Housebound and not loving it

[Worzel12]

Hi everybody,

I have a lot of difficulty getting from A to B because of breathlessness and am pretty much housebound much of the time. I know that there are other people a great deal worse off than me, but I wondered how others coped with the frustration and the increasing feeling of isolation.

[newlands]

Hi Worzel i live alone have my daughters chocolate Labrador whilst she works ,only 3 days my daughter takes me out once a week,but i know that horrible feeling of not been able too do it myself .

I have done my family tree back too 1600 not bad for a 72 year old who has only had one 20 min lesson on my computer from my son in law , i must admit i do watch a lot of television ,i cant knit or sew anymore ,i have a friend who calls every day so i know i am lucky .

I need a wheelchair outdoors so that restricts me too

you take care

Dorothy xx

[kimmy59 in reply to newlands]

Hello Newlands

We have something in common Family History I've being tracing for nearly 30 years I love it.

Kim xxx

[newlands in reply to kimmy59]

Wish i had been doing it for 30 yrs ,i would have been asking an awful lot of questions my grandmother was married in noys 1895 by the time the 1901 census was out he had disappeared i tried lots of avenues but never found what happened it really makes me cross

Dorothy xxx

[kimmy59 in reply to newlands]

They will keep moving about. So many questions I wish I had asked my parents and grandparents. So now I spend my time tracing friends trees.

Kim xx

[kimmy59]

Hello Worzel 12

So sorry you feel so isolated at least you have us, you don't say what is wrong with you if you have oxygen etc.

Kim xxx

[Louisiana]

I can still go out, but having osteoporosis and arthritis I cant walk far, and I have to find disabled parking spaces (what a joke) and I get breathless going round the supermarket now....so, I am ordering weekly shopping online each week, which is a godsend. I do know how you feel, as I am keeping myself at home much much more, having had infections every other month for the last year and a half I am terrified of catching something! I live on top of a hill surrounded by fields so one could say I live in an isolated area very beautiful though I am trying to make myself go out a bit more as I don't want to become housebound completely. It is difficult if you haven't got relatives and healthy good friends to help out. I watch a lot of television, I read and I have been involved with finding penfriends for prisoners in Louisiana for over 28 years now, so that keeps me busy, writing letters, speaking to writers on the phone,etc....and I feel as though I am doing something worthwhile.... I have made some wonderful friends through this and I have met hardly any of them Like you though, I worry about becoming TOO housebound and alone....is there something you can volunteer to do? like reading for the Blind, etc.....just a thought. Do take care, and it's nice to meet you!

[Ian123]

If you have a Breathe Easy group near then meeting up with others like yourself is great for cutting down the isolation making friends.

[Worzel12]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice. It really helps to know that you are out there.

[caroleoctober]

I have COPD -severe emphysema, stage four and am oxygen 15+hrs a day but I will NOT stay home.I am 71yrs going on 50! I have a mobility scooter and go out on that when it is not wet, although I have wet weather clothing so use that if I need to and a fleece lined 'cosytoes' for when it is cold. I have a lightweight aluminium rollator in the boot of my car, I put my oxygen tank in that and find I can walk quite a way with it, far further than without it. We have given up our little caravan but still go on holiday to Holiday parks like Haven and find they are very accommodating for the disabled. Keep smiling.

Carole x

[CornishBrian]

Push hard for a PR course but in the meantime, download some breathing exercises and work on them. Your lungs are like any other muscle in your body...if you don't exercise them and control them, you will gradually loose them. SOB is hard but don't rely on inhalers to get your breath back....use breathing control techniques and breathing exercises. Every little thing you get some one else to do for you, becomes their job for life...you have to make an effort to take charge again....go on, give it a try. BLF have some breathing control and exercises on their site.

[Hidden]

I got moving into outside world much more after p r course. It's scary sometimes and have to go slow. Also pottering in garden helps me.

[Hidden]

We got M-in-L a Hudl from Tesco, she is loving it - has app "Words with friends" - the whole family are playing scrabble with her, she used to just sit and knit, now she has to stop and complete games, four on the go at the moment, it has changed her world, she says she feels less isolated now and is enjoying the challenges - her daughter is a "b...er" with two letter words !!

[Catnip]

Hello Worzel12

It is so very easy to become housebound if one is breathless, and the easiest thing in the world is to stay still, so as not to become breathless... but there is a treatment: it's called "exercise". The idea is to start off with small things and work up to more and harder things and it does help. If you can, try to get onto a pulmonary rehab course where you will be monitored and encouraged. Have a look at this site -- proactivecopd.com/patients-... where there are some exercises you can try -- and build up from there.

Good luck; I'm off to the gym now (stage 4 emphysema and using oxygen). It's a great life!!

Catnip

[longdays]

hi worzel i am the same i get so down and think whats life all about i dont have a life any more so yes i understand just how you feel x

[out-for-lunch]

I've had this for well over 10-years - I'm end stage ...... but ain't going anywhere yet.

I refuse to be housebound. I have a scooter & an electric bike, both are used regularly. I have a camper van & get out in that as much as I can. When Sue goes shopping I'll always pop into town with her & have a coffee & read the paper while she's doing the hard bit (I'm barred from being near the trolly - I'm told I sneak rubbish into it!!)

I've just signed up to a tai-chi starter class, which I noticed they're starting in the garden of out local library this Wednesday.

You can even borrow or rent scooters at most National Trust gardens ..........

There's no excuse .........

With COPD It's so easy to sit, rot & just not bother, it's why they call COPD 'death by armchair' ........... but that's not the way I want to be remembered nor how I intend going.

[Worzel12]

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice.

I have severe copd and asthma and I try to do all the right things - at least 30 minutes exercise daily, including aerobic exercises, trying to eat reasonably sensibly and am hoping to get on a pr course at the Brompton. (I must chase them on that).

Unfortunately I live in the centre of London with my home directly facing a crossing on a red route.

This does not bode well for me having a mobility scooter, as there are steps up to the front door and anyway I have nowhere to keep it.

I try to be positive and am off to the doctor this pm to see if I can get any answers as to why, when I was doing so well after Avian flu and pneumonia, I am now having real problems with breathlessness.

Thank you all again and I wish you the very best.

x

[jimmyw123]

hi worzel, i know how you feel,it can be very hard going

,,, i try to work hard on being un-housebound,, [is there such a word lol:)]

i live alone ,have 4th stage copd , advanced ank. spond. heart failure,, the list goes on,,

but if i can reach my garden, lift one weed ,speak to some passer by, neighbour etc. i know ive done something

hope things improve worzel,,jimmy

[Worzel12]

Thanks Jimmy,

You just keep on trucking - I know what an effort it can be just to reach that weed, but we still do our damnedest to pull them out.

Unfortunately I'm in the hospital - nasty chest infection, but I hope they'll let me out tomorrow. I've been here for a few days and am going a bit stir crazy. I have tasked my hubby with garden watering duties, but he's apt to skip it.

Take good care of yourself

Annie x

[jimmyw123 in reply to Worzel12]

hi anne,

, i hope you get over that nasty chest infection, and get home from hospital asap,

i dont know where you are, but here near edinburgh theres not been much need to water the garden, weve had some rain the last couple of days lol,

you said it annie,, keep on truckin lol,, best wishes ,jimmy

[2malinka]

I know how you feel. Although I work 4 days a week, Just the sheer effort of getting ready makes me want to give up. The three days that I don't workl I mostly stay home & only go out every other Sunday mainly shopping but then I rent a mobility scooter as the walking is too much. Mind you I do feel better if I make the effort. But sometimes I get so exhausted I want to just give up. I am on oxy 1/2 litre 15 hours daily.

Take care.

[Worzel12]

Hello 2Malinka,

Thank you for replying. Until I had to retire eighteen months ago, I worked for four days a week and like you found the effort of getting ready really hard going, but definitely worth it, so keep on going for as long as you are able. Personally, I don't find retirement much fun and harder work than work.

I see you had a nice time in Bath - lovely city.

Take good care of yourself.

Annie x

[madametobacco49]

It is tough--I can go but with tanks--and so rarely go but to store--It gets very lonely--5 days since I seen another person now--Looking forward to oxygen delivery today--Isnt that sad?? I get it--I really do--I have congestive heart failure and A-fib-It just seems more hassle and exhausting than it is worth--I was alone a lot before but now more so--At least I was kind of used to it--This is my connection to the outside and grocery store--I cant have groceries delivered because they don't take food stampd just credit cards--Boy that would be a treat--I just got home from rehab and don't know to do the grocery thing--I have steps and cant get them in here-- MmeT^