Hey guys, since my dad had his measured last week it's been like a niggling pain in my head. Before last week I had no idea what his LF would be obviously knew it wasn't very good but last week really hit home.
I understand that the numbers aren't really important but I still worry, his is at 22% at the moment and it scares me to think how hard it is for him to breathe (something I take for granted).
What is worrying me more is how quickly the 22% will drop, what makes it drop, what's going to happen as it does. He hasn't smoked in about 18-20 years but his wellbeing is poor. He's 62 about 5"10 and weighs 54kg. His diet is poor and mobility is very limited to the toilet and back then struggle to breathe. I find it amazing that people can still work and do most 'normal' things whilst they're lung function is poor. My dad struggles in every single aspect of the day.
Love guys!
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Melissa87
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What your dad needs to do is up his exercise levels, which I know sounds crazy because he struggles to breathe. But the more he pushes the easier it will become. We have a member whose lung function was very similar to your dad's and she has just completed the Great North Run. Ask about him attending at a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) course and encourage him to do just a bit more than he thinks he can and you will be doing the best thing for him.
Great advice Toci. I will also add how long is a piece of string? No one can tell you how quickly his illness will progress as there are too many variables. I will say the lowest lung function you can survive with is 6% so he still has some way to go. But he needs to eat a healthy diet, exercise and take his meds religiously as this will give him a fighting chance and might even up his levels. I have heard of folk on here with similiar lung functions who have managed to increase it by 10% or more when they lead a healthier lifestyle. That is the most important thing.
He must also learn to take his lungs very seriously and if he thinks he has an infection must seek immediate medical help as these can further damage his lungs. His doctor should give him a rescue pack for use when he can't immediately get to a doctor ie at weekends, evenings and holidays. This will at least include antibiotics and probably steroids too. Can you get him on this site? He will learn a lot and it will benefit him no end. x
Thanks guys, when we met his consultant for the first time last week he did suggest PR but it's not within our immediate area so would require my sister who drives to take him and she's got a 6 month old baby so I would have to go to push him in the wheelchair and my little boy is in school 9-3 so appointments would have to be inbetween. Not that we mind, we'd do anything in the world if it meant him being with us longer.
He doesn't help himself I know that, not telling the respiratory nurse the truth about things, he is very negative in most things. He's not willing to try anything new claiming that it won't make him any better. He has a scan on 2/12 to see if the pneumonia has cleared and to make sure that there's nothing else there, and I know he's worried about that.
My dad has never been very active he's also got agoraphobia so didn't leave the house for years not even to go to the shop. We lost my mother 12 years ago to breast cancer she was only 42 and she did everything so there was no need for my father to do anything. Now it's a struggle to get him to eat more than one meal a day (that's not a big meal either) .
But keeping on hour after hour day after day doesn't seem to get me or him anywhere just works him up into a mess and he ends up panicking.
Maybe he knows a bit more about what the xray will show but hasn't said anything as such.
I don't know really he just seems to have given up.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Sorry to seem so depressed when there are others worst off.
@Milissa87 the most important thing to help him and you both is to surrender all your beliefs about the situation and live gratefully in the moment. If nothing else be grateful that you are alive in this moment. You will find a healing peace if you do this.
All the above advice is spot on. Why not try the kid glove approach ie slowly slowly you could maybe get your dad motivated without him realizing it. Just for info I have stage IV emphysema diagnosed 13 yrs ago. FEV1 19%. I am almost 72 yrs young. I do not use oxygen as my blood oxygen stays above 90%. I walk about 2 1/2 KM most days I stay active most of the day garden etc. Without exercise mobility decreases very quickly and it is very hard work get regain mobility. I do hope that you can get your dad motivated, try and get him to read some of our posts. Good luck. Cheers Dave from the LoS.
Breath easy Exercise often.
Try and convince your dad of my motto. I have COPD but COPD does not have me.
What a worry for you, Melissa. How does your Dad get food into the house to have his poor diet? Would he be able to afford healthier microwave meals (for instance, instead of delivered take-aways)? Is there any fruit he likes that could be left in a bowl in easy reach of where he likes to sit? As with exercise, changing to a healthier diet can be managed in little stages rather than an instant transformation.
Great advice from the other Melissa...if your dad has pnuemonia he will definitely be having breathing problems, and possibly his LF test was done when he actually had a chest infection. but either way Exercise is the answer for him...Walking is the best try to encourage him to have at least one 30 mins or so walk every day, increasing this as he gets stronger. If the weather is bad try to get him to do some exercise at home, perhaps going up and down the stairs, or even just walking around ( good to do this to music) put on some rock type music he likes and get him to walk around to at least 3 discs to start
There are loads of you tube video's on exercise for lung conditions , you can even exercise sitting down if you look at the videos they make great suggestions
Read the threads on here about lung clearance, he needs to learn lung clearance breathing techniques, to help him to get all the gunk up off his lungs, this will also help him to breathe easier.
I would also get him an oximeter ( they are very cheap on Amazon) this will test his oxygen levels for you, then if they fall very low, you can get the help you need as he may need oxygen
Me and my sister do his food shopping and spend £70 a week, fresh fruit, meat and fish included. He doesn't eat takeaways and hardly a microwave meal ( maybe a cauliflower cheese) we make his spaghetti bolinaise, curry, stew many different meals but it's becoming a challenge getting him to finish a meal and that's it for the day. He's one food supplements but they're not food replacements.
He's on 1 litre of oxygen thought the day and uses a bipap machine at night.
He's LF was done last week and no infection or pneumonia present (not that we know).
He also retaining carbon dioxide but the bipap helps also helping his sleep apnea.
We do have an oximeter so his o2 levels checked constantly.
I find it incredible that people can exercise for 30 mins but my dad can't even walk for 5.
I will pass on everyone's advice and check out the videos on YouTube for more information and advice.
"I find it incredible that people can exercise for 30 mins but my dad can't even walk for 5. " It is all down to practice, and my lung capacity is less than your dad's.
Mellisa87, I quite understand how you just can't imagine your Dad doing even 5 mins exercise at the moment. That was me several weeks ago. I had let my COPD control my life and had almost resigned to not being here much longer. Then I joined this site and stated to read bits and pieces and looked on utube for pulmonary rehabilitation exercises etc. I started off doing the sitting down ones and it was hard at first. I did panic and I did cry but today I can do so much more and my mind is in a far better place for the majority of the time. I'm not saying I can go for a30min walk, but I did get a fold away stick and with my oxygen on my back I can do a 15 min walk. Oh I huff and puff and look a sorry sight but I'm just glad things seem to be getting better. The thing is, if you don't USE it, you will LOOSE it. I'm 53 and live on my own. Someday's are harder than others.
Very good advice has been given regards exercise it can make a great difference to a lot of people with COPD. It is a matter of push yourself to the limit BUT know your limits!
Even by taking and holding deep breaths at the start can help the lungs expand and process more oxygen.
Sorry to hear about your father. I too haven't smoked since 1992 but I now have severe COPD and my last Lung Function FEV1 was only 14%. I am on 1 litre of oxygen but still manage to do most things like showering, dressing and a little cooking without help. I do have a Blue Badge which means at least I can get out, as like your father I find it difficult to walk more than a few steps. However, because of advice from this fantastic website, I do exercise; just a little weight lifting (2kg) walking around my house, slowly and even some yoga exercises. Has your father been referred for Pulmonary Rehab? I hear from members on this site that it can be beneficial. So try not to worry too much.
Hi Melissa, I'm sorry that you're still struggling to get your dad motivated to help himself. Everyone has given you such good advice I can't really add to it - although like you I think 30 minutes of exercise is far too much for him to contemplate at the moment. When I first got on my treadmill 7 years ago, I used to set it for 5 minutes, then walk (very slowly) for 2 minutes, stop for 1, then walk again for 2. It was as much as I could cope with at the time. Part of the problem of course was that my legs as well as my lungs were too weak to do the work.
Using our treadmill meant I didn't have to get dressed up and go out in the cold. Also you can lean on the handles, a bit like having a walking frame. And as I increased my times and speed, I could listen to story tapes or music, or just look out of the window. We were lucky in that we already had the treadmill and had room to set it up and have it easily accessible. I don't know whether this could be feasible for your dad?
He is so lucky to have you and your sister looking after him and cooking him lovely meals. Have you tried giving him very small portions? It seems that little and often would be good for him and perhaps easier to face.
With regard to the PR is there anyone else who could take your dad? In my town we have a Good Neighbours scheme for lifts to hospital appointments and so on. And a PR course would certainly come under their remit.
I know you realise that the big problem is getting him interested in improving himself. Like giving up smoking or going on a diet, working at getting fitter has got to be something he wants to do for himself. You are doing a brilliant job of encouraging him and we will keep coming back with more ideas if you want them. I'm sure many times you are thinking, but we've tried that!
I think everything that needs to be said about exercise, has been said; what hasn't been said is -- has your dad seen his GP about depression?? That all too often goes hand in glove with COPD but gets ignored in the struggle to breathe. That could be a starting point... and your dad really must exercise, even if it's only walking round his house! Start at a minute a day and build up. Get him a stop-watch. Speed isn't important; endurance is.
Know this post is from 5 days ago. What great advice you have gotten. I hope you showed it to your dad. Hope it will get him motivated. Please let us know....
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