Tests

[jeanielee]

I have been diagnosed copd with just a spirometry test when I asked doc for a scan he said I didn't need one and also hasn't mentioned pulmonary rehab only became aware of it on this site

[stilltruckin]

Same here, but I developed my own exercise regimen (with excellent results), and would rather not have an unnecessary scan . . .

scientificamerican.com/arti...

Quote:

'. . . a single CT scan subjects the human body to between 150 and 1,100 times the radiation of a conventional x-ray, or around a year's worth of exposure to radiation from both natural and artificial sources in the environment. . . .'

[jeanielee in reply to stilltruckin]

Wow thanks for that info not going to request a scan again

[juney_99_antique in reply to stilltruckin]

Am very interested in your exercise regime. What sort of things are you meaning. I do such as press ups against the wall and standing up and down from a chair; is that the sort of thing you mean? Takes me about 15 minutes to complete the exercises which doesn't seem much and maybe I should be doing a lot more. It is the "excellent results" which interests me as I feel absolutely no different! Help!!!!! Have been to pulmonary rehab and they taught me the various moves there!

[jeanielee in reply to juney_99_antique]

Hi Juney I've received your post asking about exercise but I think it was probably meant for stilltruckin who has devised her own regime.I do yoga twice a week and I used to swim but kept catching infections,I also think walking is one of the best exercises you can do. Good luck x

[juney_99_antique in reply to jeanielee]

Hello Jeanielee, thanks for replying anyhow. Stilltruckin's regime makes me feel like I am doing absolutely nothing! Very tough but probably also very healthy! Think your idea of walking is probably just up my street. Thanks again.

[jeanielee in reply to juney_99_antique]

Hi juney just back from docs she has referred me for pulmanery rehab they will teach you exercises and breathing technique all the folks on this site recommend it.

[juney_99_antique in reply to jeanielee]

Cheers, you will enjoy! Have already done this and will restart exercises they taught me. Let me know how you get on!

[jeanielee in reply to juney_99_antique]

Will do watch this space.

[stilltruckin in reply to juney_99_antique]

Regular and progressive exercise to the point of moderate breathlessness conditions the body to use oxygen more efficiently, and renders the sensation of breathlessness no more distressing than any other transient physical discomfort. If it's not making you breathless you're not doing enough.

I clock-up a certain distance every day on a cross-trainer, using it at intervals throughout the day until I've achieved that distance. My target distance is gradually increasing as my fitness increases.

My FEV1 is 25%. About eight months ago, having read about the importance of exercise, I started doing 300 metres a day in stretches of 100 metres or less. Each stretch left me feeling like I was going to die! But it got easier, and every week I added another hundred metres to my target distance. Once I'd reached 1600 metres (a mile) I thought I'd leave it at that, but as it began to take less and less time to clock up I've gradually increased it to, currently, 2100 metres.

I do that distance in 150 metre stretches which leave me breathing pretty hard for a minute, but I've tested myself to 200 metres at a time, which leaves me as desperately breathless as 100 metres did when I first started (but confident that I'm not about to die).

[helingmic in reply to stilltruckin]

I went to PR with stable progress, i;e; I was ill when I did it and soon after I went to hospital!!! BUT, after hospital, I enrolled at the gym. I have been for a number of years and feel the benefit.

Lately, I discovered the equivalent to Chinese yoga,called QiGong. Like yoga, Qigong have you breathing during the exercises. In the morning, I do one of their exercises called 8 pieces of brocade (brocade is silk, flexible and warm; tht means if you do these your body will become flexible and warm with energy) I certainly feel better with them

Here's the Wikipedia explanation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badua...

Here's the exercise video from YouTube:

youtube.com/watch?v=KJeyZ43...(Not working as expected?)

On this video have also a look at their link for further exercises. Hope you feel improved soon!

[jeanielee in reply to helingmic]

Thanks helingmic all sounds very interesting particularly the QiGong will look it up.

[initial]

You may need to request to be referred for PR, jeanielee, so call the surgery and ask. Take care x

[jeanielee in reply to initial]

Going to docs on saturday will mention it thanks x

[Hidden]

Hi jeanielee, We also have a specialist respiratory team in our area but you need to be referred by your Doctor. I eventually found out there was one in this area and the practise nurse referred my husband.

My husband has had COPD for years about ten and is now severe. He has never had a CT scan - only one x ray when he was admitted to hospital for a drug reaction. Because this is a chronic illness there seems to be an attitude of letting the patient get on with it as long as they coping!

I would suggest you ring the BLF helpline (Click on the red balloon) and they will be able to send you some really useful information. Also the nurses might be able to advise on what you should be asking your doctor etc.

PLEASE do not google - it will scare you to death!! There is no need. My husband still works full time and we have a great quality of life just a lot slower than others! Take good care. Lots of love TAD xx

[jeanielee in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Tad lots of useful info will contact BLF good to hear a positive story take care x

[Louisiana]

Definitely ask about the PR as it is so so helpful! Good luck

[jeanielee in reply to Louisiana]

Will defo try for PR thank you everyone you really are a great bunch xxxxx

[Offcut]

Try and get pr

[jeanielee in reply to Offcut]

Will do thank you x

[dall05]

Hi jeanielee, in the last four years since falling ill I've had at least 30 chest x rays, 3 ct scans 1 bone scan and 2 Mri scans and touch wood I don't glow in the dark just yet. I was told by the x ray technician that 1 abdomen x ray has 10 times the radiation of a chest x ray. I think she was just trying to make me feel better when I told her how many x rays I had, she looked on the computer as if to prove me wrong and there was a very long list of my x ray history.

I guess it all had to be done and I'm still here because of it, anyway what I'm trying to say is don't worry to much if you have to have the odd scan or x ray its not as bad as made out to be. Hopefully!!

I guess its best to avoid unnecessary x ray's, scans etc. PR is amazing and the best thing you'll do for the education and exercise, it kind of sets you up physically and mentally for the road ahead.

Tony x

[jeanielee in reply to dall05]

Your optimism makes me smile Thank You x

[juney_99_antique]

Thanks for this. You are ;making me feel like death just reading about it but do appreciate.