Navigating the Holidays with COPD: What was y... - COPD Friends

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Navigating the Holidays with COPD: What was your biggest challenge?

R2B_Joe profile imageR2B_JoePartner28 Voters

Please select all that apply:

21 Replies
betmaxbaby profile image
betmaxbaby

when u cant breath everything is bad!

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to betmaxbaby

That is absolutely true! I hope you were able to find moments of joy despite the difficulties.

Louiss profile image
Louiss

Unable to travel alone, breathing limitations. All feels like too much hassle.

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to Louiss

It must be incredibly frustrating. I hope you did get to enjoy some time despite the challenges...

Geminii profile image
Geminii

Lack of breath makes everything more difficult, even getting dressed up and doing hair. I also have to watch what and how I eat. Travelling means relying on others to help.

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to Geminii

It's hard when there's so much to do but only limited time and energy. I hope you did get to enjoy some moments with family and friends. Trying to eat smaller portions in order to not feel overstuffed (making breathing hard) is especially difficult this time of year...

Collie4 profile image
Collie4

All the different smells affect me. Peoples perfumes and toilettries. Also lighted candles especially fragrant ones, and log fires. (Fortunately i only visited family who are quite respectful of my limitations so it wasn’t too bad.)

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to Collie4

Great point! I should have included strong aromas/smells/fireplaces in the poll. DEFINITELY a big problem for so many. Thanks for sharing!

Toughest challenge, cough turned to inflamed lungs, I had limited Airways for 3 Christmas days. Local hospital on lock down with norovirus and flu so didn't feel safe to go onto hospital and had to rely on neighbours to help me through at home. Couldn't move at all... No mobility.

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to

I hope you're feeling better now! If not, did you call your doctor?

in reply to R2B_Joe

GP home visit as I couldn't get air in, who said I should go to hospital. Got worse 2nd day spoke to ooh GP again... Go to hospital. I didn't think I'd survive catching norovirus on top of the inflamed Airways so I wouldn't go in. I couldn't suck to enable me to take Symbicort, so I requested the propelled symbicort which the GP prescribed. But no Pharmacies stocked it so had to wait 5 days for it to come in. Hospitals couldn't supply steroid nebulisers. So I just had to ride it out at home until the oral steroids began working and started to take the inflammation down... 3 days. 9 days later.... today, is the first day I can stand up. Still on abx and tapering steroid dose.

in reply to

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R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to

Glad you're improving! Are you here in the US or are you in another country?

in reply to R2B_Joe

Thanks... In the UK

jmsutt73 profile image
jmsutt73

Learning to budget enough time early in the season to get things finished in time for the dinners to begin. Hoping to do better fo next holiday prep.

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to jmsutt73

I have a tough time budgeting time, too! Small changes over time make a big difference :)

Eian59 profile image
Eian59

Breathing and pain is my problem I need help with almost everything so I just stay home a prisoner it gets to me some time.

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to Eian59

My hope is that there will be some strategies shared here during 2020 so that you will find a way to be able to make even a small improvement and enjoy a little time out and about. The only thing I can promise is that our team here will do everything we can to provide some useful tools and support.

In the UK... Thanks

R2B_Joe profile image
R2B_JoePartner in reply to

Thanks- was just asking to see if I could find any additional resources for you. Please be sure to follow up with your doc!

in reply to R2B_Joe

Thankyou, will do in the New Year to see if I can be prescribed steroid nebuliser capsules in event of future recurrence to avoid inhalation problems. When you can't even sniff you can't inhale steroids from capsules to give relief.