Struggling

[Fantasy3]

Hi,

Is anybody else fighting really hard to breath at the moment?

Could it be the weather?

I don't have a cough,or mucus,just struggling with the simplest of tasks.

I dread having to go out as I know I will have to stop and rest.

Thank you.

Xxxx

[rick1]

Yes we all have days like that, could be the weather cold or damp, if you do go out wrap a scarf over your mouth then your not breathing in the cold damp air.

[pergola1]

My breathing has worsened during the last few weeks. True I have had almost continuous chest infections; productive and short of breath and very SOB. Coping with moving doesn't help. I make a point of trying to have an afternoon nap.

[Fantasy3]

Thanks rick1.but I do tend to find lately that even if it's not cold,I'm struggling.

[pedantic]

hiya,Fantasy 3.

If you are anxious about anything/have something worrying you,this can affect your breathing to a great extent.The calmer you stay the better/easier your breathing becomes.I wish you well xx

[whit]

it is the damp weather , and it could be too hot ,too cold, too windy us copd people have a very small window of good weather where our breathing is concerned

[longlungs]

Hi Fantasy3 yes Im the same,everythings more of a struggle,no likey likey,reminds me of the 3 bears not to hot and not to cold and for baby bear just right!! As whit above says a very small window of the right temp and Im afraid that wont be until next year now Mustnt think too much about it just gotta get on withit brrrr! Janexx

[Hidden]

My husband is very breathless - this weather is awful. Winter is never good - either too cold, too damp etc. etc. If it doesn't improve though it might be worth a visit to the Doctor - might be able to change your meds. to help you? Take care, TAD xx

[Fantasy3]

Thank you to all of you.

Yes,I suppose I've just got to put up until the weather improves.(no chance of that just yet hey)...

May I just wish each and everyone of you a very happy christmas,and best wishes for a very happy new year.

Xxxx

[Hollyhockhattie in reply to Fantasy3]

hello Fantasy3... I have been very poorly this year and my breathlessness had got worse again lately. I saw my consultant last week and she changed my inhaler from symbicort to spiriva and it has been magical for me. I'm walking the dog, doing the chores, etc, etc, without having to sit down to catch my breath. Holly. x

[longlungs in reply to Hollyhockhattie]

Hi Holly thats good news really pleased for you,it really does feels like magic sometimes doesnt it Janexx

[Hollyhockhattie in reply to longlungs]

Thanks Jane...you know I'm still taking antibiotics and the steroids but you can cope with all that so long as you can breathe xxx

[peege in reply to Hollyhockhattie]

That's really good news Holly, I'm very pleased to hear it and you can look forward at last xxx

[Hollyhockhattie in reply to peege]

Thanks Peeg...... hope all's good with you. Holly . xx

[oxytic]

Thank you too for your welcome Christmas wishes, from all of us here.And Of cause I wish that this Christmas is very happiest Christmas of them all xxx

[oxytic]

And yes it Is an awful pressure having to go out shopping this time of as it is cold and will affect breathing Christmas is the time we have to go out Struggle in super markets then unload trolley then pack it into bags then carry it in from the car some 50 metres. And I am on my own as I struggle through the front door I am wanting so badly to take a leak, and then the community alarm goes off while taking a leak just another day in the lonely life of breathless happy person but do have a little oxygen at home what a life saver that is ...I'm not moaning coz I do love life. You all have a great Christmas every one of you.

[libby7827]

Hi, sorry to hear you are struggling. I do all my shopping online these days and it's an absolute godsend. Speak to your gp about upping your salbutamol inhaler for a while, I do this and it helps enormously. Also, do you use it with a spacer, that can make a big difference too. It may be that you do have an infection even though you don't think so. That has happened to me before. Don't suffer in silence, see your gp asap. My breathing is up and down at the moment for no apparent reason, I have a couple of days really struggling then suddenly it's a bit better for a few days, no rhyme or reason. Also, if you click the red balloon in the top right hand corner of this page it will take you to the BLF's details, there is an 0300 number you can ring for advice, I believe they are very helpful. Good luck. Libby x

[longlungs in reply to libby7827]

Hi Libby I agree with the spacer I use it for all my inhalers has made a big difference especially with ventolin. Janexx

[peege in reply to longlungs]

Yes, I'm agreeing with Libby and Jane, correct use of spacer increases the meds by a whopping 50% according to the respiratory specialist at my PR group.

Incidentally Fantasy, recently I'd been feeling pretty rubbish for a few weeks. I thought I was fighting off an infection but doc said not. He doubled my 2x daily dose of Seretide from 250 to 500.

I can hardly believe the difference it's made for the better.

My sats aren't dropping at night like they were and I even wake up more alert and get more done.

As the weather improves I can taper down to the Seretide 125 for the summer months.

Have a review of your meds and check you're taking them correctly (I was horrified to discover at PR that I'd been taking my meds through spacer wrongly for 3 years)! X

[Fantasy3 in reply to peege]

Hi peeg.

I cannot believe that just by using the spacer you get 50% improvement!

[peege in reply to Fantasy3]

Hiya, I dont know about improvement she said 50% more of the medication using the spacer than when taking it 'neat'!

She, Helen, was very very knowledge able (unlike another one who gave a talk).

After the session I mentioned to the physios that she should be teaching GPs and was told that that's exactly what she does as part of her job.

Personally speaking, I'm taking double the Seretide now and the difference is amazing. When I think back to how ill I was this time last year, the year before and the year before that I'm a different person. I've learnt from being here how to be proactive and not be a passive participant to this bl.... thing. Not to accept that when something's not working to go & get it fixed (if at all possible).

I hope you get to feel better soon. love P xx

[oxytic]

hi there libby yes I do use spacer most of the time but not while out and about. And breathing is up and down for most . I don't doc that much as I'm on most of the medications and also when it too much I have the oxygen not tried. I have not tried shopping on line yet as I think getting out is important for many reasons for pushing myself to strong exercise. And getting out as don't have family and its hard to have friends if you are in bad health.Thank you for your reply Bless you x

[libby7827 in reply to oxytic]

Hi oxytic, yes it's very important you get yourself out and about as much as poss, keeping up your stamina is one of the main ways you will prevent the disease from deteriorating too quickly. Also, I agree with what you say about having friends when you're in bad health, a lot of them run a mile, I've never understood that, that's not the kind of person I am, but it seems many are. Get yourself to the pub or join a group, even if you think it's for people older than yourself, and you'll find you'll make friends. Libby xx

[Fantasy3]

Hi Libby,

Many thanks for the advice.

I use a spacer for my seretide,not ventolin tho.

And as oxytic says,I too like to go out and physically do my shop,gives you a feeling of achievement.altho I do a bit of online shop,my groceries I normally go out for.

I try and do at least a 30 min bike ride everyday,(excersise bike).

But even that I have been struggling with lately.maybe it's a mix of weather,emotions,and I've put a small amount of weight on too,and that doesn't help does it.

Oh well,maybe when I go on my diet after Xmas I will feel the benefit.

Xxxx

[Fantasy3]

Wow.

I'm gonna start using my spacer with the ventolin☺️

Thank you x

[peege in reply to Fantasy3]

good, I think you'll find that better too. Last week when it was particularly cold with the freezing wind I took my blue inhaler before I went out in the cold and that really helped enormously.

I was also taught at PR that we can have non infected exacerbations too and that these are the times to use our emergency steroids. Personally I cant tell so doc will be my first port of call - as last week when he upped the Seretide to 500 - eek. Dont want to take that much really but it works! x

[newlands in reply to peege]

Hi Peeg do you mean seritide 500 twice a day thank you xx

[peege in reply to newlands]

yep Newlands, 500 am & 500 pm but can taper down to 125 when I feel well.

Hope you're ok xxx

[newlands in reply to peege]

Hi peeg excuse me asking again i take seritide 250 two puffs twice a day some people have 500 two puffs twice a day ,so do you have 500 and take two puffs twice a day

sorry i do have these senior moments when things don't

sink in lol xxx

[Fantasy3 in reply to newlands]

Hi newlands,

I'm the same as you,2xpuffs,twice a day on seretide 250.

Think I'm going to give it 4 x puffs,twice a day.cant hurt,only improve.

Xxx

[peege in reply to newlands]

Yes, that's right , 2 puffs of 250 in the morning and same evening.

Until a week ago it was one puff. I'm very pleased I've permission to lower it again when really well . xx

[Hidden]

Hi Fantasy3, I think you should go to see your doctor, or the walk in centre if you have one near you. You can have a lung infection without mucus or a cough, any worsening of symptoms should be checked out. Its good news if when your doc listens to your lungs, he / she says your lungs are clear, but really really bad news if you delay getting checked when you do have a lung infection. Best to be on the safe side.

[Fantasy3]

Hi hollyhockhattie...thanks for your reply.im already on spiriva tho.

Xx

[Fantasy3]

Holly.im so glad that the seretide is working for you.i do believe it works for me,brilliantly,but I'm just having a few "off" days I think.☺️

[needtobreathe]

I found myself having breathing problems which were worse than usual. I struggled for a few weeks when finally took a sputum sample to doctors. Had caught Pseudomonas, it's silent and sneaky, don't really know you've got it. Makes you very tired, breathless and sometimes unable to think properly if you're over 60. Maybe a sputum test would be the answer for you, just in case. Have a good Xmas everyone.

[Fantasy3]

Hi all.i know that copd can make you tired.I really believe in my case it's a mix of weather,a little bit of stress,and not taking my meds proper.

I've learnt my lesson though.im increasing my meds,seretide.(that's ok to do that isn't it?) or do I go see the nurse?

Thank you all.

Love.xxxx

[Tamara70]

It could be the high humidity which has been over eighty per cent where I live for the last month or so. I find it extremely difficult to breathe when out and about in high humidity. How I long for the day when I can live in a climate with low humidity. I think I shall go to live in the desert!

Stay well

Tamara