exercise & education

[aintgotaclue]

when was the last time you asked about going to pulmonary rehab ?

( exercise & education for chronic breathlessness)

Keep asking until you get it ......

[Katinka46]

Who is your question addressed to?

[O2Trees in reply to Katinka46]

Presumably addressed to people who haven't done PR yet, from someone who has benefited and wants others to do so as well?

[Katinka46 in reply to O2Trees]

Sorry if I sounded a bit terse and crabby. I don't think that is my usual style on here, (I probably replied too late at night when my symptoms are at their worst). I know that for the vast, vast majority of people on this forum exercise is recommended and of great benefit. I have even suggested it for newbies who have asked for advice (and kept quiet to them about my experience). After my lung damage which was sudden and severe in January 2010 it never occurred to me that I wouldn't get myself better by walking. And I went at it day after day, week after week, month after month. And it just got slowly worse. More frequent stops to recover and longer recovery times, and the more I did the worse it got. I did Pulmonary Rehab earlier this year and realised that I had been doing my own version of it all the way through. I had to stop PR after five weeks because my symptoms deteriorated significantly and constantly and — I feared — permanently. The physios who ran the course were entirely supportive and said that they would not be happy for me to continue, particularly I think because of the worsening chest pain. There is nothing I want to do more than put on my boots for a day's walk or get on my bicycle. I am genuinely delighted that so many here have found that PR has helped them to stabilise or even improve their condition. But sometimes the instruction to exercise can come over as a bit hectoring. Obviously it is never intended as such.

All the best

K

[O2Trees in reply to Katinka46]

No worries Katinka - I understand how hard your situation must be and hard to hear everyone celebrating their improvement with PR when you can't do it. When i talk about the importance of exercise I sometimes remember to mention that it's hard for people who have pain, so I'll add "and other conditions" to that in future.

I really feel for you and your yearning to be able to go out for a days walk. Im sorry that you can't.

[Katinka46 in reply to O2Trees]

Thank you for your sensitive and thoughtful reply. My Best Beloved is in the same situation after his accident 25 years ago. We are so very fortunate that we live in a lovely part of the country. Right now I am looking out at the hills, I love the autumn/winter colours, a rich tapestry of russets, crimson, browns, purples, and muted greens. We are lucky in so many ways. I believe that my exercise intolerance and chest pain are down to Pulmonary Hypertension. Patients with PH are not supposed to exercise intensively.

Thanks again

Kate x

[O2Trees in reply to Katinka46]

You're welcome Kate. Ive heard that about PH too, what a bummer but glad you've got the beauty of the countryside around you.

Take care, jean

[Nottobad in reply to O2Trees]

Hi I also have psoriatic arthritis and OA . As well as COPD. At my last PR course a few months ago they adapted the exercises for me so I could do them I was still in pain but exersice is also good fo people with arthritis. Even just walking is good for you.

[O2Trees in reply to Nottobad]

I imagine that for some with arthritic pain it must be harder to motivate yourself Nottobad. So good for you.

Im having to adapt the PR exercises I do at the maintenance session (sounds like a motorbike!) I go to as Ive strained deltoid and biceps muscles - only way to heal it is to stop the resistance training so my osteopath says. So more aerobic exercise for me which i find very hard.

[Nottobad in reply to O2Trees]

I am waiting for a place on the maintenance course. But I do try and go out every day for a small walk take care.

[Hidden]

System is changing.....You must be referred by your GP or consultant, you cannot just ask to go on a course any more...........Maybe if your course is still run by NHS, but the noew "outsourced" courses are much stricter......For "outsourced read privatised and profit making, concerned with shareholders not patients except as a means to an end.....

[knitter]

I have asked a few times and got nowhere, but I have actually been referred to a consultant, so I will be asking again.

[ChaOliver]

Have been asking. Will continue to do so. Today I receive my oxygen. Small tank for mobility and two large tanks for in the house. These should enable me to go back to exercising and make my life so much better. At least my sense of security is improved. Next...rehab.