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COPD: How do you manage breathlessness on the daily?

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Somya.P

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09/20/2024 at 7:00 PM

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Somya.P

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Last activity on 11/21/2024 at 9:06 AM

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Hello everyone,

Breathlessness is one of the most challenging symptoms for those living with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD. Whether it's climbing a flight of stairs or even resting, this shortness of breath can majorly complicate daily life.

@Hatepasswords @eddiejazz @Madea123 @Sunflower1 @jayt79 @Marycon @curt2502 @Sail51boat @Elljay @LoriHarris @propel @Pattyh @Tizba2u @LyallK @Jeno6519 @Vegasrose @SusanJEastman @Mylesc @Paulap @Bluebell @Karen5 @Vickieg71 @Joanhaws @dencal @Chris54 @Armourwill4 @jvrrey11 @Smokitcat @dlefferts @Donnies3 @Traceyiokrtiz @Susan1 @Louise59 @Stella56 @Tamgat @JohnDeere1st @BernieO13 @Jetpilotnc @Lillith60 @Angela1965 @JeriFlynn @Callmeerin @twolegs @Heffy5001 @Segbarb57 @Sueellen @Wendyjo73 @Quinton @Kbucceroni @becci3 @DonMLeBlanc @KaronC @Brevisjohn @Geniusma @Dorothy @Lenardshortdc @Tenamarie @Christi357 @Redson @Kekekim @Beadlady @Bigfoot @deblake615 @Juicey @Rhea60 @Stormyrain @Beezer @Mlbernhardt1 @Yaya1968 @ruthieandbaby @cin999 @SanGan @busybob @Mingster @jenneighbs @Bud516 @MareMoo @QUEENB74 @Warekellee @DEEPBLUEJAMEY @shelley8857 @Elizabeth @JerriLynn @Skmf55 @Reginajames @Joedy1950 @Skyboss @Sandybee @MATO0618 @JerryPhillips @PattyCone @Deedeerol @Snownurse72 @leaha123 @ncchick60 @rmcconnaughey @Will65 @rjtangney @uncleruss1 @tamera013

What do you do to manage breathlessness in your day-to-day activities? Do you have any breathing exercises, devices, or techniques that help you better control your breathing and avoid flare-ups?

Feel free to share your experiences and advice with the community!

Take care,

Somya from the Carenity team 🌼

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Sunflower1

09/20/2024 at 9:46 PM

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Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 9:04 PM

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It's a bad day for me to answer this as I have been having a self-pity party today. I'm a few days into a cold that's made my breathing a bit worse than usual. How do I manage it daily? Move much slow,be happy for what you can do, find a hobby ( one where you can sit a lot.), enjoy sitting outside. Plus it's good to have a self-pity party and complain all you want.

Sunflower 1

COPD: How do you manage breathlessness on the daily? https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/copd-how-do-you-manage-breathlessness-on-the-daily-5857 2024-09-20 21:46:32

Maynerd

09/24/2024 at 4:46 AM

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When I'm feeling breathless I stop what I maybe doing I try to think of calm thoughts and do the deep breathing in and pursed lips while slowly breathing out. This seems to help!

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Kim R Oberlie

COPD: How do you manage breathlessness on the daily? https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/copd-how-do-you-manage-breathlessness-on-the-daily-5857 2024-09-24 04:46:24

Lillith60

09/26/2024 at 12:58 PM

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It involves lots of pre planing nothing spontaneous anymore we all move very slow.pleade be treated

COPD: How do you manage breathlessness on the daily? https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/copd-how-do-you-manage-breathlessness-on-the-daily-5857 2024-09-26 12:58:05

Gordon

10/02/2024 at 6:39 PM

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Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 4:37 PM

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For me its cranking up the supplemental oxygen a little. Lately, I have had to take the portable oxygen with me to the kitchen or to the bathroom. I get breathless walking to the car with the oxygen on, just heading out to the market or a doctor appointment. Have to just sit and relax and perhaps crank up the O2 a little.

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Gordon Harvey

COPD: How do you manage breathlessness on the daily? https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/copd-how-do-you-manage-breathlessness-on-the-daily-5857 2024-10-02 18:39:39

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CarolSchmidt

12/21/2020 at 10:35 PM

@KathyA‍, please read what I wrote above on using oxygen. I am so, so, thrilled to have portable oxygen that gave me more of my life back. I was told in 2011 when I lived in San Miguel de Allende at 6,400 ft altitude that I needed to go on oxygen, but all I saw around town was one woman with the heavy metal canisters in a cart behind her, and that looked terrible. I moved back to near sea level and put off needing oxygen all day for another seven years, just a Bipap at night.

Finally I was huffing and having to stop every few feet even near sea level, but I still didn't want to be lugging a heavy canister behind me. I ran into an old friend who was always really active, ballroom dancing, hiking, fly fishing in rivers. And there she was with an Inogen in a backpack, doing everything she'd always done!

She showed me all about hers and the total package with machine, extra 8-hour battery, two battery chargers for house and car, carrying case, and extended warranty, was around $3,300!

Finally I saved enough for it and have loved it every minute since. I started on 2 for almost a year but had to go to 3 for every day. I switch to 4 liters a minute several times a day when I still get winded bad, and have gone up to 5 for stair climbing. I worry that I will need to go higher than 5 eventually, but I hope by then there will be sronger machines developed that go higher, though then the $500 batteries only last a few hours before needing recharging, instead of 6-8.

The portable ones now are breath-operated--you have to be breathing into the nose cannula for them to work. And my BiPap at night requires continuous flow, which the big oxygen machine Medicare covers provides, so I need both machines. Some day they may all be continuous flow and still portable.

There are cheaper, refurbished units available from the Inogen factory, too. After 1 1/2 years mine started sending strange messages and I called the factory and they sent a new one out the next day! I sent them the old one back no charge. So I am pleased with service, too.

Hope this helps you accept your machine. I am so, so happy I got mine and wish Medicare paid for everyone who needed one.(I understand in a few cases they will pay for one now, but not my particular Cigna Medicare Advantage plan.)

I bet when you go to your reunion you won't be the only one on oxygen! And everyone will be so old! The ones who are already dead and not there are the ones to think about--how many of them had COPD? Fourth leading cause of death in the US before Covid, so now we're fifth. Be glad for all the help you can get! I hope you have a wonderful reunion!

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cbholder3

12/02/2022 at 3:21 PM

@Thakera Yes, even on Medicare it was $400+ a month. My Pulmonologist arranged for me to get it with no copay from GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, you can look up their assistance program at https://www.gskforyou.com/ Hope it goes okay for you, I am just in the process fo renewing mine for next year.

GSKForYou | GSK Patient Assistance Program

Learn how our program can assist you if you need help paying for your GlaxoSmithKline prescription medicines and vaccines, whether you have coverage or not.

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CarolSchmidt

12/21/2020 at 10:35 PM

See the best comment

cbholder3

12/02/2022 at 3:21 PM

GSKForYou | GSK Patient Assistance Program

Learn how our program can assist you if you need help paying for your GlaxoSmithKline prescription medicines and vaccines, whether you have coverage or not.

See the best comment

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COPD: How do you manage breathlessness on the daily?

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