I have COPD. & Asthma

[Baily]

Being a Senior citizen I am exhausted fighting this illness. I have plenty oxygen but any exurchion at all leaves me breathless & exhausted. I am close to being " house bound".. While in an Ambulance the Paramedics give me Oxygen and immediately I feel like a different person. I live alone and feel it is cruel leaving Me in such a bad place. Any suggestions?? Thanks...... 🙏😊

[Carnival567]

I’m sorry this has happened to you and you should be able to get some help. First, do you have a consultant, tell them how much better you felt on oxygen and ask whether you should be assessed? You could ask to be referred to your local respiratory nurse who would do the assessment. Pulmonary rehabilitation could also help you, a course of appropriate exercise and education, and the respiratory nurse would arrange this. As you live alone you could also about social care. Are you still in hospital, because they should talk to you about your domestic situation? If not then your GP should be able to point you in the right direction. I wish you all the best, and hope you feel better soon xx

Rereading your post you say you have plenty of oxygen, but then you say you felt better on oxygen in the ambulance. So do you mean that your oxygen levels seem ok normally? The final thing I will say is that you shouldn’t give up but you do have to fight for what you need!

[Lol1944 in reply to Carnival567]

Agreed 1000 per cent

[Bkin]

Depending which country you reside?

In UK, phone the BLF helpline for further information and support.

Ask your GP, respiratory nurse or consultant for a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation course.

Keep the exercise going as much as you can every day. even if you are just walking up and down inside the home.

Drink plenty of water, eat healthily, avoid people infected with cold or flu virus, do not delay treating any infection.

If your oxygen levels show ok with the finger oximeter, you won't be sent for an arterial blood gas test.

Discuss with your doctor how you are feeling, how things are becoming difficult for you and ask what help is available.

In UK there is the adult care services (local council) you can be assessed in your own home for any additional aids you may need.

blf.org.uk/support-for-you

[katieoxo60]

Hello Baily, sorry to hear you are one of those who is suffering in silence. I am in the same boat COPD/ASthma feel very tired on exercise now I have the problem of an arthritic knee which requires more effort which highlights the breathing problems more and exhaustion, so understand what you are putting over. The care system is a shambles for sick, disabled & elderly. I am almost housebound myself and am told when they do my Knee Op I will have to arrange my own help and transport. I too live alone , in an ideal world you should be able to get help but in the real world there is none even if you can pay sometimes. I wish you every good luck in changing your situation to one more suitable for you. Do keep asking frequently for help. There are many others worse off but thats not the point, help should be based on need and no one should have to manage alone and be forced to become housebound. I'm a senior citizen too.

[Bkin in reply to katieoxo60]

Adult Care through your local Council Katie have you contacted them? There are criteria of course, amount of saving etc determine if you are subsidised much like any other benefit. They can certainly help with aids about the home after an Assessment. Hope your knee op goes ok. Its the recovery time that is a problem, you should get OT service regarding exercise re the knee, but if nothing is offered you can get this through your GP. Once you know the date of your op maybe you can contact the patient transport programme.

[katieoxo60]

Yes it would be nice if I could get patient transport but its another area of varied criteria . I have spoken to adult social care who will step in if necessary at a later date and a financial assessment will be done. My income is not much above pension credit level anyway. what ever has to be done will have to be at what ever cost. I've been told they have to give 6 weeks rehabilitation assistance free.