Hi everyone. So this is my first post and my first ever community that i have joined and knowing there are like minded people makes me feel not so alone. I use to do so many house chores and found them a way of relieving stress, but since my copd started i have gradually declined from doing the hoover in the whole flat to now doing only 5-8mins before i have to stop, sit and calm down as it feels like its my last breath. I have to take my time in all my activities and try to find solace it what i have achieved throughout my day instead of looking at things i did not achieve.
I always get this overwhelming urge that i am better now but then soon as i move to quick i am quickly stopped in my tracks by my body which wants to shut down. Then its reset and start again.
I am sure people will relate to my frustrations and i really hope you are able to look at the achievements and not the failures for the day, as that's what keeps me smiling inside, even if the outside ain't showing it. Well, thankyou for listening to my rant take care.
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Jessy1599
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I know exactly where you’re coming from. I always think I can do more than I can. I have severe asthma, bronchiecstasis and ILD diagnosed in 2012. Before these were diagnosed, I’d had rheumatoid arthritis for 8 years. It took a long time to learn that I need to pace myself. This morning I’ve hoovered the hall and bedroom, this afternoon I’ll do the living room and hallway. On a busy week I list what I plan to do, and spread the jobs over the week.
Welcome to the forum. I think many of us feel like you. I reluctantly got a cleaner in about 6 months ago- it doesn't feel natural to watch someone else doing my homework, but the house is looking more respectable. We can only do what our bodies will let us, frustrating though that is. I expect you know some of the calming techniques mentioned on this site. Best wishes.
Thankyou for your reply. I kind of understand the doing it yourself satisfaction but if the body is not able at least staying clean and presentable is good.👍
Hello and welcome 😊 You have chosen a great site! I too had never joined anything (I'm not even on Facebook!), but everyone here are amazing! Amazing for advice, commiseration , making you laugh, etc etc.
I totally get your frustration, I too have COPD and it's hard not being able to do the things I used to. You're right you just have to pace yourself.
With me, it's the garden that I am most frustrated with. I get myself all prepared, inhaler, oxygen, loo, coat etc get outside and manage 5mins before I have to sit down! Or it rains 😂
Arrrrrgggghhhhhhh!! I am sure my neighbours hear me shouting this often! It is my way of dealing with it all 😆
Thankyou for your understanding. I get the whole having to get ready thing its just how you say. Spend 20-30 mins getting ready then 5-10mins on the activity. Its like the getting ready part is the activity.
Belated birthday greetings and welcome to this lovely patients forum! Pacing is the only way forward, hope having a bit of sunshine helps you feel a little better too. I overdo things too, I never learn even with CFS 🙄, it's hard to stop when you're on a roll but stop we must 👋
Been there, done that, wrote the rule book ........... still bloody waiting. All I've had so far is a phone call discussing my situation and telling me the process is underway. No further advice or committment from Pulmonary Rehab. Meanwhile at least I'm getting some exercise (in addition to my own regular walking efforts) through a local and informal group.
Hi, jumping on the thread here. Does you local authority have any respiratory exercise classes? Many do and they may well be worth investigating re. attending. Health and well-being is part of the local council’s remit these days.
Chase up the PR referral too. We have to be our own advocates these days !
Yes thanks . Actually my GP referred me to a local group that I have now joined who meet weekly and we have an hour to 75 minutes of exercises at each meeting. That is most useful and am learning quite a bit.
I was contacted by someone on 11 March re PR and although she warned me of quite a wait to join PR classes I'll take your advice and make contact with her again and just follow up.
Thanks Pauline. One thing I am learning which I find very beneficial is about breathing correctly, the technique that works for me at the moment is " Pursed Lips Breathing". I suppose in the past I have been a lazy breather. 😱😱
Nice to see you’ve had some lovely replies Jessy1599 and welcome to the forum. You’re amongst friends here so don’t hold back. COPD and all lung related issues are a real pain and you have to pace yourself to get things done.
Welcome to the forum.its hard but slow down to a pace suited to yr breathing - a tip given to me at pulmonary rehab. Take a look at aluk website at " pursed lips breathing technique ". It's gd to use when walking,going up stairs,vacuuming,struggling.do practise it frequently so u automatically use it when you need to.it slows and steadies breathing & if u slow down & use it,u may well struggle less. U could ask to be referred to pulmonary rehab to exercise+ learn about copd with others in same boat x
I invested in roomba hoovers one upstairs one downstairs I switch them on before I leave home and by the time I'm back they are beautifully back in their docking stations recharging....Don't be so hard on yourself maybe try some gentle chair exercise to build muscle and regain strength...
Do some light dusting one day ..Wash a floor the next Rome wasn't built in a day ... just take care of you 🩷🧡
It’s a pain when we want to do much more but our body isn’t able to. The eyes find faults, the mind pressures us to get something done about it, and then guilt shame or pity about our limitations sets in.
Like others have said pace yourself. Tackle tasks one step at a time, break steps down further if you can do. Take rest breaks before the exertion breathlessness gets too much. Try to work smarter not faster… long handled duster or flat mop to reach far away areas… ceilings, picture rails, stair spindles, skirting boards. Saves you bending down or reaching up so far. I’ve two hoover one permanently upstairs and the other downstairs. The carpet on the stairs are maybe tackled less often. (That’s ok)
Hanging a washing is for me one of the hardest tasks. I drape the larger items (towels, trousers, jumpers etc) over one arm when sorting out the washing and bypass the need to collect each item one at a time from the washing basket to hang on the line. Cutting down on the bending down action that causes me more breathlessness. I also find it easier carrying the heavy wet clothes over my arm out to the garden than carrying the heavy laundry basket with both arms and navigating the steps out to the garden.
For my bedding I firstly down sized the bed… kings size to double. I use a top sheet positioned between the fitted sheet and the duvet. I change both sheets more frequently (weekly or more often if unwell) and the duvet cover is on every second wash fortnightly or more often along with the sheets.
Hoovering … for me having a lighter model that’s cordless allows for moving room to room without the need to plug in anywhere.
I purchased an air purifier and am amazed at the amount of dust and the odd strand of hair etc the filter gathers.
It’s not always easy to keep your home free of clutter. One bad habit I’ve developed over time is not putting things back where they belong straight after I’ve finished with them. I am trying to work on that. Be it the tv remote, a book I was reading, a finished cuppa to discarded footwear- if it’s got a home put it back. If it belongs upstairs… fresh laundry try not to bypass it if you’re on the way up stairs for another reason; only handle a comfortable amount. Two trips may be needed remember this doesn’t have to be one trip after another.
The hardest thing to do is sit back and watch others who’ve offered to help clean your home who may do it not the way you like or to the standard you used to be able to do it. Work on accepting the helping hand and suggest a task you may find more difficult for them to do.
I’m blessed with sisters who are well and more than capable of helping out when they visit. I’ve also in the past had cleaning services brought in when I was dealing with aging parents and their various time consuming needs etc. It can be expensive but the flip side is we can’t do everything, be two places at once and maintain a reasonable reserve off energy for life’s commitments as the arise.
Lastly your house will still be standing for many years if you’ve not got round to doing a task today. Be kind to yourself.
Welcome to the forum and a belated happy birthday. I share your frustration and there’s lots of good advice you’ve received from other members. If you need to rant or ask for any advice, this is the place to come. Everyone will be able to relate to how you feel and we are all learning to cope with different ways our illnesses effect how we live our lives. Personally, I spread my housework out these days so I aim for a couple of small tasks each day, and like you, I value that achievement. It’s important to listen to our bodies and rest when we need it. Well done for all you achieve and try not to worry about the days when you can’t achieve much.
Welcome Jessy1599. I hope that figure is not the year of your birth! My mother, (whose birthday was yesterday) used to say she had two speeds "2 mph and Stop". I sometimes think they're is a third speed - Minus 5 mph, that's when I do nothing and just stare at the mess!I'm gonna say something different. Don't think of yourself as "useless". But think of yourself a "priceless". Because that's who you are. That's who we all are. Priceless and precious.
Very recently I paid for a cleaner. The best decision I ever made. She is bossy, elderly and from Bulgaria but just gets on with the job. Thankfully I can afford to pay her the two hours work at £16 and hour.
For my part in continuing the house work I choose just a tiny area to clean, like 1l dust the TV or 2) sweep or brush two square feet! I do get a sense of achievement just to pick up one toffee wrapping!
Have a think and list what you enjoy in life. Sit down. and realise what a wonderful guy you are! And welcome to the Club.
It is a great shock when you have to change your mental image of yourself and admit you are not the person you used to be.
I only have mild COPD but it is many years since I could safely operate a vacuum cleaner. I don't feel a failure for that - just get someone else to do it or use a light carpet sweeper. I do other things instead, things that my body can do, like collecting post cards, singing and playing music.
Your post and description pretty much describes my own situation .......... not in respect of indoor house work per se, but certainly tasks in and around the garden. Also shower cleaning too. Anything that involves stretching/ reaching. BUT, for me the very worst thing is all mental ............ one day I'm like superman aged 55 (I'm actually 80) and can do anything I put my mind to .... then the very next day I'm totally cream crackered, like a beached whale !
Unfortunately, for those in my world, I have a personality that makes me NEED to UNDERSTAND why these condition changes occur. I get a weird comfort from that and it helps me deal with things. I was diagnosed with mild COPD in early January 2025.
I do go to local exercise classes and am waiting to be called to the next round of Pulmonary Rehab classes - I also try and walk at least one mile every day or every other day.
Hello Jessy1599 - I feel exactly same! it feels that not long ago, I would make a big pot of coffee, turn up my music, and fire through the housework and gardening but not now - I have cystic fibrosis and was diagnosed late last year. I feel so useless and frustrated, but am working on pacing myself, sometimes better than others tho. if I push myself, I'm ill for days. it is a hard lesson to learn, xx
Welcome to the forum. I know exactly where you coming from. I feel exactly the same. I have been diagnosed with COPD a long time ago, but last year I had two flare ups, one in January and another in November. The first one kept me off sick from work for nearly three months and it took a long time to get back to some sort of normality. The one in November was not quite as bad, but I still ended up in hospital for a couple of days. I now take things quite slowly and only do the chores when I have a "good" day. It is heartbreaking not being to do the things in one hit, as I used to. To top it all, I was just diagnosed with spinal stenoses and osteoarthritis. Suffice to say... I still haven't returned back to work yet. Months of hospital appointments and physio lie ahead. I wish you well. Just take it slowly and you'll be fine. x
o I so know where you are coming from. Breathless on the smallest effort and getting a cleaner in is really hard to accept
I have improved myself in January after a change of nebulised antibiotics ( bronchiectasis) so fortunate with that. I completed a pulmonary rehab course last week and I was so surprised at what l was able to do . Was really hard initially and tiring but feel much more confident and stronger and motivated to continue at home while waiting an exercise referral to the local gym for a 6 week free course. I too had to wait eight months but when I chased it up the physio said I should have chased it up as I could have got in sooner as quite a high proportion don’t take up the offer so worth having a go. Also PALS might be able to help
There were different levels of difficulty with breathlessness but all felt they had gained some improvement and confidence
Meanwhile, try and keep your chin up even though damned frustrated and taking away some of how you used to be.
Welcome. I can definitely relate to what you are experiencing. I can’t do what i used to. I do a little bit then have to sit to rest. It’s hard to accept the change. But we have to and have to be proud of what we do achieve. Keep going, keep smiling. The weather is getting better.
Welcome to this forum. Many members are knowledgeable, funny and can relate to everything we are going through. If the opportunity arises go to pulmonary rehab. I was diagnosed with COPD over 10 years ago and I still attend the pulmonary gym on Monday mornings. The rest of the week I use an arm machine and Cubii (leg exerciser). Keep off Dr. Google and stay strong. You are not alone 🐞🐝
Hi Jessy1599 and welcome to the site. Don't be too hard on yourself and take it easy, do what you can when you can. The house will still be standing when we are long gone x
I totally get what you’re saying, I was diagnosed with COPD 14 years ago & have recently given in to getting a cleaner, it is a nightmare when you can’t do things that always used to be a normal routine, she’s a lovely lady & is a blessing as I no longer get frustrated about what I can’t do & can focus more on what I am able to do, recently have been diagnosed with vertigo which is a very debilitating condition, hopefully it will be gone soon with the tablets & exercises I have, & I can get out a bit more again, wishing you well for the future Jessy1599 😊🌸💐🌷x
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