New to group

[Lynxlady]

I was diagnosed with COPD on the back of a lung x-ray following regular winter chest infections. The diagnosis was in March 2020, just as COVID hit the world. I became very anxious and had little support. I'm now trying to help myself naturally and would appreciate any hints and tips. How much daily exercise? Diet, herbal remedies. All advice welcome Thanks 😊

[Ern007]

Hi Lynxlady - Welcome to the forum.

First - if you smoke or vape, better to stop, vape is better than smoke, but a coctail of chemicals and fluid.

Eat enough but sensably and couple that with the amount of excersise you can manage - COPD is not a death sentance.

If you are very anxious - See your GP to get some help.

[Lynxlady in reply to Ern007]

Thankyou for the advice. I realise I don't eat enough some days but try and have a daily walk

[Ern007 in reply to Lynxlady]

I used to have a daily walk. lets hope thatsharpens you appetite.

[Patk1]

Welcome to the forum.i always try to see a diagnosis as a positive as u can learn to manage it & get correct treatment.id ask Dr to refer u for pulmonary rehab - an exercise based class with informative sessions included x

[Lynxlady in reply to Patk1]

Thankyou, I walk daily but will look for exercise classes that are suitable

[Alberta56]

Welcome to the forum, Lynxlady. Moderate COPD need not hold you back. Diagnosis means that hopefully frequent chest infections become a thing of the past. Pulmonary rehab is an excellent idea if it's available in your area and/ or looking for a gentle exercise class. ( I am doing Seated Pilates at the moment.) Talk to your GP about your anxiety and the fact that you need some support. Possibly even joining a group that has nothing to do with health, like those run by the Open University might help- a bit of mental stimulus can do no harm. Good luck in finding a way to live with the diagnosis.

[Lynxlady in reply to Alberta56]

Thankyou. Seated pilates sounds interesting. I used to do gentle yoga but an arm injury followed by frozen shoulder for a year made me wary of exercising my upper body. Time to try again and build confidence

[Ergendl]

See if you can find a singing for lung health group near you, or join an online harmonica group or similar. Regularly singing or playing a wind instrument will strengthen the lungs and the muscles supporting breathing.

[anng18 in reply to Ergendl]

I always use to sing, but your reference to a wind instrument is interesting. When I was young, I wanted to play the sax., (rather imaginative of me- our choice was the flute or clarinet) however, they said neither instrument was suitable for me and I ended up with a violin! Luckily for my mother, my sister was allowed to play the clarinet!

I wonder if there were signs then that my lungs were not as good as they should be. I was born in January 1963, in Glasgow - one of the coldest winters on record - I always wondered if this was why my lungs were worse than my sisters, who was born in Africa.

[Ergendl in reply to anng18]

I can still remember the last smog cloud in London advancing across the school playground in the mid sixties. We were all sent home from school, and the only way we could see to find our way was to press against the garden walls in the housing estate.

In the winter of 1963, we were able to build an igloo in the front garden, we had so much snow - very unusual in London.

[Lynxlady in reply to Ergendl]

I've never been a singer, bad voice 😂 but maybe I could dig out my old recorder. I never knew wind instruments could help, thanks for advice

[Nula2]

Hi Lynxlady, sorry I can't add to the brilliant advice already given but just wanted to welcome you to this supportive and friendly group😊xxx

[Lynxlady in reply to Nula2]

Thankyou for the welcome, it's nice to have a friendly group with positive advice 😊