Hi
I am just wondering how far on average can people on this forum walk with severe bronchiectasis
Some days I can walk 40 mins & some days less . I try to get 10,000 steps in most days between a few walks .
I know this is good but some days I feel very weak & breathless after walking & wondering am I doing too much
I love being outside & finding it so helpful mentally in coping with bronchiectasis .
Many thanks as always for all the wonderful help this forum gives me
I would love to walk over 10,000 steps a day! Unfortunately I also severe asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, which severely limits my walking. Between the RA and the bronchiecstasis my maximum number of steps is 2,000 but I have to have a couple of rests for breathlessness.
I have severe bronchiectasis, severe asthma, ABPA and over 70% EDAC (airway collapse), so 10,000 steps is beyond me. Today it was 1,500, with stops to recover. Although exercise is obviously great for our lungs, I’d beware of overdoing it, certainly not to the point of exhaustion. I think, rather than setting yourself a target, it’s best to listen to your body & stop when you’re getting tired & breathless. With bronchiectasis it’s important to avoid infection, and exhaustion can lower your immunity.
Thanks janediviney . Your advice seems so sound & logical . I’m my own worst enemy & keep going when I can’t .
I used to be just the same, but learned the hard way. It’s a fine balance isn’t it. One of the physios in hospital pointed out that the effort required for me to walk a few mins on my treadmill is, for me, a real cardiovascular workout!
Thank you Jane. We all understand each other which is so helpful.
Wow I think you are doing amazing considering, I push myself every day for 6000 steps but yesterday did 9000.it depends on the weather for me damp cold or windy plus arthritis in knees also. Knackered was an understatement but satisfying.
Thank you BOxermad . I love walking & it has been my pastime all my life .
I think reading all your kind replies my problem is I’m not accepting I can’t do this anymore as it takes too much out of me .
Be kinder to yourself and rest and recover will give you renewed energy the next day,I took 3yrs to accept the difference in my health but I am in a better mindset and enjoy life in a different way now. I have bronchiectasis asthma and copd I did pulmonary rehab and now go to a breathe easy gym group once a week plus walk my dog .
JK - you can plan a range of walks, short, medium and long. You are in charge. Every walk is a winner.
When I was in hospital last week my Fitbit clocked 200-220 steps per day for 3 days 😂 My phone app was going mad telling me I was not hitting my usual steps! Like you I love walking, or more strolling now but have a personal target of only 4000 steps a day. For me that is achievable on good days. All done in short strolls, usually around the garden or slowly on the gym treadmill. Last year I walked 3 miles most days.
I have ILD not bronchiectasis but think that most of us “lungies “ change and adapt our expectations as time goes by. I always mentally want to do more, but sometimes my body says no - and I try and listen to it. Yesterday was the first day in 8 days I managed my target, what a sense of achievement 🏋️♀️🚶♀️
You are doing so well walking as much as you do, I would do as much as you feel comfortable with. I have been suffering with sciatica and found I can hardly walk at all. The pains have more or less gone now but my legs and back seems to be a problem. I had to walk to the doctors yesterday which is only a 10-15 minute walk and it nearly killed me. I am not sure if I am just unfit or I have yet another problem. I do walk round the house alot doing jobs, but must admit I am not as active as I used to be. I have bronch with overlap asthma and seem to be coughing alot on this Fostair Nexthaler and need to see the asthma nurse. Keep walking, it is one of the best exercises we can do x
Last night I walked from the theatre auditorium to the exit and was breathless and coughing! 🤣 I have severe copd and bronchiectasis. I don't think my few steps would even register. I still do yoga and pilates though🧘♀️
Hi I have Bronchiectasis but because of that and other health issues can no longer walk more than a few steps, but when I was able to I tried to go out most days. Was lucky to have a couple of friends who would walk with me at my pace and I think it helped a lot with breathing & clearance. We would walk for a bit longer than I was comfortable with (about 40 mins gradually cutting down to about ten then nothing as my breathing got worse) but think that helped me with breathing once I'd recovered from walk. So I think keep doing it while you can just slowly with lots of rests (just my experience I don't know how many steps we did so might not be right for you). xxx
Thank you Nula2 and all who have answered my query re walking & breathlessness. Listening to all your wisdom I think short walks with plenty of rests in between is something I have to accept.
I am indeed lucky overall as I have diffuse severe bronchiectasis so great to be able to do as much as I do .
Sincere thanks to everyone again who took the time to reply . It’s really appreciated.
JK1957
I try to walk daily , but I do rest up , if I didn’t I would be good for nothing . I don’t walk fast either , so not much cardio . But if i am not a happy bunny I usually sit around and that makes me feel worse . 🙂
I think you need to pace yourself (I'm supposed to due to another health issue 🙃). The other day I did 12000 steps but it definitely wasn't all at once, walked a mile to town, sat down with a friend and coffee, walked home, sat for lunch, later walked the dog 2 miles (but sat on a bench when my phone rang), took my recycling to nearby carpark bins. Short walk the dog round the block before bed. That was overdoing it I've hardly got off the sofa since 🙄.Online are lots of gentle exercise sessions, AsthmalungUK have a great video - I'll add it if I can find it. All can be done sitting or standing and you can pause for a rest. Take care, P healthunlocked.com/redirect...
10,000 steps or about 3 km is my wife`s target. Target also applies to both myself and our dogs. I sometimes opt out, the dogs don`t have any say in the matter. She does get out of breath which she accepts as part of the exercise. We also try to play table tennis for 30 minutes each day, the arm movement loosening mucus. Take care, stay as healthy as you can.
Chris.
Thank you Lissac France . I’m going to aim for 10,000 steps for as long as I can but I have to pace myself better .
We`ve just been out forlast walk, only about 1km but handy to work off super chinese meal followed by birthday cake and too much Rioja wine. Tonight was small family gathering, only 9 of us, but tomorrow number is up to about 27 for a family and friend party. Not certain whether 10,000 steps will be achieved. Cheers, Chris.
Unfortunately,I'm very limited in how far I can go with deterioration in lungs,and extreme fatigue of improperly treated adrenal insufficiency <& chronic fatigue of long covid.on a gd day ill do 3000steps,most days nowhere near
I’ve done 5000 steps per day for last 2 months but I can’t keep this up because of the damage the antibiotics have left my muscles and tendons and lots of other things in.
Before the antibiotics 10000 a day was no problem.
Thank you Jack70 & sorry to hear the antibiotics have done that to your muscles . It’s always a danger I know . Maybe you might build up slowly
Thank you for taking the trouble & time to reply . It’s much appreciated
Hello Jack70,So sorry to hear this but I feel exactly the same way having had Bronch for over 20 years and think of the 100s of antibioticsI have taken as well as everything else. I appreciate medicine has probably saved my life but with it, does come everything else.
Do you feel as if it's your legs that are letting you down? My legs are so weak, ache like mad during the night in particular which makes it hard to walk some days and completely wears me out, it is a viscous cycle which is stopping me from doing all the things I enjoy!
Do take care.
Yes it was a consequence of taking Ciprofloxacin it literally took my body apart. It causes some kind of autoimmune reaction that eats away at connective tissues. I could write you essay of the damage this antibiotic has inflicted on me and tens of thousands people worldwide.
Yes the damage is now reaching my legs and I’m trying desperately to hold on to my mobility. Like you I’m being stopped from doing all the I enjoyed. My heart goes out you. Maybe try supplementing some B vitamins and Magnesium
I’ve give up with regular doctors I find them disinterested, lazy and a lot of the time lacking in basic medical knowledge.
I also had similar reaction to my muscles and tendons becoming inflamed after taking Cipro some 15 years ago or so but after a week or so, it was caught in time thanks goodness, I remember at the time we were having a heatwave in the UK and I was having panic attacks eith Cipro. I'm so sorry to hear you have been left with such bad side effects.I have just started up my vitamin routine again having had repeated infections over the last year and only just purchased some Magnesium oil spray last week so thank you for the recommendation, it's good to talk.
I know what you mean about the GP, if nothing shows up on a blood test, they don't tend to so very much.
Take good care.
I'm gobsmacked so many people can walk so far. I feel good if I can do 1000 steps. When I. feel bad nothing like that. My record is 8000 steps, but that was on holiday when there was no cooking or cleaning to do. Household duties definitely interfere with keeping fit.
Thank you Alberta. I know I should be thankful I can walk 10,000 across the day . I suppose I keep comparing in my head what I used to do . Doing housework definitely tires you . It’s great to hear other people’s experiences .
My lungs bleed a lot more easily also in last few years so I suppose I’m trying to get my head around a lot at same time
Thanks again for replying to my post . It’s much appreciated
Yr doing well to cook,clean & care gor hubby Alberta56.on days whn I'm really struggling,I'm fit for nothing+ today barely done 600 x
I think you did well I don't walk anywere near that
Hello Jk1957
This varies depending on weather, how my legs are that day, whether I have slept well, how breathless and wheezy I am, it is just such a frustrating condition to have.
I agree that mentally, it is good to get outdoors, even if it's for a 10 minute walk. Fortunately, I don't have this obsession with counting steps, it would just make me feel awful and I would feel so down if I didn't reach my target so I just do what I can.
I am sometimes able to walk 10 minutes and other times half hour, no more than that and it would be a really slow walk with breaks and resting and probably doesnt help with cardio if I'm honest but it just makes me feel better which is far more important.
Just do what you can manage is what I am trying to say in a roundabout way.
Take good care 😃
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