Any suggestions for breathing easierwhen wearing a covid 19 mask?

[Spiculated]

Does anyone have any helpful ideas to help with breathing through a mask? I have been suffocating during the few times I have had to go out.

Thanks

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Spoke to a cousin who is on oxygen for COPD and wears a mask outside. She said to make sure the mask is not pressing on the nostrils and that the bridge of the nose is not pinched.

You might ask your oncologist if a portable tank could be prescribed for your trips outside. You might need to do a 6 minute walk with the mask on.

[Spiculated in reply to Denzie]

Thanks for the info Denzie

[JanetteR57 in reply to Spiculated]

Is it compulsory to wear one when you go out? Policies differ across countries and states and situations. I went to the hospital on Friday for an outpatient appointment and wore it to go upstairs to the consultant but by the time I got there I could hardly breathe and was very hot so felt if my temperature had been taken I'd have been shown the door! Mine was an industrial type one that fitted close around the mouth/nose but also has a fine mesh vent but still I struggled to breathe. The cloth ones offer little protection but may be easier to breathe through. My suggestion would be that where it is not mandated, not to wear one - the Uk rule is only in places where social distancing is difficult e.g. public transport and if you feel the need in supermarkets. However I used public transport last week (metro) and there were only a handful of passengers so I didn't wear it and supermarkets, people are generally staying out of the way and staff are wearing masks to protect them and have a perspex screen protecting them at the tills.

[Feelingblessed2013]

If it is not mandated, I wouldn't wear one. Most cloth or paper type masks are only meant to protect others from your germs if you are sick. I live in New York State (no where near NY City), and Governor Cuomo has signed an executive order that anytime you are in a situation where social distancing is difficult, you must wear a mask or some kind of a face covering. But anyone under the age of 2, or who has difficulty tolerating a mask due to medical issues is exempt. I have emphysema (COPD) and have lost both upper lung lobes to lung cancer, I find it very difficult to breathe with a mask on, so I usually do not wear one. I am doing the same thing I do every flu season, I wash my hands often, especially when I have been out and about. If I can't wash, I use hand sanitizer. I have bottles thru out my home, carry one in my purse, and have one in my car. I also refrain from touching my face unless I have just washed my hands. If I really need to scratch my nose, I use a tissue. I actually have been doing this ever since my first fight with lung cancer, so I pretty much do this all year. Those of us with copd tend to retain CO2 as it is, when you are wearing a mask, you are inhaling the CO2 you just exhaled. If you feel safer wearing a mask, then maybe do what I was doing when I found myself in a situation where people were getting too close and invading my personal bubble LOL, (like in a grocery store), keep it on but only over your mouth, if you walk by someone, pull it up over your nose, as soon as you are past them, back down it goes. When you are outside, you should only wear a face mask if you are in a crowd.

[Spiculated in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Thanks for your help ladies,

We are being urged to wear masks when social distancing is difficult like the grocery store. Even knowing they say, they don't protect you, I still feel it's an added layer of protection.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Spiculated]

Smart!

[JanetteR57]

Reading the UK guidelines, there is an exemption for those with respiratory conditions so I'll carry one with me but not wear it unless I'm put in a 'risky' situation. The struggle I had after wearing one last Friday in the hospital (an industrial one with a vent) caused problems for quite a while afterwards. Clearly if I had any symptoms I wouldn't be going out at all....I think there may be an increase in those with respiratory conditions needing more urgent help if they're forced to wear masks and it could set them back with their existing condition. In our supermarkets some of the staff stacking shelves are wearing them and others not but we have to socially distance from everyone in the supermarket whether they are staff or customers. I suspect the staff are having to wear them in the warehouse if social distancing between them and their colleagues is difficult. It's very tiring to wear them (depending on the type) as you're breathing in stale air. I still see people on the tv wearing them below the nose - absolutely pointless and a waste of the resource.

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to JanetteR57]

Here in NY State King a mask is mandatory where social distancing is not possible, but I do the same as you, I carry one, but I don't wear it unless absolutely necessary (I prefer breathing fresh air).

I think some wear a mask under the nose so they can breathe better, and they figure as long as their mouth is covered they are not releasing germs into the air through speaking. Some "experts" tell us that covering our nose and mouth will keep us from inhaling other peoples germs, but more and more doctors are saying that cloth masks are useless, you would need to wear an N95 mask, and that wearing a mask all the time is only causing more health issues.

[Feelingblessed2013]

If you feel better wearing a mask, then my all means wear one. But please wear it only when you can't be at least 6 feet from strangers. Don't wear it in your car, or when walking around outside alone and away from others (except people you live in the same house with). It is not healthy to be constantly inhaling what you have just exhaled. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. It is not good for your lungs to breathe the carbon dioxide back in, the more carbon dioxide in your lungs, and your blood, the less oxygen in your lungs and blood. Less oxygen in your blood, means less oxygen for and all the organs that need it to function properly.