|
Post by susieq on Mar 29, 2007 15:42:49 GMT -5
Hi everyone, My name is Sue how do you do? I'm new to this forum and looking to give & receive support for caregivers. I do not have Copd but I am here to support my hubby (Spencer) and looking for others in the support role to touch base regularly in this part of the forum. I'm trying to learn as much as I can to help others & my husband to make our lives easier & comfortable as much as as possible. Phil just want to say love this forum & thanks for all the work on this etc, Thanks for your time.
|
|
|
Post by kygal on Mar 29, 2007 17:46:54 GMT -5
Hi Sue,
I'm a caregiver to my husband, Doug, and I would LOVE to be able to find some support, as well as give what I can. I do know that support groups are few and far between, at least here in Canada and I've yet to find any mention of one for caregivers. Where are you located?
So nice to meet you and find another caregiver.
Take care,
Mary
|
|
|
Post by morningstar on Mar 29, 2007 20:49:57 GMT -5
Ladies, I am a odd lot. I took care of my Mother for years. And I have COPD. So I know where you both are coming from and you are both right support groups are needed very badly. I wish that when I was caring for mom that I would have just had someone to talk to about how things go. I wish you ladies all the luck there is and if I can be of any help please feel free to pm me. God Bless
|
|
|
Post by dray on Mar 30, 2007 7:57:54 GMT -5
Hi Folks my name is Dave and I am the lesser half of Jackie a.k.a. Blossom, Thank you Phil for starting this corner. I really believe it is important for for us support/care givers have a place to vent and bond with friends in the similiar position of assisting our loved ones in coping with COPD. Just maybe together we can help make a difference in our BH's journey with this disease. Just maybe sharing our thoughts, experiences and fears can all make us better partners. Dave
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2007 15:30:45 GMT -5
Hi everyone, My name is Tomcat aka Tom I am Morningstar's other half, i don't have copd but she does. I look after her as much as I can , I try to give her as much comfort as i can. I will try too help out if I can,Just let me know if I could be of any assistance. Have a G'Day Tom
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2007 8:41:59 GMT -5
Hi everyone, It's a glomy morning today, Just wondering whats in store for me today. All I know is that I thought I had let our 8 month old puppy out and I don't remember bringing her back in. So I had too go and look for her. I was gone for some time when I returned home , she was in the house. I was really realived when I seen her. So whats next on this day? Hope you all have a g'day and take it easy out there Tom
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2007 5:08:10 GMT -5
Morning everyone, Well it looks like it might be another g,day here in the Ohio-West Virginia valley.I have been up with the birds too here them singing too thier hearts content.I've already had my first cup of coffee, and going on two. I'm hoping too catch a Whitesox Game on the tv today but the odds are very slim that this will happen.I hope evryone has a good day and don't forget to breathe Talk too everyone later Tom
|
|
|
Post by susieq on Apr 5, 2007 21:54:35 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Been a few days since I've touched base with you all. Need to ask where you get those great vivitars? Rosemarie you sent something like that to my husband John (Spencer) & he forwarded it to me & I'm not sure how to do them. Need to ask for help- Been busy here looking for another vehicle as my husband was rear ended about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Outside of whiplash & stress from it he's doing OK. Hope all is well with you all & nice to meet Dave & Tom. Happy posting to all & talk to you's later. Take care
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2007 14:47:42 GMT -5
Hi Susie, I am Rosemaries other half My name is Tom I kinda look after her while she does her exercises too make sure she is breathing correctly. I have learned alot since i moved here in West Virginia in 2003. I hope I could be some help if you need it, let me know. Talk too you later Tom
|
|
|
Post by susieq on Apr 7, 2007 21:52:09 GMT -5
Hi everyone, John's (Spencer) wife here. Hope you all are doing well supporting your love ones. Things are going well here. My husband learned somewhere that it is good to blow up balloons as it helps the lungs. So the other day I bought him some & he's been doing well & said it helps. Has any of your members tried this? It's suppose to help with the Carbon dioxide exchange to. Well you all take care & Tom you keep watching or listening to the birds for me as we have to many cats in our area they don't hang around as I don't blame them. . Take care all & talk to you's later. Sue
|
|
|
Post by susieq on Apr 8, 2007 19:22:36 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Hope you all had a Happy Easter! John & I's was very quite & nice & went out to dinner & had our ham. Well talk to you all later. Take care. Sue
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2007 22:44:00 GMT -5
Hi Susie, Just a short note to let you know whats happening here. One of her friends from across town came by saturday too measure the porch for a ramp. On the way home they found a guy tearing down a ramp from his home and picked it up and brought it here. The birds are telling me that it is too darn cold here and wished it would warm up some here. Rose uses the balloons too blow up and they seem to be worky good for her. Well talk too everyone later Tom
|
|
|
Post by morningstar on Apr 9, 2007 10:18:34 GMT -5
Hi Sue,
Just a word or two on breathing my RT was here Sat. and she got on me for doing one exercise that made me totaly out of breath and winded as she called it. She said COPD people should never raise there heart rate more than 20 or 25 beats over there resting pluse and should never hold there breath for any reason. She doesn't much believe in the balloons but said as long and I wasn't letting any of the air I have blown in the balloon back into my lungs. Said it would do me more good to inhale to the count of 3 and exhale to the count of 10. Her name is Tina and she is very very good at her job so I am going to try it her way. Hope this helps you and John in some way.
|
|
|
Post by susieq on Apr 9, 2007 21:31:31 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
Tom & Rosemarie, Hope your ramp will be coming along soon & tell those birds of yours they do not want to come up our way as it is around 31 degrees here. West Virginia has to be warmer than Pittsfield Massachusetts.
Rosemarie, nice to hear about your RT. Oh yes, definitely do as your rt tells you to do the breathing. Thanks for sharing info. Hope your both doing well & talk to you all tomorrow. I do not get on computer until late at nite as you can see.
|
|
|
Post by susieq on Apr 9, 2007 21:42:55 GMT -5
Dave, How are you and Jackie (Blossom) doing? All well there? John (Spencer) and I are doing well. John was rear ended in his truck about 2 weeks ago & the paperwork that goes along with it its a pain, excuse the pun , & his neck pain is a pain but doing OK. We did get another veh & enjoy driving it. Well I'm trying not to be to wordy on this forum. I love to type so I go on & on. My Husband gets on me and says " your not writing a book" & he just said to me "don't make them long" How did he know what I was doing, he's in the other room. He probably heard the click click click of the keys. I will work on shorter one next time. Take care you both and hope to hear you soon.
|
|
|
Post by dray on Apr 24, 2007 20:01:24 GMT -5
Sorry Susieq, for not responding I have been busy. Ms Jackie and I are getting ready to fly south to see our kids & grandkids, what used to happen a drop of a hat now takes planning, doctor's visits to make sure Jack is ok to fly, etc . etc. Good news is she was cleared to fly without O2. Hopefully the trip will be uneventful COPD wize and we have the opportunity to enjoy our visit with the K's. Will check in from Georgia
Take Care D
|
|
|
Post by susieq on May 1, 2007 21:15:57 GMT -5
Dave & Jackie, Hope all is well in Georgia. Weather must be warmer than here which is 52. Hope the K'ds keeping you all busy. . John & I are doing better, John just getting over a cold, you know how that can be sometimes. I feel for the COPDers. Well he is back to his self now & keeping a positive attitude & keeping busy. That helps him alot. Well take care, Talk to you soon. Sue
|
|
|
Post by susieq on May 1, 2007 21:23:03 GMT -5
Hi Tom,
How's that ramp of your's coming? Hope no big problems. The weather been cooperating down there for you? Glad Rosemarie is feeling better. You take care , Sue E
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2007 7:34:57 GMT -5
Hi Sue, I've been quite busy here with the ramp and all, The ramp is done all except for the side railing which, i will do when I get a new skillsaw. I'm trying to get the garage ready for a yard sale on the 1st. I'm sure glad we got the ramp done now my Rosemarie can get outside when she wants too. We are suppose to have company this morning, only to wish that the company would call and say that they couldn't make it. but what are the odds of that happening? Well I need to get off here and go on dog patrol too see where they all are talk to everyone later easy breathing Tom
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2008 18:45:33 GMT -5
#Band# Guitarman is sleeping and I am getting ready to go back to work tomorrow. I am a little worried about him as he seems to suffer more when I am not here. Anxiety I think. He does not like to be alone. I want to teach him to use this machine but he says he is too old now. Never I say. He is in accute COPD now. We have not had much information over the past seven years just learning alot now. I
|
|
|
Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Sept 2, 2008 10:26:03 GMT -5
Well; how did it go (with you going back to work)? Anxiety sure isn't a new thing for COPDer's.
Also; could you please describe what you're referring to by severe?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2008 18:35:10 GMT -5
The Doctor says he is very severe. I don't know why he would tell him that but he has lots of physical things happening now that he never had before. Feet swell, legs swell, lots of phantom pains in chest and back and sitting with the nebulizer more. He has had COPD for 7 years now and it has progressed quite a bit. Should it move this fast? Of course at the beginning he thought he was going to go in a few months, but as time went by he realized it was not going to be that way. It's just sometimes he gets very depressed and upset he can't do the things he wants to.
|
|
|
Post by gwenwigley on Sept 4, 2008 22:06:47 GMT -5
Hi Guitarman, As caregiver of ChrisW I sympathize with what you are going through. Chris has had Copd for 15 years plus and is still going strong. Doctors are,it seems very quick with the doom and gloom. With the right meds and exercise life expectancy can be pretty good. The meds can cause a lot of troublesome side effects to deal with but that is what they are "side effects" so don't panic on those. It is quite normal to get depressed. Who wouldn't when they find they just can't do the things they are used too. It is an adjustment [pretty major!!] to realize that you have to slow right down. My husband is at 25% lung capacity and on oxygen 24/7 but he doesn't let that stop him from what he want's to do even if it is much slower than he is used to .As a caregiver our role is to encourage and support and sometimes to prod a little because let's face it none of us are really good at self-motivation!! A lot of people with COPD don't realize and the medics are not good at telling them but regular daily exercise is key to keeping them going and as fit as possible. Right now my husband is out walking the dog for 1/2 hour. Difficult, yes - impossible, no. He can and he does, with a cell phone so he can call me if he needs to, but he does it. What so many people with COPD don't realize is how important exercise is to overall well being with this disease. The bottom line is that a fit body does not require as much oxygen to operate as a non fit one. Encourage him to do as much ad he can and maybe stretch a little. Being a caregiver is hard because you want to help so much but it is the old sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind!! Take care and hang in there. Gwen
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2008 12:03:47 GMT -5
HELP!!! (Still learning) Has anyone else's mate lost their voice completely? My hubby (Norm) has smoked all his life even though I've tried to get him to quit. He's always been in good health so maybe that is why he's having such a time adjusting to this. He finally HAD to quit July/08 due to swollen legs and feet and breathlessness climbing stairs. He's on Spiriva daily and has Salbutamol as a when needed puffer. He was also given Advair but we were leary of his using it due to it being black boxed by Health Canada. He has just started even using that to get breath. Norm had a gastroscopy on Oct. 1st and his voice has not been the same since. He had NO problem with his voice before. He came out from the procedure fine but within a few days lost his voice completely to a point he could barely whisper! An ear, nose and throat specialist said he's NEVER seen this in 30 yrs. Blood clots on each side of the throat!! Norm has coughed up the clots since then and his voice returned (almost). Doctors assured us it was not the procedure (of course) and his voice would return. He was not doing too bad until yesterday when his voice started to disappear again and as of last night he has NO voice again! He's coughing quite a bit now but not releasing the phlegm! His cough sounds so dry! We have a humidifier in the bedroom (even though it hurts my arthritis!) We've been told next to nothing by the doctors. What we have been told I've had to pry out of them! They've made no suggestion of exercising or rehab. Mind you, I don't think he could do much exercising due to the swollen legs and feet. It seems like a vicious circle! Do those getting rehab. also have the swollen legs and feet? Lynne
|
|
|
Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Dec 13, 2008 13:26:17 GMT -5
Wow....a lot of questions and even more possibilities Willow....
I ain't no Dr..... might be worse if I was nowadays.....
I just saw this post........frankly I need time to think and I want to find a better spot as well.....meanwhile have you tried cupped hand, sort of thumping on the back? You have a humidifier but is he getting enough fluid to thin the mucus? There's folks who take something for it but personally I don't. Perhaps they can point you in that direction.
Is he taking anything for his legs/feet swelling? Is he on heart meds? Maybe water pills to help?
Lynne; if he's having problems; especially if it's breathing related and outside of the norm for him...... please go to your nearest ER...... Please. It can make the difference between a brief visit and a longer one.
In the interim I'll see what I can do to move this a bit....(your post)
|
|
|
Post by Ruth on Jan 13, 2009 0:50:46 GMT -5
everyone. I am new to this site, I dont have COPD but my hubby of 2 yrs has, he being a smoker since he was 13 & quit almost 2 yrs ago. He's 55 now and is now in hosp, went there coz his feet and legs were swollen for 3 days. Doctors said his Oxygen leval was down to 70 only which makes it harder for him to breath and put too much pressure on his heart. Now he worries he couldnt go back to his job as a car mechanic coz doctors were telling him he shld be on portable oxgyen at least 18 hours each day. I dont know if he is just denying or finding it hard to accept his illness but he always tell doctors he is fine and breathing good.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 9:54:45 GMT -5
Dear Ruth,
Although i am not a care giver I am a spouce who has COPD, I used to try so hard not to burden my husband when i am sick, he is the one person i know i can depend on. I hope you find lots of support here, there are so many, many great people, learn all you can about COPD, I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts and prayers, hang in there and know taht we all care. Love Linndie
|
|
|
Post by aero63 on Jan 13, 2009 10:08:34 GMT -5
hi Ruth
I have COPD. I think hubby is feeling alot right now. Denial, not fully accepting, and possibly not being a good provider in the future , and not wanting to worry you if he can't work. Doc prescribed portable oxygen, so he should be able to work something out at work, if he feels he can still do the work.
Someone better able to answer your question in further detail or from experience should be along to help answer you question better than I.
Hope things start looking up for you.
|
|
|
Post by the bear on Jan 13, 2009 11:31:00 GMT -5
I hate to be the one to rain on your parade but, has your husband never thought about the dangerous conditions of being an auto mechanic?? He is exposed to auto exhaust all day long and this with his COPD is really doing a job on his health. He needs medical attention his heart cannot keep up the job because his lungs as sick. He probably has CHF and needs to be on diuretics and heart medications. His best bet would be to be on oxygen. I am no doctor and you need help from a cardiologist and a respirologist. He has to accept the fact that his working days are over as a mechanic and being in that toxic environment.
|
|