mum is breathless

[mumscopd]

This past week my mum has barely got out of bed due to feeling breathless on any exersion. I know that when she is fitter she feels better so staying in bed in may only make things worse, She has oxygen at home so should she get up and about but use the portable oxygen whilst she walks around to improve fitness? Any suggestions?

[meldrum]

she should try and get up as exercise ,even a small walk is essential,i have c.o.p.d ,at the present time iam on my 3rd flare up ,''iam a x miner 25 yrs at the c/face,i get very frustated as infection can take more than 3 wks tae improve.iam 0n various anti biotics......prenisoline,and a new one klaracid,,,was on amoxill didnae work and i use a nebuliser,i have'nt had a wee walk for 2 wks now ,but iam getting there again ,,hope your mum improves ,,,she is lucky she has family to help ,my family is scatterd and i worry about my wife as iam 72 now....best 'o' luck

[mumscopd]

Hello, thank you for your reply. Sorry about your situation, sounds tough, you sound determined though. I don't think she has an infection, just breathless enough to want to lie down. She has oxygen twice a day although I think her figures are ok. She is getting up now and again for meals etc, just spends a lot of time in bed. My dad is her carer, he is 71 and pretty healthy thank goodness. She has had two heart attacks too so is on a lot of medication. I think she knows she needs to move, just finds it too much at times. In terms of exacerbations my mum has had a lot less since taking a decent amount of Vit D, since copd sufferers don't get much sun (does anyone!) I think it helps, seems to for her anyway and some others as far as I know (Derek Cummings swears by it (see his blog)). Yes shame your family is not near you to help..Thanks again.

[kimmy59]

Hello

I would ring the helpline for advice. But I agree with Meldrum any exercise is good.

Kim

[mumscopd]

Hello which helpline do you mean? They are pumping my mum full of steroids to try and help (she's on a new one for 7 days), but I feel they are missing a trick. She is not breathless as in tight chest, she is breathless on exertion. She is on day 3 of a new 7 day steroid and it's made no difference whatsoever. I think this current episode is more heart related (she has heart failure) and I'm concerned the steroids are not helping as she can't sleep and is also twitchy on them plus other related symptoms. I feel that she is not getting the proper focus she should be.

[mumscopd]

Mum is still struggling... having spoken to Dad and her for a short while as she can't do much speaking. She is really not doing very well she says her airways feel tight but feels like in her throat, cannot exert herself at all even from bed to door and yet her oxygen levels are ok, its very puzzling, what could this be, its very frustrating.