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How to get my mom to breathe better

nikochike profile image
4 Replies

Hi all. I am hoping to get my mother out of the depressing hospital into a rehab center my sister and I really like. The problem is that she has been alternatively on Opti Flow and bypass breathing machines, which the facility can not accommodate. I was told today by the facility, that if she can be weaned off of the machines onto one that requires less staff manipulation and is not as high-flow, she will be considered for that facility. For the last 2-3 days, she has been going back and forth between the Opti Flow and the more powerful oxygen bypass machine. The nurses only report that she is stable, rather than improving.

Is there something they should be doing to help her improve her lung strength? She has breast cancer that has metastacized to her lungs. I want to make sure the hospital is doing all that they can to help her breathing improve, but I am not sure what that is. Please help. Ty!

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nikochike
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nikochike profile image
nikochike

My mom's big issue is her respiration rate--the rate at which she breathes in and out. I called the nurse and asked how mother can lower the rate. Her rate is usually in the mid 30s (for healthy folks, teens and 20s is normal). Her saturation, by the way, is between the 90s and100. The nurse told me it is us up to the patient to lower it. My mother has to learn to relax and slow her breathing down herself, the nurse said. Is this true?

BklynCatwoman profile image
BklynCatwoman

I'm so sorry to hear all that your mother is going through. You and your sister are great daughters. I love yoga and it helped me through my Stage 1 breast cancer journey. I realize your mother is in a totally different place but maybe some yoga breathing exercises would help. Alternate nostril breathing, deep breathing. Of course, I'm not a doctor so you should check with your medical professional first to make sure your mom can tolerate it. I found this video on YouTube but there are lots of others. In this one, the guys are cute and have cute accents: youtube.com/watch?v=VS-9fXm.... (This might help slow her breathing down.) Then there is Alternate Nostril Breathing which helps the body get rid of toxins: youtube.com/watch?v=8VwufJr.... There's also Breath of Fire: youtube.com/watch?v=jbtLH-3.... I hope it helps.

nikochike profile image
nikochike in reply toBklynCatwoman

Thanks so much Brooklyn Catwoman!

BklynCatwoman profile image
BklynCatwoman

You're very welcome! I hope it helps. It helps me with anxiety and insomnia.

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