guitarman1947 in reply to Biker88]

Hi Biker88 - Thanks for the reply..I was given Oramorph but it knocked me out and the nurse said the ammount i was taking wasnt doing anything so i stopped taking it...Question is how much do you take and how often and what side effects do you have if any.

[Biker88 in reply to guitarman1947]

I take 1.25 ml every 4 hours if required, fortunately no side effects the advice was if you feel drowsy don’t drive or operate machinery etc. No instant effect but then I realised that the incidents of breathlessness had reduced and weren’t so severe.

[guitarman1947 in reply to Biker88]

Hi Biker88 Thanks for that I think i may have to try it again if it works.I just dont want it putting me to sleep...Was it just general breathlessness does it help with breathless on exertion?

[Biker88 in reply to guitarman1947]

It helps me with any breathlessness, it doesn’t stop it, just reduces the affect. I try to change the way I do things to help, I use a mobility scooter rather than struggling to walk, changing the bedding is done in stages rather than all at once. My lung function is about 30% and I did a pulmonary rehab course about 8 years ago, but I have another booked with the pre assessment in a couple of weeks. I like the discussion and information on breathing etc rather than the physical

[Patk1]

On aluk website,read up on controlled breathing + practise as much as possible.it can slow down breathing,help with activity & help with anxiety.its just helpful,to cope with difficulties xxd