oh ruthie!
i hate lugging ANY size tank any more so i understand you not wanting to BUT GIRL!!! i'm glad they didn't find you laying in that elevator passed out!!!
i'm experiencing the high pulse thing lately also...what did your pulm say about that?
is it because your heart is "working harder" because your lungs aren't?
(i too am supposed to be monitoring mine for the next month --- i feel like a "test subject" sometimes)
i'm REALLY curious about the 02/fast pulse combo so keep us updated on what affects it!

Ruthie, Welcome to the group, I don't believe we've met, I'm Bill. I agree totally that exercise is extremely helpful, and that you should do so to the degree you doctor suggests, and that which your body tolerates. I do exercise to the extent my body is okay with it, and take my time doing. this just a long way to say follow the advise of your doctor. Take care, -- Bill

Especially for jarca - here's what he said. The WORK of breathing causes the high hard rate because your heart is straining to move what little o2 you have to the most important organs and it has to labor harder to accomplish that task. Mild exercise can help to get this heart rate down some so that was his reason for telling me to try to get at least 1/2 hr of continuous exercise every day. Don't know how you can make that happen every day. I live in the country - no sidewalks or easy walking areas but I've managed since Tuesday by using the local Walmart - LOL LOL I have also noticed that moving up to the 6 lpm has made my breathing a little easier and made it easier to walk - BUT is that really progress? So yes to answer your question the high heart rate is very much a concern because if people like us wear out our hearts we'lll be in deep trouble. Keep that monitor close and when doing thing active watch your o2 and your heart rate - Ruthie

Ruthie -
That high heart rate leadd to pulmonary hypertension - the right side of your heart is driving like the dickens to try and pump more O2 because your lungs aren't delivering enough at ambient. So to offset that the doc says we use supplemental O2.
We walk or use a treadmill to keep up our cardio vascular system - such as it is. The more we exercise, the better we function at everything else. Here's a DVD you can get for free that shows exercises for seniors: http://go4life.nia.nih.gov/exercise-guide-video

Hugs,
Dennis

Many malls open at 8 a.m. for walkers. Mall walking is great: flat surface, temperature control, not crowded. The same people show up every day and you get to know them.

When I don't go to the mall to walk, I ride a stationary recumbent bicycle.

Susan

Susan is spot on -one of the other things I do is go to wally world and Albertsons early, grab a cart (great for carrying the O2 and something to lean on) and walk up and down the aisles. Usually the only people there are others like me and the stocker...

Hugs,
Dennis

For Ruthie and others,
Exercise i definately necessary for us copd folks. I am also glad someone did not find you passed out in the elevator! I was told 30-40 minutes of exercise per day, and if you are having a weak day, the exercise can be divided up, like 20 min in the am and 20 min after lunch.
I have really fallen behind on my exercises since I left rehab, and have been trying the past couple of months to get built back up. I am also trying to work something out here in Gatesville with the physical therapy ladies, to use their equipment and they monitor my progress. They are ok with it, and would save me a 2 hour round trip to Temple 3 x a week. But the doc has to approve...
Meanwhile I am doing a little each day. So please do what exercise you can, because we will go down fast if we ever stop.. I found out during the transplant testing that I already have a bit of pulmonary hypertension, which probably happened before I wised up, and got help for my sob,years ago.....

Me and my friend did a 5K and there was a gentleman on an O2 machine who walked the whole thing. Slowly but surely he finished. We stayed by the finish line to cheer him on. '

I also like to recommend chair yoga. My dad did this for awhile and liked it, they have it specifically for COPD patients.

I agree with all the above comments. I've been told it is good to exercise and I try to walk for 30 or 40 minutes a day and it makes me feel good. I've been recomended to do isometric exercises with "stomach breathing" I don't know how you call it in english. These exercises can be done laying down and don't need much physical implication. hugs