Greetings fellow sufferers
I used to love swimming, and being obese means that I need some exercise. I am on O2 and would love to go swimming. Has anybody found out if they can do this? I would just love to get back in the water.
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COPD and Swimming
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westielady1956
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I suppose it would depend on the level of oxy you use, how fast it drops when exercising, etc. Best person to ask would be your respiratory nurse/consultant.
I swim 3 times a week but don't have oxygen. If we disregard the fact you use oxygen for the time being there are lots of views as to whether pools are good places to be for people with lung disease. I have been swimming for 2 years and haven't had an exacerbation but I know others on here feel that the warm atmosphere of pools is a germ infested haven. That said pools are much better ventilated these days. My suggestion to you and anyone who wants to swim is to go to the pool of your choice and ask if you can go poolside to just see what the air/humidity feels like etc and how it might affect your breathing.
I have no idea if you can swim with oxygen but if you can I would also suggest you think about finding a ladies evening or check with attendants when its at its quietest just so you can build your confidence up. I love it - its my favourite form of exercise and its great both physically but also mentally - my time to think.
Good luck
marie
In the book I had from my oxygen supplier it says swimming should be fine, a couple of suggestions are that you go at a quiet time not to avoid other people but because you would need to take an extra length of tubing to use with your cylinder and you may need to get someone to go with you to walk alongside the pool carrying your cylinder and that could be difficult if the pool is busy. Ask you provider for spare tubing and cannulae that you can use as a "swimming set".
Hope that helps
polly xx
Hi
It all depends on the level of oxygen you require. When I was first ill I went swimming and did water aerobics. I was on the oxygen at 2lpm-4lpm and I only needed it for walking and exercising. I would have some oxygen before I went in the pool and also afterwards, leaving the oxygen on a chair at the side of the pool. I am now on oxygen all day and I need 8lpm when exercising and so the swimming is no longer possible. The suggestion that pollyjj made may not be practical as you would need very understanding staff at the pool. Good luck.
Regards
Mandy
What a great question. I have a paralyzed Diaphragm and find swimming impossible now I just run out of air. But Could you not put your oxygen bottle by the edge and use your legs while holding on to the side like you do when learning?
Failing that look for Tai Chi classes
I was on a U.S. forum and there was at least one person there who put her oxygen cylinder in a floating holder so it bobbed along beside her. She was my hero at the time when I had just been diagnosed - she symbolised not giving up or giving in to the disease.
Whether you would be allowed to do that here, who knows, I've never heard of anyone doing it. With all that water, it shouldn't be a fire risk 
I got a float for my LOX and it works fine in private swim pools or calm and shallow seas. However I don't use it for the public baths because at best I would be relegated to the once weekly 'disabled' swim session - which is fair enough as the float set up would be getting in everyone's way. I find it slows me down too. I had a lovely time in the sea this summer, going every day and mostly just 'floating'. Heaven 
I currently swim 4 or 5 afternoons a week at the local swimming baths without my 02. I use it to walk the mile there and home again . I also take my pulse ox and a small towel for poolside. I swim breast stroke for a minimum 40 lengths - in other words one kilometre - and aim to work up to the mile by spring. I don't use my 02 - that is in the locker with my 'stuff'. It takes me between 40 and 45 seconds to complete a length and I stop at the end of each one. I wait usually 1 minute 45 seconds for my sats to come back up to around the 92% mark, and then I do my next length. I use the pulse ox every other length when I get back down to the 'shallow end'. I position it right next to the pool and dry my finger off and check how I'm doing. At first my sats dropped very low and I was worried that I would not be able to continue - but I gradually learned exactly how slow I needed to go and really worked my breathing pattern out well and things improved. I now usually read about 84 -86% after a length, and as I ensure my sats are recovered before I set off again I think I get halfway before they even start to drop. I do this because the weather is not good for cliff path walking in winter and in previous years I have deteriorated badly again by spring, with very severe sob etc. This year I was determined to find a way of keeping my fitness levels up - and it worked.
Anyone wishing to do similar - please be aware that I had exercised in one form or another for a few hours every single day of the summer, so I was in good shape to start with. Also, I initially only managed a few strokes at a time before gasping and getting very tired arms. It took me about 3 weeks of daily swimming to acheive my first length. I always stayed in the pool for 2 hours though - even in the beginning - I would swim as much as I comfotably could, then stop and rest a minute, then continue. When my arms got too tired I would just float or walk around the shallow end - it is all exercise and I do enjoy the water.
Between May 2013 and November 2013, with a summer of walking and Autumn swimming , my fev1 improved 3 points and my FVC improved 6 points. This means that after five years since diagnosis I am getting my best ever results and am at my fittest. I still have very severe copd, I still need oxygen - I had my ABG's re-checked at Derriford Hospital the week before xmas - and still need it for sleep and activity - but my sats stay up well on room air now for 'pottering' around, and I no longer get hyperinflation. I will resume my cliff path walking in the spring.
Respect and congratulations parvati, you're my role model
- it takes dedication and real motivation to make such strides. This inspires me to do more sea swimming next summer. I don't go to the baths as i always seem to pick up an ear or other infection - every damn time - so i hit that on the head. But my one dip in the sea last year was much better than i thought it would be - i was very trepidatious beforehand but I swam for 10 minutes with one minute's rest clinging to a breakwater in the middle - and it felt very exhilarating.
Also it's good to know you can get O2 floats here.
Thanks everyone I will ask my resp nurse when she comes. We have a rehab pool at the hospital maybe she could refer me to that to start off with. I will let you all know the outcome.
I think any sort of exercise is good you would need to look for somewhere where they cater for disabled swimmers as the water there is usually warmer than normal swimming pools, or one with a training pool because again that will be warmer. Perhaps just to start with you could just walk or float about even that would be pleasurable. Take a friend or carer with you to help you. May be then they could keep your oxygen at the side and let you hook up if you need it.
Just some thoughts good luck irene
Thanks everyone I will definately look into this. I did email my local pools but they have replied as yet tsk tsk
You might be able to arrange something through your local hospital, aqua robics maybe.
I will see if my resp nurse can advise I hope I could use the hospital pool
Yes. I still qualify for both. Nothing has changed - I still have v.severe copd. I still need my oxygen concentrator for overnight and my LOX for out and about. I still get sob, though not as severe as it used to be. I can't be 'disqualified' just because I choose to go swimming any more than if I choose some other activity or pastime. For example the 5k fundraisers I did last year were done at my pace - in fact at the 'Santa Run' I did at xmas the marshalls were already removing the traffic cones and packing up when I was still only half way round - but I still finished the course eventually and they kindly waited and cheered me home at the finish line. My medals take pride of place and I treasure every one! I do know where you are coming from though - I was very worried about it affecting my benefits initially.
I too am on oxygen and I use a product called oxyDpnd when I am swimming. It is a watertight case for your oxygen tank. You can look it up on Google Blogger.
I make a case for your oxygen tank that is used for swimming. You can find it on e bay by searching " TAKE YOUR MEDICAL OXYGEN TANK SWIMMING>>YES U CAN!!!!! " There U will find out everything U need to know how to take your tank swimming....ENJOY
Hi
Thanks for the link but it is beyond my price I only have my benefits to live on and it also comes from the. States. Algain thank
Mandy
Yes, I understand.....It cost me $77.27 for parts and the 18 hours of actually building it, I just do it for the love of it. I too am on S.S. and if I had the means, I would send U one free!!! I am trying to make it cheaper, but the lower cost materials just do not seem to hold up. Thank you for your interest
I swim almost daily.....Made this for myself and now you can have one too...learn more at: ebay.com/itm/271624300415?s...
Wishing you all the best hope you can get back in the swim as it great fun good luck x
You guys are a total inspiration to me and every one else. Swimming with O2 !!!!! Amazing . I cannot praise you all enough, and its food for thought...if YOU can do it, then I can do it
OK it 'should ' be easier for me I am not on O2...but my lung function is almost Zero ( I get out of breath taking deep breaths ) and I haven't had enough puff to move the flutter ball for many years now, but amazingly my stats are OK unless I get an infection.
Not sure I remember how to swim !!! the last few times I tried ( about 30 years ago) I could not do more than a couple of strokes as I got so out of breath, but perhaps in the baby pool I could try again
You girls are SUCH good examples of how to deal with COPD and the associated lung diseases
You ROCK kids xxxxx
Its not a problem!!! Obesity is a positive when U are in the water and with this U can di it all.
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