Singing makes me smile!

Singing brings a SMILE to my face!!

When I was younger... many moons ago, my cousins, aunts and my mom would gather in the kitchen to play their guitars and sing. I loved watching all of them and the beautiful sounds of the guitars. But what I loved the most was the wonderful sound of my moms voice, she could sing like a canary and whistle like a lark, what beautiful memories.

Over the years I tried my talent, singing alone so no one could hear me. When I got older, one night I was at a club and they had a talent show, my friends encouraged me to get up on stage and sing.... which I did!!! Later that night the club owner approached me and asked if I would come back on a regular basis to sing. WOW!! I was shocked... I didn't think I was good enough, but apparently he did! I "thanked" him for the nice offer, but declined. As many of my friends know me I am not shy, but I really wasn't ready for the "big time"! I just wanted to enjoy my music and sing for my friends to make THEM smile as much as I do when I listen to music.

About 7 years ago I ws singing at a Karaoke Club and actually had a request to sing different songs for the regulars.... "that made me smile"!

Then it hit... I was diagnosed with COPD/Emphysema... "dang it"! I didn't think I would beable to sing again. But do you know what?... It's okay now, I have learned how to work with "it" - COPD/Emphysema. The best thing for me is to keep singing. It helps expand my lungs and also... gets that trapped air out so that I can "Breathe in Fresh Air".

You see, I have a wonderful tool... my "Mind", that is how I deal with this crappy disease on a daily basis. I use to get out of breath when I sang, but I don't anymore because I have trained myself how to take breaths when necessary. I have done much research with regards to singing and breathing techniques.

Music truly does make me smile! Even as I am writing this BLOG I am SMILING... and I have a CD playing on my computer. I love to sing country, blues and soft ballads. I especially love to sing Irish tunes!

I hope many of you can relate to the wonderful sounds of music and all of the benefits that come from it... most importantly... how it makes "YOU SMILE"!

Please share with us your stories about the music in your life. Whether you have a lung disease or not... share with us your love for music!

I am also interested in patients using O2, is there anyone out there that is able to sing, while on oxygen? I would think it would depend on the individual, but again... let me hear from you!!

http://www.vocalist.org.uk/breathing_techniques.html


Relax and breathe through the sounds of music

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

Sandy

Community swimming pools - germs & more germs...

On a clear day, rise and look around you. And you'll see who you are.
A beautiful song that just popped into my head!!


For several months now a girlfriend and I have been going to the community swimming for senior water aerobics. Usually about a 45 minute workout each day.
I just found out that it is NOT the best avenue for exercise.
I was instructed not to use the pool because of the GERMS and BACTERIA in the water. Well you know that some people do their **** in the pool... YUCK... and even though they use chlorine, it does not kill all of the bacteria. So, I will be exercising indoors with my exercising techniques that we posted earlier in our blog.

Also, with anyone having an open wound, the bacteria in the water is not good. The bacteria or chlorine may cause an infection to set in.

If you have breathing problems but enjoy swimming, try to stay in the shallow sections. I did notice a shortness of breath because of the pressure in the deeper water.

Just a few tips that I thought you may be interested in!! I am sure by now you know my reaction to GERMS!!!!!! I am scared to death of them. So when a doctor tells me to "Stay Away"..... by golly that's what I do!!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

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

Your fellow COPD'er,
Sandy

The Love of a Family - by Lori Palermo

I would like to share with all of you a Montage Video that I put together In Loving Memory of my dad, Wayne. For those of you who do not know, my dad passed away 26 December 2003 after a 13 year battle with COPD/Emphysema. Since that time I became very involved in lung disease and smokefree living work. In June 2006, on Father's Day, I launched my own website In Memory of my dad and In Honor of all patients and their caregivers who live every day with the debilitating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. I have now become an Advocate For Lung Disease Awareness & Smokefree Living.

This video shows what a kind, caring, and loving husband, father and grandfather my dad was. He was truly the #1 Dad!

I love him and miss him with all my heart.

God bless,
Lori

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the video.

A Lesson in Diaphragmatic Breathing

Good Evening Folks,

It's a very warm evening here in sunny Florida!! But who's complaining, as long as we have air conditioning... thats all that counts!!

I would like to take you back to Lori Palermo's vacation with me at Ft. Myers Beach last month. One evening Lori and I were talking about her dad being barrel chested with his COPD and the different ways he would sit when he tried to breathe. I began explaining to her how we COPD'ers breathe differently than "Other Folks". Meaning that we use "Diaphragm Breathing". When folks without a breathing problem "inhale" their stomach goes in... but when we take a "breath" or "inhale" our stomach goes out. Lori and I practiced for quite awhile.

We had a good time and it was funny watching her... LOL, but it was also very educational. You actually had to be there to see us... both of us sitting face to face, our shirts tucked up, with our hand placed on our stomach, being able to feel and see the difference in our breathing technique. It's one of those things that you really have to concentrate on what you are trying to do... just ask Lori!! After several tries... well maybe MANY, MANY tries.... she finally accomplished the breathing technique. I even got a bit confused myself trying to go back and forth between her "normal" breathing and our COPD'ers breathing!

Now you ask... Why do we do this? Well, we are trying to exhale the stale air in
our lungs and exchange it for good clean air.

Put your hand on your stomach and practice your "Diaphragmatic Breathing".

I have attached two sites that will give you more information on Diaphragm Breathing.

http://www.pe2000.com/breathe.htm

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-diaphragm.html

Breathe well my friends, breathing is how we live!

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

Sandy

Pursed Lip Breathing

Hello to all my friends!

I hope you are all having a Healthy and Happy summer! It's hard to believe we are already into August.
I just returned home from a fun-filled vacation, visiting family and friends in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Funny... I needed to come home to rest... from my vacation!!
While on vacation, I woke up thinking about "pursed lip breathing"! I realized I had not added that important piece of information to my "Breathless on the Beach" post.

So, here we go......

When Lori and I returned back to our destination from our walk on the beach...
well let me back up a bit, when I told Lori that I was becoming "short of breath" and anxiety was grabbing hold of me I also told her to keep talking to me so that I could focus on her conversation and not on being "SOB" and my "anxiety". One very important factor was that as we were walking back and Lori was talking to me I was also practicing my "pursed lip breathing". This type of breathing "controls your breathing", slows down your anxiety and helps you from gasping for your next breath...as long as you "stay focused".
As Lori and I returned from our walk, I mentioned to her how the "pursed lip breathing" had also helped me. She told me she saw that I was "PLB". She remembered seeing her dad use this breathing method many many times. But never truly understood its meaning and effectiveness until she saw how it helped me get through this situation.
Here is a link to an informative site about pursed lip breathing.

http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/generalinformation1/a/shortofbreath.htm

I would be very interested in hearing what type of breathing methods help your "anxiety" and "shortness of breath" situations. Please write to me and share your stories.

Live each and every day to its very fullest....

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

Breathless on the Beach

I would like to share this experience with all of you, it is very important to remember and practice this in case you are ever in this same type of situation. You must know how to react and how to take care of yourself.
The first evening Lori was at Ft Myers, we decide to head straight for the beach to take a walk. It was still warm, but the sun was beginning to set and the sky was a beautiful array of clouds and brilliant colors of orange, yellows and reds. We were walking along the shores feeling the warm sand and water on our feet, and searching for sea shells. Since it was the first time we had actually met in 2-3 years, we were just talking about anything and everything.
All of a sudden I had to stop, I told Lori that I was getting short of breath and anxiety was grabbing hold of me. We had walked so far without even realizing it.
I became scared knowing that we had to walk so far back. My shortness of breath scared me.... my anxiety scared me.... it became a viscious circle.
I explained to Lori what was happening, but told her to remain calm. I knew what I had to do to overcome this situation. I asked her to keep talking, that way I could concentrate on her conversation and overcome my anxiety by not focusing on it. By overcoming my anxiety, I could also overcome my "shortness of breath". Of course I did not have my "rescue inhaler"... which was a big no-no!!! If I would have had the inhaler with me, the situation would have been a whole lot less stressful. But... we all make these mistakes.
Lori and I took our time walking back, she talked to me and I focused on HER... NOT on my "Shortness of Breath". By the time we got back to our destination, I was feeling fine. I had made it through a very stressful and I may say "scarey" situation.
As Lori has been learning so much about COPD since her dad passed away..... this was a very good "hands on" experience for her to witness.
Please take this experience and try to learn from it. It may not be easy the first, second or third time..... but you can do. You can take control of your anxiety and your shortness of breath.

If anyone has had an experience of this type... please write in and tell us all about it. Let us know how YOU came through it.

Until next time
1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Breathing is our Lifeline,
Sandy

A Message from Lori Palermo

Good Morning from the beautiful Pocono Mountains in Northeast Pennsylvania. It is a gorgeous day here. I hope everyone is having a "blessed breathing day" so far!
Since I have not added a BLOG for Sandy, I would like to say a word or two before she adds her BLOG.
Sandy and I have been corresponding by e-mail for the past 2-3 years. We have spoke on the phone and become very good friends. Several months ago, Sandy invited me to fly to Florida and spend a week with her. Well... needless to say, I immediately booked my flight. I recently spent a week with Sandy on the absolutely beautifl white sandy beaches of Ft. Myers, Florida... a place where my dad loved and took my family many times.
Sandy is an awesome person. We bonded the moment she picked me up at the airport and had an absolute BALL the whole week I was there. I visited her home, where I met her friends Linda, Joan and Linda's son Nick. They are truly really cool people and were very generous to me.

Now, Sandy will add a BLOG about an experience that we had while walking the beach the first evening I was there.

God bless you all.
Lori

P.S. Sandy and I are working on some ideas we have to give you the COPD patients, families or caregivers more information. You'll will be seeing some changes here at
"Sandy's Little Corner Of The World."

Upper & Lower Extremity Chair Exercises

Greetings all of my friends! I hope you have had a good breathing day. The humidity has hampered my breathing with a bit more tightness in my chest. But, as usual... we all do learn to cope with this.

Upper Extremity Chair Exercises:
For shoulder strengthening you may now grasp the seat or side arms of the chair and push down and pull up.

Another useful activity are the "Broomstick Exercises".
- Use the full length of an old broomstick, and use it to both mobilize and strengthen your upper extremities, and to develop neck and spine mobilization.

- Holding the broom palms down, bring the broomstick from yourlap up to your chin, and from there extend the broomstick over your head, and then back again.

- Palms down, place the broomstick over your knees, and then with arms extended swing it up and over your head and back down again.

- With the broomstick over your head, rotate the broomstick and your head slowly as far as you can to the right, and then to the left.

- With the broomstick held at chin level, bring the broomstick straight down towards the left hip, and then to the right hip.

- With the broomstick heldat chin level, touch the right end of the broomstick to the left knee, and at the same time look up over your left shoulder. Repeat this exercise touching the left end of the broomstick to the right knee,while looking up over your right shoulder. These neck and spine mobilization exercises may be difficult at first if your neck and spine are stiff. Be gentle.

As your strength improves, light weight dumb-bells may be used. Again, one or two pound weights are more than enough.

Lower Extremity Chair Exercises:

The quadriceps exercises should be done from the chair one leg at a time. Straighten your right leg out, then lift it from the floor until it is straight out, then tense the thigh muscles and hold the tension for five seconds. Relax, andn lower your leg to the floor and rest for five seconds. Repeat the cycle and then do the same for the left leg.

These quadriceps exercises may be too strenuous at first for some. In that case, start out with both feet flat on the floor, and tense both thighs for five seconds, relax for five seconds, and repeat the cycles.

For hip strengthening, sit up straight, knees together, and then lift the right knee up, then swing it outward, put the foot down, then bring it back up, and return to the starting position with the knees touching. Repeat the cycle and do the same for the left leg.

For hip, lower abdominal and lower spine exercise, place your heels directly in front of the chair, and then push your heels into the floor. As you do this, tense your lower abdominal and back muscles. Hold this tension for five seconds, relax for five seconds and repeat the cycle.

If you do these excercises faithfully for about two weeks, you should now be prepared to begin walking training. And if you have been further developing your dyspnea recognition skills and breathing control skills, you will be even better prepared for walking and controlling any dyspnea with increased activity.

With all of these exercises, from the beginning... at your weakest point, through your continuation of becoming stronger... I strongly suggest a coach to help and support you through this regiment of activity.

Stand Tall and Breathe My Friends and Always Remember,

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

Lower Extremity Exercises

Welcome To My Little Corner Of The World... here on this beautiful sunny, yet slightly breezy day in Lehigh Acres, Florida!!

I'd like to talk about your lower extremity muscles, which are the Quadriceps Muscles. These are on the front of your thighs and run between your knees and hips. These muscles are very important because they stabilize the knee, and are essential to enable safe walking and getting up out of a chair. Quadriceps deterioration happens very rapidly in people confined to bed. Restoring their strength is a crucial step in preparing to get our of bed to a chair, and to walk safely.

The Quadriceps may be exercised by having your legs flat in bed, and then tensing the upper leg muscles firmly for five second, then relaxing for five seconds, and then repeating the cycle for two or three times. As in the previous POST, build up this exercise as your strength improves.

Another lower extremity exercise is to strengthen the muscles about your hips and lower abdomen. Have your legs flat in bed, press your heels firmly into the mattress for five seconds, relax for five seconds, then raise your heels an inch or two off the mattress for five seconds, then relax for five seconds, repeat the cycle tow or three times. Again, build up this exercise s your strength improves.

If you have been confined to a bed for some time, or feel weak, you should never attempt to get out of bed without assistance. Professional supervision by a Nurse or Physical Therapist is preferred.
Your initial chair should be a firm plain wood chair with a high back, with side arms. A Walker device for additional arm support should also be used for the transfer from bed to chair. Preferably two caregivers should be on hand to help you. Wearing a stout Safety Belt until you are well mobilized is recommended.

When you are ready for the move, do not attempt to directly stand on the floor. Many weak patients develop Postural Hypotension, where your blood pressure quickly falls on standing up. This can lead to dizziness, fainting or falling. You should first, dangle your legs for a couple of minutes, if no dizziness is felt, then place your feet on the floor for a minute or two. If you feel the slightest hint of dizziness or exessive weakness, you can easily be slid back into bed. Do not get discouraged if you don't succeed on your first try. Progress to the chair only when you feel able to do so. Recommendation spending no more than five or ten minuts in the chair for the first time.

As your strength improves and your caregivers gain confidence in your capabilities, you may spend more time in the wooden chair, and then move into an easy more comfortable chair. Getting out of a deeper easy chair may be more difficult, so be sure your standing up strength and skills are adequate.

Well folks.... I think I have given you plenty of information to think about today.

Until we meet again... 1 2 3 Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Sandy

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