Buteyko
Has anyone on here tried Buteyko? I ... - Lung Conditions C...
Has anyone on here tried Buteyko? I am thinking to try and give it a go early in the new year, but I can't find any reviews from anyone cur
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Greg_James
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Hi, I went on a buteyko course about 12 years ago, and last year I paid for my youngest daughter to go on a course in London.
But I have mixed views, it is very expensive....I still suffered asthma symptoms, but I think I have underlying health issues as well...I suffer from constant infections.
At the same time it gave me an understanding of the idea of " hidden hyperventilation" and it's effect on breathing , I was not so reliant on bronchodilators.....I have a problem with relievers...if I take too much my chest gets tighter.
There is a website...buteyko breathing and they have a book and DVD....I have an old cassette tape that I use to do the exercises. You tube have videos too.
I am going to give it another go in the New year.
The idea is good I think but you have to be really dedicated...it seems a simple exercise but it has do be done properly.
Breathe gently through the nose ...."breathe less" as well as doing the breathing exercise
I'm sorry I can't help you more....best of luck
I think breathing less and through the mouth where possible is something we can all benefit from whether or not the Buteyko programme is suitable for us. The respiratory physio i saw at hospital last week said everyone breathes too much, you need to try to do less. I have had extreme and suffocating bronchospasm the last 12 days, and have found myself more able to get them under control by dropping my shoulders and trying not to gasp for air. But it's very hard!
Breathing through the mouth is against everything taught on PR.We are taught if you breath in through your nose, noise hair filters out dust and bugs and as the air is passing through the nasal cavities, it is "air conditioned" by the numerous blood vessels ie in winter the air is warmed to body temperature and in summer it is slightly cooled.
Of course, mistake!! There's an "and" in there which makes it look opposite to what i was trying to say. Sorry for confusion. BREATHE THROUGH THE NOSE FOLKS!
On the other hand sometimes that's just not possible with blockages etc, but that's a different issue.
Thanks for correction, Brian. 
it is helping!!!!only the start is not easy!!!!i saw everything on you tube,i read the book!!!i recommend!!!
Thank you Stitch
I was a bit hesitant to even raise it, because from all I could read on this site the deal was to try and increase the oxygen intake, whereas with Buteyko, the goal is to limit the intake of O2 and increase the CO2 blood levels.
It seems a bit strange to me - although I can understand it from a matter of chemistry - so that is why I was asking if anyone else had tried it.
Anyone?
Hi again, I have just been in hospital with an infection, and was given a nebuliser through oxygen...and when my sats were tested straight after the level was so low the alarm was set off...it took some time without oxygen before it returned to normal.
Sometimes my sats can be v good but I am still breathless....buteyko explains that.
Hi Greg,
It's CO2 which activates the lungs to breathe (words of my resp physio when i was in hospital last week).
I did the full buteyko course for my asthma in 2000 right before my copd diagnosis.
It worked well for a while and over two weeks my "control pause" (the number of seconds you can hold your breath after breathing out) went from 8 to 29 and stayed there for about a week. Very exciting, I was made up, but sadly it didn't last at that level. A week after that the best i could do with the control pause was around 12-15. The Buteyko practitioner didn't have a clue why this was happening.
I soldiered on with the exercises then found my heart was skipping beats. At the time i was working in the NHS and my consultant there told me this can happen if your CO2 levels get too high.
So with the benefit of hindsight and lots more understanding of copd 13 years later, it's clear I was making my CO2 much too high for my own situation. And this seems a good e.g. of why Buteyko, though great for asthma, is dodgy for copd (and maybe other lung conditions?) I read a book from the Hale Clinic which gave a moderated, less challenging version of exercises for emphysema but have never tried it out.
If you do embark, let us know how you get on
Thanks for the warning Efortless steering WAY clear gulp.
Im quite surprised to have found how breathing less has helped at this time. It has certainly stopped me hyperventilating and allowed me to get the bronchospasms under control - hasn't stopped them, mind.
I agree totally about pursed lip breathing and that most people discover it on their own. But i guess it also slows the breath and possibly the balance of gases so is a different way of addressing hyperventilation. Knowing how i can gasp and grab at the air when my breathing is very distressed, and how i use PLB to control this - it seems there are some overlaps. But the advantage with PLB is that it stops the lungs collapsing and i don't know of any other breathing strategy which does that.
Hope you had a good day yesterday, Stitch
You might also want to check out previous discussion on this Greg_James, just type the word 'Buteyko' into the site search box (top right in the green band) and you may well find other posts of interest to you.
Hi there I was enquiring about this a little while ago, as I have bronchiectasis. If you look it up on the internet, it seems to be mainly for people with asthma. I decided not to go for it in the end.
Hi Greg
You may be interested in my experience with Butekyo.
First, I should say that I have Bronchiectasis. I did the Butekyo course about ten years ago and I have to say that it was not beneficial to me. However, for those with Asthma it can be a lifesaver. I know of two persons, one a 17 year old male who was suicidal because of his Asthma and could not see any future for himself. He did the course, practiced the recommendations and it turned his life around. The 2nd was an elderly female with Asthma most of her life. She did the course and never looked back.
Definitely for those with Asthma it is a lifesaver if one is prepared to do the exercises.
I hope this may be of help to you. It is well worth the money to take the course if you have Asthma,
Stay well, Tamara
Hi.It was a success for me after attacks and strong medications-like Spiriva, Medroll, Dulera..not easy. First two weeks were hard, now I am much better. My Pulmonologist reduced meds to minimum!!!However you need to exercise everyday and to breath low all your life otherwise symptoms will come back. You need to re educate yourself how to breath.Eat healthy and physical activity is a must!!!!
Having done a Buteyko course myself I think the issues encountered are caused by many teachers not being well qualified enough or having enough expertise to teach and advise people with seriouscconditions. I trained with the Learn buteyko online team. They have much more knowledge and expertise than average their teachers either having worked directly with Proffessor Buteyko or trained by someone who worked with him. Also it is something which requires ongoing support from the teacher to deal with issues that may arise. Their website is Learnbuteykoonline.net. There are also many testimonials now on Youtube on the channel of Christopher Drake.
