Copd Sufferer & gym user

[andy7xtc]

I have been diagnosed with copd but am still able to go to the gym regular and only get out of breath after i work out. Is this normal?

[Caspiana]

Hi Andy and welcome to the forum. Your post doesn't contain much information , is your disease mild? I don't really understand your question but if you are getting out of breath during or after your training session I don't see anything unusual about that. If you are in the early stages of COPD the chances are dyspnea would be very mild and sometimes unnoticeable. Keep exercising, it is the best thing you can do for yourself.

[deejames]

Hi Andy . You seem to be suggesting that you doubt the diagnosis. What were the circumstances around getting diagnosed ?I have had COPD for years and initially I only got out of breath with steep hills or trying to talk and walk swiftly. My main symptom was and still is persistent coughing with lots of mucus.

We are all different in how COPD affects us. As Caspiana says the best thing you can do in this early stage is to keep exercising .

Dee

[Ergendl]

My COPD is mild and most people don't think I have the condition. It only becomes obvious when I try to do something more strenuous. Going to the gym has never been a problem physically, but it bores me to tears so I prefer to have a good brisk walk.

[PaulineHM]

Hello,

So pleased you are exercising regularly- it is really the best thing you can do for yourself. If you look at all the best athletes then they are always out of breath after a race!!

If you keep your breathlessness at a level where you can comfortably repeat your name and phone number then that is a heathy level of breathlessness.

Keep going!

Go well

Pauline

[NieceByMarriage]

It sounds normal to me. I am very into my exercise and I credit it for keeping me as healthy as I am. My lung consultant is quite happy for me to exercise as hard as I like and get as breathless as I like. Some people desaturate badly when they exercise but I am not one of those. My condition is only noticeable in everyday life when I get random periods of air hunger for no obvious reason. That is now controlled well with an inhaler. After pneumonia last year I struggle more with sudden bursts of exercise such as running upstairs. Anything involving my arms being overhead is a particular struggle (putting stuff in the loft or overhead weightlifting). At the gym I have to pay more attention to warming up and my period of rather unpleasant breathlessness before getting a "second wind" can last a good 5 or 10 minutes. For me it is important to push through that breathlessness because once I have and can give the lungs a good blow through, the better I feel. In my case I know it is not dangerous and have had the OK to do it.

The body can adapt remarkably well, especially when COPD is mild or even moderate. Mine is moderate and has been for nearly 15 years.

[Mopsey1897 in reply to NieceByMarriage]

I get a bit of breathlessness on my treadmill, nothing bad enough for me to stop but I get a second wind after a while just like you. I realised I have to push through and I’m ok and always feel better after using it. I’ve never thought to check my oxygen levels after exercise but I will now just for my own peace of mind. Glad you’ve ben able to keep your copd mild. Mine is severe but I’m really hoping exercise will help me.