Pulmonary rehab

[Me1953]

I'm new here hubby has copd was in ICU in Feb with severe breathing problems thought we had lost him, he stopped smoking and seemed better than before but these last few weeks has been really breathless has anyone had improvement after pulmonary rehab we are waiting for appointment

[Titchy52]

Me1953 lots of people have been and said it's made a huge difference to their breathing and all the information you get I've got an appointment on 9 June for an assessment for PR can't wait best wishes x

[butterfly31851 in reply to Titchy52]

Hi Titchy52,

Went to my 1st class this week. It was mainly talking and introductions - starts properly next week - oh no it doesn't it's Bank Holiday - so not on next week! just my luck. still I was give loads of 'night time reading' lol.

[piggi]

O welcome here - sounds like you've had a scare along the way. was your husband prescribed regular medication? Did it help till now? I wonder if he is being affected by seasonal air quality /hay fever type reactions. I don't mean to be pessimistic but I had to wait quite a long time for pulmonary rehab and I think you should ask for some attention, a review by the doctor in the meantime. Has your practice got a respiratory nurse? I hope he can get a bit of ease soon and meantime again I wish you welcome xpiggix

[Me1953 in reply to piggi]

Hi he did seem to deteriorate a couple of weeks ago when they said air quality was bad he is on ventolin,spiriva and seretide I don't think we have resp nurse I need to make enquiries thanks for you help so glad I found this site for support

[Mandy6513]

Hi. I'm starting another PR group myself next month. They teach you breathing exercises and techniques which help a lot. They also give you lots of information on many things from food to meditation. It would be good if your doc can get him referred as some groups are hard to get on to.

[Lesley_ann in reply to Mandy6513]

Hi, I to am waiting to go for P R. I'm not sure how long I will have to wait I suppose once again it's down to where you live, I'm in Loughborough and luckily I haven't had to wait to long for test's and appointments so hopefully this will be the same. Good to hear positive results. Linda

[Mandy6513 in reply to Lesley_ann]

I went to Llandough near Cardiff

The first PR group i did was about 3 weeks after my diagnosis so most of it was wasted on me because i was like a zombie but there was a woman in the group who had lied about the area she lived so she could get onto it as the waiting list in her area was too long. Unfortunately someone in the group told the team and she was kicked off !!!

[tamariki in reply to Mandy6513]

There are some nasty people in the world. What difference would it have mad to that snake in the grass that had her kicked off the course. I suppose he/she thought their own treatment would n't be as good if "outsiders" joined the group. Shocking affair.

[Mandy6513 in reply to tamariki]

The nurse heard her talking about it so felt she had to remove her from the group as she had taken a place that should have been for someone else but in the long run nobody had the place and thats a crying shame !!!

[PastMeBest]

Hi Me1953 a very warm welcome to a friendly and informative community.

As yet I haven't been on Pulmonary Rehab but there are plenty of people on here who have that speak very highly of it. It is good that your husband has managed to give up smoking as that is the best thing to do to help yourself and slow the effects of COPD down.

If your husband is still quite breathless I would get in touch with your Doctor for advice.

I hope he is feeling better soon.

Regards. John

[butterfly31851 in reply to PastMeBest]

Hi John,

Like you I am defo 'past me best' Giving up smoking - why didn't I do it years ago. come to think of it, why did I ever start - oh yes, I remember - to look cool like everyone else at school! Now what was that guy's namme who I was trying to impress? ha ha

I must admit my breathing got worse once I gave up.

Pul Rehab supposed to be very good - I started it this week - have been given loads of 'night time reading' and of course this coming Monday is another Bank Holiday! so it's cancelled - I'll let you know how I get on.

regards,

Jean

[butterfly31851]

welcome Me1953.

I too recently gave up smoking and had a bad scare earlier in the year. I think it takes quite a while to actually feel the benefit of giving up smoking. My breathing also seems worse - it is called SOB on here (shortnessof breath)

I went to my 1st pul rehab this week - it was mainly an introduction, lots of paperwork given for me to read through but I have been told that there are great benefits to these classes. Of course, it's Bank Holiday this coming Monday, so class isin't on! just my luck.

Please do keep coming back to this site, loads of good information, and laughs to be had.

Best wishes,

Jean x

[scorpiolass]

Hi & welcome to the site. I have attended PR twice now & both times found it very beneficial. I hope your husband is not waiting too long as the courses are often heavily subscribed. Take Care, Margaret

[sue45]

I'm at rehab at the minute..hoping to finish the course this time..been twice b4 & had to stop both times due to illness! I thought there was a new NHS plan in place to initiate rehab within 12 weeks of being hospitalised for breathing related problems? It might just be one of those things dependant on where you live tho! Oh sorry, forgot to say 'welcome' to the site..you will get lots of excellent advice here.

Sue XxX

[PollyP]

Hello Me1953,

So sorry to hear that your husband has been so poorly, it is a hard way to come to terms with smoking related illness and I wish him well.

I have had COPD for 13 years now and for the most part have been well, in fact from diagnosis, my lung function has improved by about 20%!

Ok, there are lots of things we can take responsibility for in terms of some recovery and on going wellbeing.

Pulmonary Rehab is amazing, I benefitted so much and my condition and functionality really improved. I really rate it. It is a bit like Bootcamp for us with lung disease!

Take medication as prescribed

Flu jab every year and Pneumonia jab (1 off) as well.

Stopping smoking is vital....

Eating very healthily will give body and mind a great chance to behave in a good way

Thinking positively can make a difference to!

Some people who have COPD seem to deteriorate and some others don't, trouble is nobody knows why that is...but I try to be as healthy as I can!

Finally Me1953 Look after yourself. You are important too 💚

Hope your day is wonderful.

PollyP xxx

[Offcut]

PR is a great way to find the best way to breath and control the medication usage etc. I learnt the huffing technique at PR and it has been a great help to me.

Unfortunately I have now been deemed exercise intolerant so PR will not deal with me now. But if you get a chance to go GO!

Be Well

[ArcherPaul]

I was diagnosed with COPD in about 2006 and so have lived with it for quite a few years. I went to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic initially in 2009, went through the course of 2 sessions every week for 6 weeks then went on the Maintenance Course which takes place every week.

The benefits of attending the PRC are huge. Gradually you build up strength in the right muscles to help you fight the disease. You also learn about the disease, its treatments and all about the use of inhalers etc. But I found the most important benefit was that we were all in it together! Everyone attending PRC suffered from breathing difficulties and everyone understood that there were good days and bad days and were extremely supportive. I made a number of very good friends at the clinic.

Unfortunately in December 2014 I became very unwell with a gastrological complaint and I lost a considerable amount of weight and strength. This condition meant that I continually got chest infections and spent a number of weeks in hospital over the months.

I am now getting over the Gastrological problem but unfortunately due to the exacerbations over the past few months my condition is now severe and I have just been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis. But I have started the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic again and hope that my strength will gradually return with the exercises.

Good luck. Go for it!

[Watfordgirl in reply to ArcherPaul]

Hope Rehab helps you again and you begin to feel better soon. Sue

[Watfordgirl]

Hello,and welcome. I'm sorry your husband's been so unwell. It must have been scary. If his breathing's got worse over the last few weeks has he seen his GP, just to be on the safe side?

An improvement after Pulmonary rehab? Yes. Absolutely. Good luck, Sue x

[Nanny1086]

Welcome ,I'm sorry to hear your hubby has been so poorly ,,,,ICU ,,,,,breathing problems yes I've been there ,,,pulmary rehab ,,,yes ,,,I've been there ,,,,and I wouldn't be here without it ,,,,,,so my message to your hubby would be ,,

,,,,GO TO PULMARY REHAB ,,,he won't regret it ,it's education and exercise course that's 8 weeks long ,run by nurse specialists and physios who know all about our breathing problems and more ( in my opinion ) than most of the GP's ,,,,the benefits from the course will last about 3 months ,,,,but if he follows it up by exersiseing at the gym or home then benefits are ongoing ,I first did the PR in 2008 and again after bad chest infections etc ,,,

Hope get gets the call to go soon he won't regret it ,best wishes ,

[Louisiana]

The Pulmonary rehab Clinic for six weeks is BRILLIANT and very very positive. Do get your husband to go and he will learn sooooooo much to his advantage. He will also feel a LOT better

[Mkettle]

Hi Me1953 I have been to rehab I would highly recommend it they help you greatly on exercise I felt so good after being there.i have bronchieactisis and Copd best of luck to you bother