Beginning exercise for the frail person with COPD

Hello again, and I hope everyone is having a lovely day!

Some persons with severe COPD are so severly debilitated and weakened they are confined to bed, or so weakened they have great difficulty getting into a chair. Ideally such patients should have initial professional help from a Visiting Nurse service, who in turn, may be able to arrange for a temporary visiting Physical Therapist.

Even if bedridden, the patient can and should begin their rehabilitation with chest mobilization and corrective breathing training, as well as developing Pursed Lip Breathing skills. This should provide some dyspnea relief, and having some breathig control skills will be helpful later when exerting and needing more ventilation.

Exercises that anyone can do are called "Isometric Exercises." This is simply tensing muscle groups against one another. This type of exercise can be done by anyone, even those with severe arthritis problems, as there is little or no movement of joints involved.

For now, I will get you started with the Upper Extremity Exercises.
Upper extremity exercises for those confined to bed, may be done by clasping your hands in front of you, next to the chest. Then press your hands together, and maintain this tension to the count of five. Repeat this cycle two or three times until you can do this exercise fairly easily. This will strengthen your shoulder muscles.
Do this exercise (and all of the other exercises) at least every two hours, and preferably every hour. Then build up your strength by a combination of stronger pressures, longer times of applying pressure, and more cycle repetitions. You have to decide what is best for you, but initially stay with pressure times of about five seconds until you are stronger.
Another shoulder muscle exercise is to place your hands by your side, palms down, next to your hips, then press your hands firmly into the bed to the count of five, relax to the count of five, and then repeat the cycle two or three times. Extend this exercise in a manner noted above as you get stronger.

Good luck my friends, I know exercise is not easy when your feeling poorly, but believe me... it will help you.

Enjoy your day,

Sandy

1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

A Popular Home Exercise Device

Good Morning & Good Day To All!!

I would like to continue with my Activity & Exercise mini-series. If you are considering a home exercise device I would recommend one of the simpler and less expensive Stationary Bicycles. These devices are generally stable, and there is minimal danger of falling. Also if you become "short of breath" you are already seated. All you have to do is simply stop peddling, and brace your arms on the handles for rescue breathing control. As you first begin on the bicycle, adjust the tension so you can peddle with only minimal effort, and be able to maintain that peddling effort continuously for about two minutes. As you get stronger, try to gradually extend your peddling time to five minutes. When you can achieve that level of activity, then try applying slight increase in peddling tension. As you become more comfortable, try to gradually work up to ten minutes of continuous peddling, and do this preferably twice a day. A perfect place to put your exercise device would be in a room with a television or stereo to listen to music or news. This will avoid boredom while exercising. And it's always fun to exercise to music!!!

I feel that learning the proper breathing techniques are important with exercise, so I am going to go on to explain the "tricks" to breathing & exercise.

As with all exercise programs, the "trick" to progressive exercise success is learning how to recognize your dyspnea level that you know you can control with slow / deep breathing, or Pursed Lip Breathing. When you reach that point you should stop, regain your breathing comfort, and then continue with your exercise activity. If you continue beyond this breathing control point to levels of severe dyspnea, this makes it difficult to conrol and re-gain your breathing comfort. Be patient, this may take time, and sound very scarey... but gradually push your breathing control point to further effort. As your peripheral muscle strength improves you will find that you are capable of more exertion. This increased exertion capability will be done within dyspnea levels that you know you can control. If you have the skills to exert yourself, and be able to recognize your particular dyspnea control level, and then be able to manager your dyspnea, you will have the confidence to become progressively more active in whatever activity your are doing. This will be a wonderful feeling for you and a major step forward!

A few devices I would not recommend are treadmills or stepping devices for home use because of the danger of falling. Definately the minature trampoline devices are dangerous and should be avoided. As to arm weight training, avoid heavy weights. A pair of dumb-bells for upper extremity exercises is convenient, but they should not weigh more than five pounds, and one or two pounds is adequate for most individuals. Remember, you are basically not training for strength, but mainly for reconditioning and endurance.

I hope that I have given you some valuable information. That info that I pass on to you is all of my own life experiences in my day to day life with COPD/Emphysema.

Until next time my friends.... "Live Well & Breathe Well"

1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4.... Exhale,
Sandy

Spiriva Capsules

Good day to all!!!
I was just thinking about a problem I have had with Spiriva Capsules on more than one occasion and wanted to share it with all of you and would also like to know if anyone else has had this problem.

I have encountered empty capsules in my prescription. When I punctured the capsule and tried to inhale the powder, there was nothing there, you could not hear anything...usually the capsule vibrates when you inhale the powder, and you know when the capsule is empty because you do not hear the sound.

I called Boehringer Ingelheim to complain and their response was that "they could not do anything as I was the only person who has complained." Now I know for a fact that there are others who have had the same problem with the capsules. They also complained to B/I and received no satisfaction.

Please respond if you've also had the same problem!! I'm curious to know how many this has happened to.


1 2 3 ... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

"Live for the Moment"
Sandy

Structured Home Exercise

Good afternoon and what a beautiful day it is!

This post will talk about a home exercise without using any type of exercise device. We will get to those type of devices in a later post. Enjoy!!!

A structured home exercise that I would recommend is Yoga training. Yoga Training videos developed by Dr. Vijai Sharma are excellent. Dr. Sharma is a Clinical Psychologist and credential Yoga teacher with a special interest in COPD. I also need to mention that Dr. Sharma has Emphysema himself. Dr. Sharma has developed two training videos "Stretching Breathing Exercises adapted for people with severe COPD" and "Stretching Breathing for COPD for all levels of fitness." These videos are carefully designed to first provide safe training for a frail person with severe COPD, and secondly to provide more strenuous exercise for less disabled individuals.

The Yoga movements provide excellent stretching and posture maneuvers to mobilize the spine and chest wall,and improved general coordination and balance training exercises. Yoga is intimately related to breathing exercises, and there are good breathing instructions directed to COPD needs. Teaching coordination of breathing with general body movements is well done, and this provides a bridge to more efficient movement for performance of activities of daily living. Dr. Sharma has a website with many topics of interest for COPD patients and you may purchase these videos from his site at: http://www.mindpub.com/

Smile, breathe and go slowly. - Thich Nhat Hanh

1 2 3...Inhale ... 1 2 3 4...Exhale
Sandy

Breathing Control Skills

Today I would like to continue our "mini-series" and talk about the effective alternatives to the formal exercise programs and for long term follow-up exercise.

This is based on a simple technique that if you have breathing control skills and can control your exertion dyspnea, than you will not be afraid of becoming short of breath. And.... if you are not afraid of developing uncontrolled dyspnea you will become more active, because you want to become more active and therefore you will do the many desirable things that you previously could not do. You may be thinking.... "well, it's easier said than done!!" But as you regain your ability to do more and more activities of daily living, you will develop more and more strength doing these activities. You will become stronger in body and mind, feeling more sure of yourself and also feeling much better about yourself.

Be proud... you worked hard in your pulmonary rehabilitation program. And then you continued and took it a step further... you learned "breathing control skills".

Many home bound people with COPD find that with reconditioning and improving breathing control skills they can participate in family activities, or climb stairs once again. And with further progress they can begin activities outside of the home such as; visiting friends or going shopping. But all of this involves progressive exercise, which is a natural part of simply becoming more active. And a tip to "brighten your day"... this form of exercise is usually neither boring or unpleasant!!

I am going to leave you with that bit of knowledge for today.
Please check in tomorrow as I will talk about "Structured Home Exercise - Yoga Training".

I would like to encourage you all to please post and tell us about your exercise program, or send in any questions that you may have. I am sure we have many "exercise friends" who can share their stories.

Breathe well tonight my friends... 1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Sandy

How to use Spiriva

Happy Friday!!

I would like to interrupt my BLOG concerning Exercise & Breathing, and share with you an error that I made this morning while taking my meds.... which scared the life out of me!

While getting ready to use my Spiriva inhaler, I mistakenly swallowed my Spiriva capsule instead of putting it into the inhaler. Well of course I panicked! I immediately called my pharmacy but they had NO information on that type of situation. The pharmacist did however advise me to call Poison Control. They told me I would be okay and that people do it quite a bit. Also that it would be okay for me to use my inhaler this afternoon. I decided to forgo using my inhaler today. I imagine if I had swallowed more than one capsule than it could have been dangerous.

Sometimes we may be in a hurry or just not thinking and do not take the time to check the meds we are about to take. Just a warning..... always be aware of which medication you are taking, the correct dosage you are to take and the correct time you are to take this medication.

To learn more about Spiriva, check out the sites below:

http://www.spiriva.com/

http://www.spiriva.com/hcp/HcpController.jpf


Have a great weekend..... take your meds... CORRECTLY and "Breathe with Ease"

1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale
Sandy

Exercise Programs

Learning breathing control can improve your lung efficiency and this will help you to feel better. But to achieve the full rehabilitation benefits, it is important that you also rehabilitate your cardiac and peripheral muscle function. There is only one way to do this and that is by a progressive exercise program.

Many pulmo rehab programs have a large emphasis on exercise, with formal classes of exercise training using equipment such as bicycle ergometers, treadmills, structured walking or stair climbing supervised by experts. These programs have documented considerable patient rehab benefits. This is an excellent way to effectively begin your rehab program.

Unfortunately there are some major snags with these formal exercise programs. First: they may not be available to your or may be inconvenient for you to attend. Second: ideally, exercise should be done every day for efficient rehab and many programs meet only two or three times during the working week and very rarely on weekends. Third: most formal programs are limited to only two or three months by insurance payments, and long term follow up is not paid for by most insurance plans. And last but not least.... formal exercise is frequently boring and unpleasant. The exercise training required will produce dyspnea and we all know this is not a pleasant experience. These problems are compounded especially if you are doing exercises that you do not enjoy or if you are exercising at home and are no longer in a supportive rehab environment to encourage you. Sadly enough for these reasons most patients stop exercising within a year or so. This is very unfortunate because what you had initially gained by exercise, you will now gradually lose. "If you don't use it, you will lose it".

In my next BLOG I will tell you about the alternatives to formal exercise programs and for long term follow-up exercise.

I hope you will join me. And please, add any comments or questions that you may have for me.
In the meantime....

Breathe Well and always remember

1 2 3... Inhale... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Your friend,
Sandy

"Shortness of Breath", Increased Activity & Exercise

Welcome back to "My Little Corner Of The World"! It's been awhile since I have posted, but I hope you all have been taking care of yourselves and breathing well.
This will be the first post in a so-called "mini series" on the topic of "Shortness of Breath" & Exercise. In our first "episode" you will have limited activity and breathing abilities, but as we reach the end of our "mini series" you will have learned a new way to breathe and will be on your way to an exercise training program.

The shortness of breath that comes with COPD typically limits a persons ability to be active. Understandably, you would think that becoming involved in an exercise program would be out of the question.
You probably have realized a gradual reduction in the activities you enjoy that involve any type of physical effort. And even if your COPD is only moderately severe you probably have noticed a redution in your "Quality of Life in Daily Living". I'm sure you have attributed this decline to your dyspnea, which is correct. But, this decline in your exertin ability is much more complicated.

Next is what I call, a "vicious circle". Exertion requires muscular effort, and muscular effort requires a steady supply of Oxygen, which is an essential metabolic source of energy. And muscular effort also produces waste products of metabolism, which is Carbon Dioxide ("CO2") which the lungs must dispose of. Are you still with me?... Okay... The lungs are critically important in taking in Oxygen and getting rid of waste Carbon Dioxide. Your breathing impairment will certainly limit your Oxygen delivery and CO2 excretion.
However, Oxygen and CO2 are carried to and from the muscles by your blood, now if your heart muscle becomes deconditioned by inactivity or diseae and can't pump blood efficiently, this may be a significant factor to your limited exertion capabilities.

Then there are peripheral muscles, the external muscles, mainly the legs and arms and whether or not they are efficiently receiving Oxygen and producing their required energy. Unfortunately, perfectly normal muscles, can become deconditioned by inactivity and become inefficient at the cellular level in producing the required oxygen for activity. Severely deconditioned muscles are very inefficient in processing this important oxygen metabolic energy, and muscle deconditioning is frequently a serious limitation to activity for the person with COPD. These deconditioned muscles require more Oxygen and give up more CO2 for a given work load, which brings on an even greater burden to the lung and heart components of this overall complex system.

The person with COPD progressively limits their activity because of exertin related dyspnea. As a result of this decreased activity, the heart then becomes deconditioned, and becomes a less efficient pump that has to work harder to achieve the same task level. Fortunately cardiac funtion limitation is usually not a major problem. But improving cardiac performance with an exercise program will provide some help to your overall exercise capabilities.

Peripheral muscle, the muscles of the arms and legs... deconditioning is a major culprit leading to severe weakness in COPD. Do you remember the "vicious circle"I spoke about earlier?... where inactivity leads to deconditioning and deconditioning leads to muscular weakness and inefficiency, which in turn now requires more effort by the heart and lungs for the same level of muscular effort.

Well, I think that is a very good start in explaining to COPD patients that activity and exercise beginning in slow moderation will condition not only your muscles in your arms and legs, but will keep your heart from working overtime due to the lack of oxygen from your diseased lungs.

Until next time,
Breathe well my friends...
1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4... Exhale,
Sandy

New Idea for Providing Emergency Contact Info

I found this article and thought it would be very helpful to so many of us with cell phones. I hope everyone will put it to good use.

There is a new movement out there to save lives. They call it ICE.
ICE is an acronym for In Case of Emergency and is a new wave geared to encouraging people to provide easily accessible contact information when they are in trouble. As most people in the world now carry a cell phone, it is a wonderfully easy way to access emergency contact information for almost anyone with a cell phone.

ICE is the brainchild of Bob Brotchie, a paramedic in Cambridge, England, who struggled to get contact information from his patients in times of crisis. Brotchie recounts having access to the cell phone of his patients, but still not knowing who to call. As he says, "just because someone has mom or dad in the cell phone log doesn't mean they would actually want you to call them."

The patient's first choice might be a friend, other family member or contact. Brotchie suggests that people add a listing in their cell phone, ICE, which stand for In Case of Emergency. Under this heading a person could list the names and phone numbers of people they want contacted in any emergency. They can list multiple contacts and designate them as ICE-1, ICE-2, etc. They could include numbers for their spouse or significant other as well as their health care provider for notification in a medical emergency, and their employer.

Source: http://respiratory-care.advanceweb.com/

Breathe Easy My Friends

1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale,
Sandy

Germs, Germs, Germs!!

I know that I have spoke about this topic in another post, but I just have to remind everyone that when you are sick, please be so careful when you are out in public. It is very easy to spread these GERMS...... and it is so easy for us with Lung Disease to catch a cold, the flu, bronchitis or even worse pneumonia. Here are a few of the situations I have experienced in the past week.

I was in the cell phone store the other day and while waiting in line for my turn, the fellow in front of me... coughed, wiped his mouth with his hand and then leaned on the counter!! Can you imagine that?? I immediately took out my hanky and covered my mouth and nose, I got scared... I can't imagine anyone doing that. I did go to another line and waited my turn. The fear of catching a cold or whatever was floating in the air totally overwhelmed me...

I went to our local Walgreens drug store to pick up a few things. I got to the register and the gal waiting on the person in front of me let go of a big sneeze... and of course I jumped back, I could see it coming. I asked her if she had any sanitizer to use on her hands, get this, she said "don't worry, I'm not contagious". I replied..."I do have to worry, I have a lung disease and you just spread all kinds of germs around!" She just glared at me and slammed the change into my hands. YEPPER, I was pi..ed! I found the manager and told him what happened. I told him how frightened I get as I take a chance each and every day going out and dealing with the public and I don't have to be subjected to this kind of treatment. He said he would take care of the situation. I also asked him to have a sanitizer by the register. When I got home I wiped everything down. I always carry my own pen, in case I need to sign anything... at least I know it is germ free. And I always carry wipes with me.

Then yesterday, I was walking into the deli where I work and a customer walking in front of me "coughed" and never covered his mouth I was ready to whack him!

Now as I am posting, I have laryngitis and a sore throat. I have already called my Pulmonologist and will be on an antibiotic. A big concern... Pneumonia, hopefully I caught this in time and if not... then I take it one day at a time.
This is how vulnerable our bodies are in picking up infections, we are going out in public, and again the panic, fear and anxiety... I could tell I was getting sick and then... overnite.... WHAM!

While at work, a co-worker asked me if I have ever had bronchitis, I replied "YES I have and I don't ever want to have it again!" It scares me, the fear sets in...especially this time of year.

I hope you will share your experiences, helpful hints or comments here on "My Little Corner of the World". I would love to hear from you, and just think you may beable to help someone else breathe easier...

1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale,
Sandy

Air Fresheners

We use air fresheners every day, in every shape and form.
We use them in our cars, our kitchens and bathrooms... most likely in almost every room to help eliminate odors and keep our homes smelling fresh and clean. When you look in the supermarket, you'll find a combination of many scents available to purchase.
Personally I do not use them. The chemicals in them are quite harmful to those of us who's lungs are compromised.
Aerosol sprays are also entirely out of the picture for me. That would be like smoking a cigarette. Some candles are ok, but the flowery kind are not good. I usually burn relaxing scented candles. I also use a candle snuffer so it doesn't smoke once the flame has been extinguished and I use a candle topper. This fits on the round type jars and has holes in the top to eliminate the smoke. They can be found in most candle shops and they really work!!

I found an article in our town newspaper about "Air Fresheners" that I would like to share with you:

Q: Some lamps on the market use fragrance oil. Apparently they use a catalytic burner. Do these create an air pollution health hazard in the home?

A: Yes. Air fresheners release volatile organic compounds into the air. These chemicals may cause health problems in some people, according to Dan Tranter with the Minnesota Department of Health Indoor Air Unit.
A U.S. Institute of Medicine report found limited or suggestive evidence that fragrances exacerbate asthma.
Another study found that a chemical (L4 dichlorobenzene, or "L4 DCB") in many air fresheners may reduce lung function. Even a small reduction in lung function may indicate some harm to the lungs. According to the study, the best way to protect yourself, and especially children who may have asthma or other respiratory illnesses, is to reduce the use of products and materials that contain these compounds.
If you are using the fragrance lamps to mask an odor, it's far better to find and eliminate the cause of the odor. Increasing ventilation by using kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans also can help.
Information about household products, including air fresheners, can be found at http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov.
Tranter recommends comparing air fresheners and choosing the one with the fewest and least severe warning statements as well as the lowest ratings for health concerns, flammability and reactivity, preferably a "0" for all three.

So my friends, when trying to freshen up your home, please think about this article and your health... take care of your lungs, they are your life... Breathe Easy.

1 2 3 Inhale... 1 2 3 4 Exhale,
Sandy

Socialization/Handicapped Parking

Have you ever noticed that when you park in a Handicapped Area and you get out of your car like everyone else does, folks look at you in disgust?... as if to say "Why are YOU parking in that spot?"... and wouldn't you just love to say... "Just because I don't have a physical disability that shows,I do have a hidden disability... I have COPD/Emphysema and SICK LUNGS DON'T SHOW."

I experienced a lot of those looks and sneers from people, when I used the handicapped parking spots. Those were times when I needed to do so, due to inclement weather, ill health. When I was feeling good, I would use the regular parking spots.

Here is an interesting point in which I need to share with you and get your opinions and comments. When I lived in New Hampshire I applied for a Handicapped License Plate, I had a form completed by my Physician, then took it to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. They accepted the form, I paid a small fee and was handed my Handicapped License Plates. New Hampshire required two plates, a mirror tag, which I could take with me if I were in someone elses vehicle. When I moved to Florida, I applied with a form from my Physician... and I was denied!!!... the reason...I am not "sick enough". How sick does one have to be? I have COPD, Emphysema, Fibromyalgia and OsteoArthritis. Guess I was sick enough in New Hampshire but not in Florida!

I am curious as to who actually has the right to deem a person to be "sick enough". Does he/she have a degree in the medical field? Does he/she know ME and my medical history?
Is there anyone that knows who we could contact with regards to these questions and what we need to do to have this situation reviewed and possibly changed?
Any ideas would be appreciated.

Let's all Breathe Together now
1 2 3 ... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Breathe Easy,
Sandy

Flu Finder

I found a site that I thought may be very helpful to everyone and I would like to share it with you.

http://www.flufinder.com

All you have to do is insert your zip code and it will alert you as to what the flu index is in your area, I check it often. As you will find out, I check into everything when it comes to my health especially my lungs. If I can stay on top of such thing, hopefully I can do something to prevent myself from getting the flu, such as; plenty of liquids, proper diet and plenty of rest and a "real biggie"... stay away from large crowds!!! I was in a store today and a woman coughed and I PANICKED... really I did. I took my hankie out of my pocket and covered my nose and mouth with it. It actually scared me, I could visualize alllll of those germs floating in the air as I approached.

Breathe Easy,
1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale
Sandy

To Laugh, Breathe, and to Live!

Pulmonary Rehabilitation... it is a WONDERFUL thing to get into. It teaches us so much as to why we really need it, it teaches us to laugh, breathe, and to live a life we thought was gone forever! When I initially began this BLOG I had said "Once we are diagnosed with the Big E we think it is the end, rather it is the beginning of the end, we cannot let... or allow the Big E to control our lives, but rather we control IT!" That is so embossed in my mind, I believe that is part of what keeps me going, because I am so stubborn and determined that I will win whatever obstacle is placed in my path, God has put me on this earth for a reason. I would like to say "Thanks" to Lori and Love Your Lungs, Breathe For Life... I now know the reason.

My Dr. suggested that I go to pulmonary rehab. I had to wait about a week before there was an opening to get in. And I believe the whole session was for 4 weeks. The first day the p/t's do an evaluation, meaning a walk timed test that lasts about 6 minutes, they check your heart rate, respiratory rate, and pulse. That gives them an idea on how to personalize your goals for rehabilitation. The first day was scary, I wasn't sure what to expect. While I was waiting to be evaluated an older lady came out of the exercise room and said to me, "have you ever been here before?", I replied "no, I have not, this is my first day", she said "you're gonna just love it, when I first came here I was on oxygen 24/7 and now I am off it, I can now get on a plane and visit my grandchildren!"
I have never forgotten those words and the joy in her eyes. From that day forward I had a goal and a wonderful memory to keep me going. I knew I was going to ace the course and I did. I couldn't walk or talk at the same time, nor could I walk any distance without being so short of breath, it was scarey and the anxiety that went with it. Due to the awesome people that worked with us daily and retrained us how to walk and talk, breathe properly, maintain a healthy diet, and exercise... I find myself a whole lot better. Anxiety sometimes comes around but now I know how to deal with it.
I continue to exercise, it is very important... I eat healthy and continue what I learned in Pulmonary Rehabilitation class.
Once the course is completed, you receive a diploma. It is nice to look at, and see where we were and how far we have advanced. You also have the option to continue in a maintainance course where you go every week for as long as you want to continue the program or you can do it yourself, which is what I chose to do. About 4 weeks later they schedule you to return to the Pulmonary Rehab. center for a check up, meaning another timed 6 minute walk. Once you are done and all is well... you are on your own!
Please feel free to write in and share your experiences with Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Those of us who have gone through it may be able to help others who are uncertain about joining a class. Also, if anyone has any questions, again... please feel free to write to me. I will try to help you in any way that I can.

Let's Breathe Easy Together
1 2 3 Inhale... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Your friend,
Sandy

Stress and COPD

I had this thought today and would like to share it with you. It is a situation that I had been dealing with in the begining of November 2006, but it is example of how stress plays a very big part in your life with COPD. I had to move out of my apartment, look for a new place to live and also a new job. Which of course would put a lot of stress on anyone. After several weeks I did find a place to live and luckily a job. But, in the meantime...this is my story.

I had been having trouble sleeping for some time. I did not realize it at first, but finally realized and attributed it to the stress of the move... and the new job that I would be starting. All of this leads to shortness of breath, fatigue, and in my case loss of appetite.
Now... my theory was this... Stress can create havoc within our system, everyone knows that. So, my thoughts were... what do I do about my job... I cannot be without a job, sooooo I needed to try a different approach with the job... and with the move. I decided to ask my friends and neighbors for their help with the move.... and believe it or not... I felt much better. I then reapplied at the Sweetbay Store which I had worked when I first moved to Ft. Myers, but had to take a leave of absence when I fractured my ankle.
On November 26, 2006 I finally moved everything into my new apartment and out of storage. I received a sparkling review from Human Resources and received the job at the Sweetbay Store deli.
I was finally able to "Breathe Easier". My one suggestion when living with COPD and dealing with a stressful situation is to try to put it into some type of perspective. Write down your problems and think of reasonable solutions on how you can take care of these problems. Coming up with a game plan is much easier than jumping in head first and jeopardizing your health.

Breathe with me now...
1 2 3 ... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 ... Exhale

Sandy

Germs and the Flu

I wanted to share a quick little tip with all my friends. Cleanliness is so important this time of year when there are germs from colds and the flu spreading around. I carry sanitary wipes with me where ever I go. I use them after I open any door or after i've used a shopping cart. I'm sure you can come up with a million other uses for them. Most supermarkets do provide those wipes, but just in case they don't... I always have my own supply! If you have other ideas for using sanitary wipes, please share them with us.

Breathe Easy,
1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Sandy

Water Drinking

I have a quick "Tip" that I would like to share with everyone. "Water Drinking"... It is one of the most important treatments for Lung Disease. The water helps to keep the mucus thin and thus makes it easier to cough up. It is suggested that we drink 8-16 cups of water or juice a day. It may take a few days to a week for you to notice the difference. This much fluid will make you urinate more, but in time your body will adjust. I drink at least 16 glasses of fluids a day... this is good for me because I perspire so much. I also drink Gatorade to maintain my electrolyte level. PLEASE ask your doctor if 8-16 cups of fluids is ok for you to drink. Some people cannot drink alot of fluids because of Kidney Disease, Prostrate trouble or Heart Disease. So...just as a precaution... check with your doctor first. Breathe Easy! ... 1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale, Sandy

"Fear & Panic" with COPD

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a Happy Holiday.

But now it is time to get back to work!!

As COPD patients we all know that the cold and flu season is not a good time for us. I would like to share a few experiences that I have had in the past week or so.
Last week a co-worker came back to work after she had been off for two days with the FLU! I "panicked"..."fear" set in... I can't catch it... I will get pneumonia and end up in the hospital. So I called my Pulmonologist who advised me to leave work early or ask that she leave. The results... she left.

Then this week, a customer came in with a young child who was "Whooping" up a storm, actually they both were. Let me tell you, as soon as she left I got the lysol spray out, sprayed the counter and anything else that she may have touched. It is very frightening. No one else really knows what we go through on a daily basis.

I feel this is an interesting fact of how this disease "can have control over us"... but as I have said many times... "We cannot let it control us, we have to control it."

Okay... let's try this again,

Breathe Easy... 1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Have a Safe and Healthy New Year!
Sandy

I Don't Like Myself Today

Good morning my friends,
Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought... UGH.... "I dont like myself today." Well, when you have COPD/Emphysema that may happen quite often to you.
I woke up this morning, looked in the mirror and decided... "I don't like myself today." You may ask "WHY", what does COPD have to do with "not liking yourself?"
Before I was diagnosed with COPD/Emphysema, I weighed in at a comfortable 145 lbs., my height 5'9" (not too bad), now I have gone way beyond that. The worst part is the barell effect it has on our bodies and the steroids that we have to take.
My clothes do not fit the same way anymore. So you see... some days... "I just don't like myself" hopefully... "tomorrow I will like me again."
I have included an excerpt from an interesting article about COPD/Emphysema explaining about the barrell chest effect for those of you who do not know about it.

Clinical Manifestations
Typically patients with emphysema will have a very distinct "barrel chest." This is due to the problem with the lungs being in constant state of hyperexpansion. The normal negative pressure required for inspiration and the positive pressure required for expiration is lost as the lungs are in a constant state of inflation. Therefore, expiration becomes an active task, increasing the work of breathing. The "barrel chest" is directly related to the ribs as they become fixed in the inspiratory position combined with the loss of elastic recoil of the lungs. Dorsal kyphosis, prominent anterior chest and elevated ribs will contribute to this appearance.

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=emphysema

May you have a healthy and joyous holiday season.

Breathe easy,
1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Sandy

An Interesting Question

Hello and what a beautiful day it is!!
Today at work I had a gentleman ask me a very interesting question. He asked me if "Emphysema" hurts! I replied "it does"... but not in the way that you think, because alot of folks do not understand it. Physically it does not hurt as far as pain, however, we need to get the information out about what this disease does to your body. He then told me that he is trying to quit smoking again, I told him I would be very happy to be his coach. I will see him tomorrow and promised to bring him information on COPD/Emphysema and Asthma for him to read. Isn't life grand when you can help someone! I just love it!
Feel free to write to me anytime, I love to receive mail!!

Breathe Easy,
1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale
Sandy