COPD lesson to learn
."Your greatest challenge will continue to be to move, move, move!
You cannot allow hard breathing to hold you back.
Working hard, physically, to work through and overcome limitations related to your work to breathe is a MUSTif you are to improve your overall condition and function and to slowprogression of your disease as much as you are able to slow it.
Breathing hard and continuing to push on may 'feel' like it is not good for you, BUTit WILL NOT hurt you!
If you let difficulty breathing cause you to reduceactivity and exertion, you WILL get worse faster than you would if you keeppushing."
This was posted at another COPD group, but the lesson is one I personally live by:)
I just thought I would share it in my journal.
Stay Well with Easy Breathing,
Love to All,
Holly
Replies
It\' is so hard to do this sometimes. I know you use wise words. Thank you so much.
Love,
Carol
Hi Carol,
They are not my words, I picked this up on another COPD web site, but I do live my life this way.
I think each person is different in personality and extent of lung damage, some can do more than others, its just a fact, but I think its important to make your self move, even if its just a little.
I have a friend with COPD who is in a wheel chair, and only has 10% FEV1 but he squeezes a ball in his hand for 5 min on each hand several times a day, and he lifts 2 Lb. weights and does leg lifts, and that\'s all he can do which makes him feel great!
The thing that got me walking was hearing and then realizing that being breathless, although uncomfortable is something I always recover from, so I started walking, a little at a time until I built my self up to walking at least one mile a day and lifting weights ,and my every day life is so much more productive and so much less breathless and less of a struggle for me.
Start small and build up, that\'s what I did.
I had a breathing test yesterday and my FEV1 is 26% FVC is 70% FEF25-75 is 10%, PEF is 36% TLC is 148% and RV is 256% and my DLCo is 43%and I feel wonderful, but like every one else with COPD I have good days and bad days.
I know it is hard Carol, and I know your like me in that we both do the best we can and that all we can do.
Do you still go out for drives, and do you still paint Carol, I hope you do, your so talented.
I love you lots Carol,
Always Love Holly
I really like this, and it\'s something I need to remember. Thanks for sharing it. You are such an inspiration with your lovely walks. Love & hugs, Sue
That\'s so true Holly, I realized that after I done my P.Rehab as I was so much better after doing my exercises. Keep up the good work with your walks.
Love & Hugs
Ellen xx