Glad to see you come from the shadows of lurkers to contributors. This is a good place. As you can see, we care for everyone!

Welcome, Jim

i live at high altitude also. i have thought of selling & moving, but have no idea where i would go---
mind if i get nosey?=
1. does the lower altitude help your husbands 02 readings?
2. does the lower altitude make a difference in the winter; or is breathing still bad with cold yucky weather?

that last question i had a hard time wording the cold winters i have a harder time breathing; but not sure how much is altitude & how much is the weather making my breathing worse.

Welcome. I didn't lurk at all. Knew I wanted to be a member after the 1st visit. I have learned several things here that have helped me a lot with my moderate COPD. I know you will find encouragement and strength here too.

Hi there! I am new here also. I have sever Bublus Emphysema and was told by my" then" lung Dr that I had a year to four years to live. That was eight years ago. I switched lung Dr.s but the nightmare continued. I was given inhalers and bp meds that made me worse. {Read side effects when given Meds!] Finally I got some real help, and am now feeling much much better! My new Dr. took me off everything and just gave me a script for azithromycin that I take 3 times a week and I also have a rescue inhaler if needed. The antibiotic helps keep inflamation down. My other Drs refused to give me this treatment although it is used and has been proven to help and cure in some asthma. I have not been sick in over a year now and also started working out at the gym an hour a day! It was hard the first few days but now my muscles are coming back and my lungs and heart are functioning much better. I can bench press 100 pounds with my legs and lift 50! I am a firm believer that through Jesus Christ all things are possible. Don't listen to the Nay, Sayers. Do your research google symptoms stop meds
and change Dr's if need be. God bless you and your husband.

Jarca, in reply to your elevation questions. We moved from over 5000ft above sea level to just under 2500 in April of 2013, and my husband's breathing almost immediately improved. His O2 at rest readings went from 90/92 to 96+ on the same levels of supplementation, which at that time was about 2 liters on a concentrator. Not only is it lower here, but much less windy, dry, and dusty, so I'm sure that helps a lot, too. The air feels "softer", if that makes any sense. Winter cold here is still tough, hard to go out. We went from living in the middle of town on a high traffic street to a very quiet and peaceful place sort of in the woods, with very little pollution . A lot of factors added together really did make a difference for us.

I live at an elevation of 5,200 feet. The temperature range today was from 51 degrees to 75 degrees this afternoon... not bad for January. I feel some shortness of breath when I go over 6,000 feet.

It is much easier to breathe at 5,200 feet than sea level. A moderate temperature has much more to do with comfortable breathing than elevation.

thank you for the personal information on my questions.
That is fantastic the difference elevation can make!

breathebetter; are you on supplemental 02?

i wish i could get both, low elevation & moderate temps= ah, to dream; but there is also the need/want to be where my family and friends are.
i am determined to live alone as long as i am able so it it nice to know loved my ones are near by (& i don't think they'd move to mexico ;) )

UV light from the sun is 30% stronger in the mountains, which is a good free source of vitamin D provided you take half hour sunbaths several times a week. I am not on supplemental O2 nor do I use inhalers. I am getting therapeutic doses of vitamin D without sunscreen. I also have skin cancer, arthritis pain and sciatica.

Smoking decreases calcium and Vitamin D, which is used up in replacing the calcium. This is especially deleterious for people with COPD and Asthma. Smoking injures the body, and vitamin D is used up in repairing the body.

Welcome to the group. I am glad to hear that your move helped your husband's COPD.

Welcome to this wonderful group. It has helped me so much with important knowledge and loving support.

I live at sea level and glad I do and the temperatures are moderate which makes me feel better too.

I am 76 now but still at moderate stage - haven't smoked for years and trust that helps along with all of the meds and trying to make sure my diet is healthy and that I get some kind of regular exercise.

Hugs, Cindy

welcome! I'm fairly new as well...look forward to getting to know you!


(((HUGS)))
Michelle