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[sloaneranger]

Hi

I can't walk far either without stopping to get my breath back

Far for me at the moment is 5 to 10 yArds lol

Best of luck everyone .

[helingmic]

sloaneranger, I so understand you. I was like this for quite some time, until I had a really bad infection (TB). The consultant found it and treated me with a drug I had to take for 2 1/2 years.

I took my health in hand and enrolled at the gym - with my oxygen bottle. I had an oxygen concentrator at home for 24 hours a day too.

The exercises did wonder, even though it was jolly hard to breathe at first.

Two months after starting the drug and the gym, I could discard concentrator and oxygen bottle.

My encouragement for you is, do not despair, take charge. here are some exercises for your lungs you can do at home:

youtube.com/watch?v=iIrAUL_...(Not working as expected?)

Do them very gently, stopping when you feel shortness of breath coming. You will improve, it might be slow, but you will.

Also when you are really short of breath do this:

youtube.com/watch?v=wUr0YVZ...(Not working as expected?)

If you have any infection coming, don't wait till it gets bad, ask your GP to refer you to

1) a consultant

2) a pulmonary nurse.

The consultant will examine you and prescribe necessary drugs and examinations.

The pulmonary nurse is more on hand. I phone mine when I get bad. She organises regular visits and gives me lots of advice on medication, on how to cope with fears, shortness of breath, suggestion on how to sleep ( I sleep with a back rest which the team has provided at the suggestion of the nurse).

She can enrol you on Pulmonary Rehabilitation, which is a set of sessions with exercises, but also with a good assessment of your abilities - non judmental and helpful.

I hope this help. Take care, take charge and be of good courage. Mic

[Hidden in reply to helingmic]

Mic. These are wonderful videos fantastic information

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much Gerald (one of our organist is called your name!)

I am always partisan of exercises.

I am learning the flute. The advantage is that you have to do this standing. Of course, you blow all your heart, as the flute uses as much as as the tuba! Highly recommended Mic

[Hidden in reply to helingmic]

Hiya Mic. I have recently joined a local singing group. I cant sing for nuts but it great exercise for my lungs. Gerald.

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

Gerals, this is wonderful.

I did this with a group that was part of the university of Kent reasearch in to the benefits of singing for COPD patients. I have now switched to singing in chruch. Like you I am not a qaulified singer, although I am a qualified musician.

Indeed it's important to maintain the life of our lungs as much as possible. Well doen!

[Hidden in reply to helingmic]

Mic, there are many things one can do to keep your lungs operative with COPD.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Like what other things can i do i'm a 66 year old male thank you

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I'm 65 I walk exercise sing.

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

janeanne, Never too old. I am 66 and counting! See my answer below to Gerald, Mic

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

Indeed, that's why I recommend here exercises in general. I don't force people to like classical music and play teh flute, tha't's my hobby> One can walk teh dog, run a marathon ( I know some), enrol on the NHS couch to 5K (I took part at the gym on the bike rather than running). These are only a few possibilities. One of the first for people who discover they have a lung disease is to enrol with the pulmonary nurse who can enrol you on pulmonary rehabilitation. that's usually one of the best official way to recovery.

Cheers, Mic