You are not your COPD!

[Thomas3.20.2010]

How does COPD fit into your Life? Do you try to ignore it until it kicks you in the behind? Or do you find yourself worrying about it on a daily basis? Are you somewhere in between or do you swing back and forth? Tell us about how COPD fits into your Lifestyle! Let's share our stories and support our experience!

[Chuck-2-20-2011]

Hi Thomas,

  My COPD is right now is at a stage where I get good days, great days and a few bad days. I always check my blood oxygen levels, and using that information I've learned to spot when my oxygen levels drop below 90% so I can take action or make adjustments.

 I've discovered that COPD is simply something that must be lived with. There's nothing at the current time that can rid us of the condition and so we learn to adapt. To take what we do have and run with it to make our lives the best they can be! Like yesterday when I was working in the yard. I was transplanting some huge Shasta daisy plants when I felt myself get winded.

 Checked my oxygen level and it was at 87%. My doctor told me that because of the elevation that we live at that 88% is the target as far as how low the oxygen level can safely go. So I took a break and checked how fast I could recover from the incident. It took less then a minute, but I'd learned so I worked a little more slowly. Eventually I will know my limits when gardening.

 I don't look at my COPD as a curse and I realize that the damage was done in the past. I have forgiven myself for my past transgressions and have made peace with what I must now lives with. We humans if nothing else are good at adapting. That's important when we face a chronic condition.

 My wife now has a cold. We'll see if I catch this one and then how I need to react to it if it happens. Learning, learning, learning . . .

Well, off to work in a few minutes! I'll write a blog about this soon! Thanks for the question Thomas.

ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!

Chuck

[Tommym]

Thanks, I needed to read that. I worry almost everyday. Of course there are some days that I feel winded and work through it and always feel better. After a short workout (15 minutes) or 20 minutes on the treadmill I have noticed my O2 levels will spike to 96-97% it's usually 92-93 resting. It dips to 88 or so when I start but after 5 minutes of rest it really surprises me. 

Anyone else experience this this same reaction ?? 

Tommy m 

[Thomas3.20.2010]

I have found that addressing my COPD allows me to do more of the things I want to do - like work, play with my Granddaughter, go garage saling with my Wife. It hasn't all been that way. 

I used to take the good days and run! But that just set me up for some bad days. I was angry and resentful with myself, with God, with the World! It took a lot of contemplation and prayer to accept that this is my card that was drawn! That's when I wrote /blogs/Thomas3.20.2010-blog/2014/11/03/beating-the-odds?sr=search&searchId=38ab494b-2dbe-435b-bbc2-2...‌ Working in Assisted Living made it crystal clear what awaits me! 

I am a work in progress for sure but I am learning to adjust my lifestyle first to COPD and then everything else fits in.

I can't be cheery like Giulia mentioned the other day in https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/76514-spoons?sr=search&searchId=ef5641ae-9246-4e9a-bedf-a...‌. But I'm not morbidly sad and angry any more. Some of us have other illnesses - I have COPD.

And I count my blessings that - if it weren't for my lungs, I'm in very good health!

[constanceclum]

I rarely think about it unless I get sick. I thought about it quite frequently while smoking because my chest pretty much stayed "tight" and I coughed. I've never been real active so I do what I feel like doing without much shortness of breath. My house is COPD clean and I'm not around smokers. I do what I have to do as far as inhalers go but since I quit smoking, I can go days without using my rescue inhaler. This with end stage COPD. I learned to not look at that as a death sentence and I'm not a "pulmonary cripple" I know I'm blessed and can stay that way if I just don't pick up that cigarette!

Connie

[TerrieQuit]

I live my life with COPD as I do with all of my other issues. One day at a Time. This does not mean I am not prepared because I am very prepared to deal with all of my issues as they come. Do I constantly worry? No, I don't! Have I slowed down some? Yes, of course, I have, I think that also comes with age and also having many issues, not just COPD. I know having COPD, I must not smoke and by being at risk of falling with balance issues, I must not climb,............etc. I just have to pay close attention to what my body is telling me and use some common sense. Constantly worrying just increases my anxiety.  ~Terrie~

[Thomas3.20.2010]

This is true for most of us, Tommy! The more you exercise the better for your Oxygen. Treadmill is good and if you can build your quad muscles you will use Oxygen more effectively. All of these things help your heart health not just from the exercises alone but from the stress weak lungs put on your heart. There are also exercises you can do to strengthen the thoracic muscles which is important because our lungs weigh more and push down on the diaphragm while strong thoracic muscles help hold the lungs into place and give the diaphragm more room to breathe. A strong core makes everything better!

[Tommym]

Thanks Thomas, now if you can tell me where these muscle groups are and how to best work them it would be a big help. Thanks

[elvan]

Tommym‌  My pulmonologist as well as my rheumatologist both recommend working out in a pool.  Swimming, aerobics, water weights.  I have felt my best when I have been able to do that.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Tommy, the Quads are your thigh muscles. So things like bicycling, squats, or even just walking make them stronger. The thoracic muscles are the little muscles between your ribs. So weights that you move from side to side or swimming help build these muscles. You can get more exercises for each of these and other exercises good for COPD by requesting Pulmonary Rehab from your Dr. My insurance paid 100% of my Pulmonary Rehab. If you can't get PR you can find some exercises on the internet. I'll see if I can dig up some links for you.

Tommym‌