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[Mailiso]

I am 64 and my husband is 71. We have been together since '84. He has had COPD for a long time, I think, but has gotten medical care for it in the last few years and is now on oxygen about 24/7. I am so scared. I am watching him waste away and try to do everything I can to help, but am getting exhausted. I cry a lot. He seems more and more remote and I wish we could talk openly about how he feels and how I feel. Sometimes I can barely stand it. He sits there with his mouth open and he used to be such a smart man, but I see a change in his personality.

[Alpenat]

Hello, I was diagnosed with COPD & asthma in 1998 & have been on O2 24/7 since November of 2009. I am 76. Question: Is your husband's O2 being delivered through a nose cannula or a face mask that covers his nose and mouth? If he has a nose cannula as I do, then he may not be getting enough oxygen. He needs to train himself to keep his mouth shut. Or else wear a full face mask.

[Mailiso in reply to Alpenat]

Hi Alpenat - He always uses a nose cannula. That is a great point about not getting enough oxygen with his mouth open. I do mention to him that his mouth is open, but then 10 minutes later it's open again. Maybe I should suggest the face mask. Thanks for your response. Are you able to do much walking?

[valeriejean in reply to Mailiso]

Just check his oxygen saturation which should be at or above 90% with a pulse oximeter

[H2o1511]

Hi, I was wondering is he getting any exercise? Or has he been through a rehab program?

[Mailiso in reply to H2o1511]

he doesn't do any exercise. He did a rehab program after being in the ICU for three months with complications from treatment from cancer that shut his kidneys down, but that was 6 years ago and then he did more rehab two years ago after a hospital stay with pneumonia. He is not motivated to do any exercises on his own. Now, he's being mean to me and screaming at me.

[LORBIC]

don't be afraid to talk to his doctor about what you are seeing and how you are feeling, it's helps the doctor to understand when you speak up. Is he seeing a pulmonary doctor? make sure he is drinking lots of water.