COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
I have seen some comments from people who keep track of their daily vitals and energy, etc. I am thinking it would be good for me to do that. I think the antitrypsin injections are beginning to help me feel and breathe better. If I track it I would probably know more. So, I just can't come up with an easy way to track it. Does anyone have suggestions of charts they've made or seen that look easy to chart and easy to read. I am a terrible charter. So super easy would be even better. I'm thinking perceived energy level, pulse oximeter reading, maybe workouts done? Floundering.
DeeDee
DeeDee
I use an excel spreadsheet fpr my exercise stats and vitals.Things like minutes walked, treadmill speed and %of grade, weight traning repetitions, SPO2 and pulse, etc. I've used it in the past to show when I have the start of a lung infection
If you don't have excel or the old ms works, you can always get a copy of OpenOffice http://sourceforge.net/projects/openofficeorg.mirror/files/stable/3.4.1/Apache_OpenOffice_incubating_3.4.1_Win_x86_install_en-US.exe/download
They have a program called Calc (part of the suite) which allows you to create and edit spreadsheets.
Tis wonderful that the A1AT infusions are helping. Usually if I feel better - there is a reason for it...
Hugs,
Dennis
Well, I am not all that computer savey to do spreadsheets and such, which is a neater way, i suppose. i just have a notebook next to my bed and when I wake up, I do my vitals (BP, O2, Temp) and after I date the entry, I write it down. For instance like 10/12/12. BP 130/50, o2 98 Pulse rate 80, Temp. 97.8. Whatever. Make sure you take the temp before you eat or drink.
Then I take and note my meds, what time and what I took, my inhalers the same, ect. If there is something I feel should be added, I put that down,, like, "this morning I have a headache" , for instance.
Like Denny, my method also can show a pattern of when I got my lung infections, so I can be on the look out.
My exercise I have in a seperate notebook. I date it, take my o2 & Pr, and write what I am going to do, like ride the stationary bike, then I set my timer for longer than I know I can do it, do the exercise, put down the o2 and pulse rate, and time it took. Then I go to the next exercise and do all the same each day. Good way to point out to my self when I am slacking and when I am working at it. Each day you can write anything of significance, on the vital/med chart or exercise chart. Like once I was not feeling well, and I dated it and wrote that down. A month from now that may be important. Good luck with what ever you choose to do. It will get easier the more you do it.
BJ
I track my o2 levels, pulse, weight and meds like Mucinex and Advair............but not my other regular daily meds..........but I could, If I wanted to.........but since I am kinda new to all this breathing stuff, I have only been tracking the "lung issue" things:)
maybe if i do it daily i will start seeing a pattern & be more prepared to know when things changing; as if you guys hadn't told me the signs of exacerbation i would have put off going to dr until i was in full blown pnuemonia.
i like bj's notebook idea, simple & portable :)
anytime is a good starting time . I can not believe I went so long not doing this, and it took my daughter to suggest it.
Because about 2009 I was on a lot more meds than I am now, and kept forgetting or thinking I forgot one, and would get all worried, and my daughter bought me a spiral, and said, mom, when you take a pill, write it down then, and the time.
DUHH>>> It worked!! If my air head brain thought "did I take that certain pill"? I would look at my notebook, if it was there, I took it, if it was not there, and I was unsure, I skipped it, but made a note of it.
Thankfully a lot of those meds was what was making me so foggy brained, and I am no longer on them, and documenting my vitals and how I am feeling, etc, is now a habit and I can remember better, If I am concerned about a few days of things, I take my noteboook to the doctor with me.
That is how I found out prednisone raised my bloodpressure. No one ever told me that, (It does say that on the insert, I did not read it I guess)and the more I learn about this disease the more I can track when I was getting sick and what my vitals were and what was happening.
If you do it on computer, or spiral, tailor it to fit your personal needs . I document my meds now incase they give me something new, I can see if there is a reaction with my regular meds for instance. Or the dreaded prednisone, I make sure i document that.
Anyway, play with it for a while until you work out a system that fits your needs. Your doctor and others will be very impressed with your pro active involvement, and you will feel more in control.
Blessings
BJ
I do this for everything you should see my refrigerator and calenders. I have a calender on my refrigerator and when every I take my morphine I mark so I don't over do.
God bless