never thought to ask before but why am i breathless (fev% pred 40%) and my oxy sats are97%

[whit]

[123podmore]

go and see your doctor do you have emphysems chronic bronchiectasis?

[whit in reply to 123podmore]

c.o.p.d.

[Hidden]

Ah - now there's one to ask at Pulmonary Rehab this afternoon- and I am certain they will be happy to explain it all to you - in fact it is likely to be pretty much at the top of the agenda so enlightenment is at hand One thing I would stress - when they give you your exercises to practice daily at home, make sure you actually do them - then you will find that by the end of the course you are a whole lot less breathless than you are now. The main thing to realise is that oxygen levels and shortness of breath (sob) are not necessarily related. The main cause of sob is inactivity - along with your fev1, to a degree, of course . Keep in mind that there are some folk who are seriously sob quite early on in the disease, yet others with advanced disease with little sob. You have to decide how much of an effort you are willing to make to 'beat it into shape'. It's a bit of a trade off if you like - have an easy life and get increasingly sob, or fight back with exercise and get less and less breathless. I could go on about this for hours as it is a subject close to my heart, but I will leave you in the capable hands of your PR team for now, 'though if you ever wish to discuss it further I will be happy to join in! For now, I have to go as it is time for my daily walk - best wishes and do enjoy rehab this afternoon P

[whit in reply to Hidden]

i will be walking like a 20 year old when i finish the 8week course

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Delighted by your comments. I am committed to exercise for the rest of my life!

I am keen to find out just how fit I can get?

By the way, it is 10 weeks tomorrow since a quadruple bipass! I always thought my lungs would kill me off then my heart joined in. Actually my heart is fine, just the heart's plumbing needed attention. NHS was excellent. I remember being breathless for three days despite being 100% sats.

[Lynne1955 in reply to Hidden]

I'm a fighting back person !

The exercise really hels.

[sitstand]

Muscle deconditioning often begins the spiral that causes shortness of breath leading to a further reduction in activity and weaker muscles demanding more effort / shortness of breath. If breathing prevents activity a Pulmonary Rehabilitation course will give the confidence for exercising when breathless supervised by medical professionals who provide re assurance no harm can come from improved muscle condition.

A very good oxygen level can be maintained using the exercises we are taught helping us help ourselves be the best we can be.

[libbygood]

Muscle deconditioning happened to me after a series of events, blocked glands - could only drink fluids for a week, started ADs which spaced me out for 3 weeks, just lay on the settee,

then cracked three ribs and sprained my collar bone, since summer I've gone down from 9 stone to 7.1/2. I am definitely more SOB and do less. I'm trying really hard, in fact pushing myself to get my muscle and weight back, not east as ADs surpress my appetite.

Lib x

[Lynne1955]

Parvati is spot on. I was reasonably fit when diagnosed and although my FEV 1 is 55%' I know I can do more than others on this site.

I put this down to exercise. I try to do 45 minutes to an hour of cardio vascular exercise at least 4 times a week. I don't always feel like it, but I know I feel a lot better for doing it. I get less tired, have more energy and when I do get short of breath, I find I recover more quickly from it and return to normal.

I don't have my oxygen checked often, but when I do it's usually at 99% or 100%.

Lynne xx

[jojam]

copd.about.com/od/breathing...

This might help you.

[george68]

What is sob. Please

[gocat]

sob = short of breath