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 was diagnosed with severe copd, two pulmonary nodules and (exercise induced?) asthma in November 2013. My mother died from a fall complicated by stage 4 copd in December 2012 and my dad died in June 2013 with a diagnosis of copd/congestive heart failure. Needless to say, their deaths have been adding to my concerns for my own health. I have FEV1 @ 49, so I am starting pulmonary rehab on Monday, St Patrick's Day- I am 54 years old, quit smoking in 2008 after 28 years... I am introducing myself, I guess, and hoping to get some information about rehab and how helpful it may be/has been for others here. I am concerned that I qualify, but also grateful that it is available to me at a relatively young age, compared to my parents. Looking for any guidance from the group... thanks in advance.
Sorry about your parents.
Let us know how rehab goes for you!
Hugs.
i don't have pulmonary rehab in my area, but have learned from others here some of the concepts, like pursed lip breathing & basically the importance of staying active & as physically fit as i can with my condition.
feel free to share any of the things you might learn for those of us that cannot get this great resource.
once again, welcome!
There have been many positive responses re: rehab within this group. Stay with it as it sounds as if it is of great help.
Best to you.
Joany - Yes, a very good idea that is, campaigning to get rehab in your area. I expect you live in a smaller community? Even so, if you could get support from a few smaller communities for a resource that would be close enough to support them you would have a much better chance of success. I had no idea of how prevalent copd and other breath restricting lung diseases are until one fell in my lap my own self. So, if you could make use of such a place so could many others, sufferers of C.F., asthmatics, chronic bronchitis et al. Someone just got to start the ball rolling. There must be some type of medical center nearby to get it started in.
well, when I went to rehab, we were put on various machines , treadmill, recumbent bikes, weights, various exercises, and there were two trainers, one for exercises one for breathing exercises which were also included. I would start at a low number, like 10 minutes on each, and when I was doing that good he would raise it to 20 minutes and increase resistance, , and at any time, I could stop, or say I was not ready to increase, what ever. They were professional, and friendly, and mine was 3 days a week for 2 hours. You learn so much, and there are times you think you will never make it, but you do, and that makes you proud. Mine lasted 8 weeks, and I loved it. Yes it was supervised by a respiratory therapist that had a lot of letters behind his name !! And the lady teaching the proper breathing was also a professional. . if you talk with your pulmonary doctor, he will set it up for you. I loved it
BJ
i thinking of going to this senor center i hear of in my area here in Tucson for they have exercise stuff they do and yoga, day trips and know now to live i am hoping..
good luck and best wishes to you..me age 64 with copd and a few other health trouble..and i have a joke about exercising..
I realized that at my age I don't really give a rat's behind anymore.If walking is good for your health, the postman would be immortal.
A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, but is still fat.
A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years, while
A tortoise doesn't run and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for 150 years.
And you tell me to exercise?? I don't think so.
Just grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked,
the good fortune to remember the ones I do, and the
eyesight to tell the difference.
Now that I'm older here's what I've discovered:
if you have a senior center in your area that may be more suited to the needs of someone like me. it would be a great way to get out & not only exercise, but meet others
unfortunately at my age i'm in a life stage that doesn't get 'senior" benefits. i can't even get meals on wheels.
so i'm happy for you, motsy, that you will be able to get the training best suited to your specific needs.
The 2nd part is 1 hour of endurance weight training. 10 different exercises (with weights) 6 times for a total of 600 reps. There is also 10 leg exercises, again 600 reps and 6 "military presses" 600 reps. The more you improve, the more weight is added.
I did this 3 days per week for 6 weeks. It really did help. Your pulse ox is monitored. If you get too winded you can stop, get your breath and pick up again.
It was intense, but the benefits were well worth the effort.
Good luck
I am also starting pulmonary rehab on Monday - St. Patricks day -
I have had COPD for atleast 6 yrs and when I found out I quit smoking. I smoked for years and also worked with chemicals in my job. I just went through radiation for a small lung cancer.
When I had the biopsy my lung partly collapsed and I got through that - when I had the treatments the radiation fused part of my lung to the wall and the rest of my lung collapsed again. I ended up with DB phenomena with many complications - to make it short I was in the hospital for about a month -= I went to a short stay rehab to get strong enough to come home.
Now I am starting rehab at the hospital - I was nervous about going but after reading your posts on here I feel better - I would like to Thank you all for the information -
Motsy - let me know what you think of the rehab.
** HUGS ** to all