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...

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buickoreo 12/24/2015

does extreme overweight add alot to sob isuuses?im 5/10 and 360 ibs,my breathing is normal when sitting or laying but when walkin i feel sob,if i stop and stand it talkes about 1 min for breathing to return to normal,i have neb inhaler,symnicort,combivent rescue,nite oxy but it just gives me a bad headache so i seldom use it,i have 54 percent of function,does losing weight and exercising usually make a signifigang improvement?thanks

zigzzagz65 12/28/2015

Without question. Quite seriously in one who has less than healthy lungs. Imagine a healthy man of 180 pounds having to carry a 180 lb pack sack around with him. As expected, he'd be out of gas pretty quick when he's on the move. Now cut back his lung volume and oxygen capacity by half or more. He's going to be lucky to get anywhere at all. Even if you spend most of the day seated, all that extra flesh needs to be oxygenated. For a practical application, one gal here lost a large amount of weight and was able just through that to put aside her daytime oxygen use and required only that unit which is used for apnea while she slept. Losing as much weight as you could would be the best thing you ever did for your lungs. You'd probably feel like a new man. Maybe even go jogging again.

buickoreo 12/28/2015

thanks for the reply it sure helps me stay motivated!!

jarca 12/29/2015

many things can cause SOB, but obesity is a big one! I think obesity is one of the causes in the "restrictive lung disease" catagories.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1435949/
Our lovely Boo that comes on occasionally was able to get off her supplemental 02 after having her bypass surgery. Last I heard she only needs a cpap at night for apnea.

Boo pops in now & then, maybe she will see this & share her experience with you :)

j-h 12/29/2015

You bet! I'm overweight too. Tonight I was at a fancy dinner party and could not stand up from my chair. It took several tries and my husbands help. In a room full of people it was excruciatingly embarrassing. I've lost a bit just cutting back. Hope you can too.
Everything will be better. Good luck to us both.

deegran 12/30/2015

thank you for bringing this topic forward. it is sooo hard for me to lose weight. i gained 50 pounds since my diagnosis and quitting smoking. it is not fun. it helps to see this conversation.

CaitsMom 12/31/2015

After 3 years on daily prednisone I have gained a ton of weight. And just as frustrating, it is so hard to eat healthy when you are barely getting by. Been so long since I have had a good salad I lust for it like chocolate.

If someone wants to start an OT thread on eating healthy & cheaply, I sure would appreciate it!

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