talking and copd/lung

[jackie50]

When you are talking for a while , do you feel as though everything is closing down and its difficult to talk, then comes the coughing fits till nearly sick

or would that be just me?

[fishpond]

Hi Jackie, i go through the same symptoms and then start coughing i think it all part of the copd hope this is helpful

[Gordon57]

I was getting close to that a few months ago, but have since seen the respiratory nurse and she's had me do some breathing exercises to change my pattern and that seems to have done the trick for me.

I was talking quite quickly and trying to get all the words in before I took a breath. That made me SOB quite quickly and then I would wheeze a lot too. What she got me to do was take deeper breaths, try to use the bottom of my lungs as much as possible, rather than 'pant' with just the top half, and take breaks between words, then talk slower as well.

As you speak you are using your lungs to facilitate the speech, and neglecting the main function of getting oxygen in there.

I found it quite hard to do as I've been a DJ and radio presenter for years and it's not natural for me to speak slower, but I've had to adjust and, a few months later, don't seem to be feeling as light headed or struggling to breathe when I'm talking.

I do cheat a little bit with the radio work now as I pre-record the talking bits, then edit out the gaps before mixing it into the music to make the show - you can't really tell when you listen, unless you know where the gaps had been

[terri-rose]

Hi Jackie,

I am on sick leave at the moment from my teaching job. I was experiencing the same as you describe, a long time before the diagnosis. I found standing and talking for three hours a lesson - full time - all week was making me feel faint and having an effect on my mental health. The occasional coughing was quite embarrassing too.

By the end of the day I was exhausted and would literally flop on the setee when I got home. I thought it was because I am a lady of a certain age!! To be honest, I just thought it was 'one of those things' and would pass - but it didn't - it got worse. I even started building this into my lesson plans by requesting 'volunteer-teachers' from my students to take turns in doing the board work, organising the discussions/ debates, reading out instructions, verbally marking their work.... They (teenage boys) thought this was great and was full of admiration for me!! They loved it! Little did they know they were assuming my responsibility because I couldn't talk or stand for long periods of time.

This problem gradually progressed to laughing - I started (and still do) to feel faint and out of control when I laughed too. For these reasons, I am unable to return to my job because I am no longer physically capable of doing it. I don't know what comes next - job wise, but they do say a change is as good as a rest , so I am keeping optimistic! Take care x

[Hidden]

HI, My husband has the same problem if he talks for any length of time, then he starts to cough and it can be quite embarassing. The problem he finds is people think he will stop coughing - but he doesn't it keeps going!! I think it must be COPD! TAD x

[lavender1]

Not just you Jackie going by all the different replies. I find my personality changing as, although never particularly chatty, I am told I'm becoming increasingly silent. Well at least I'm not coughing uncontrollably just now. I know its not the answer for everyone particularly if talking is part of your everyday work and it surely can't be helping the lungs if you are not using your voice so what do we do?

Have a good weekend!

[jackie50]

talking is part of my job, talking to the public. its ok while doing office work, but when I talk to customers its horrendous, then I panic and make things worse

Thanks for the answers does make me feel not alone

[andyuson]

shame on me while serving my customer in sainsbury store my coughing is a big problem for me..