How to get exercise if you have emphysema

[Daffy Mouse]

A relative in his sixties has emphysema. He is not on oxygen yet having 25% lung capacity. He is now painfully thin and is too breathless to do any exercise. The major problem with emphysema is that the sufferer can breathe in but can't expel the used air. My Q is: Could he not do exercise while taking short bursts of oxygen? He could then build up some muscle strength surely. Does going on oxygen earlier rather than at the last minute have a negative or positive effect? Are there any specialists who can answer this please? Thankyou, Daffy Mouse

[daffy654]

Some emphysema sufferers are not suitable for oxygen therapy,your relative's doctor will have assessed him for this. I also have emphysema and struggle to walk my son to school everyday but i'm refusing to give in to this disease whilst I am still young(39). I'm not sure oxygen would help with exercise in someone with only 25% lung capacity anyway.

[daffy654]

By the way,I just wanted to point out that what you have described in being unable to expel air is more like asthma.The main problem with emphysema is that the lung tissue dissolves/disintigrates and therefore the ability to absorb oxygen is reduced.

[campbellking]

Why not ask your G.P. if there is a pulmonary rehab programme in your area . Usually around 8 weeks (2 x week), combines exercise with information about respiratory conditions (is normally headed up by a physiotherapist and a respiratory nurse) . Also ask if there is a 'Breathe Easy ' group in your area, who can also provide support.

[Daffy Mouse]

Thankyou Campbellking. He already attends his "breathe easy" clinic. It offers great support and a chance to talk to others with the same condition. The nurses there said to ask his GP who said to ask them! He has been on the Royal Brompton Emphysema Trial.(Jul2007) It is a blind trial. Patients won't know for a year(Jul2008) who have or who haven't had, the new stents inserted into the lungs... If he's one that hasn't had it then he will be offered the chance to have it done provided he is strong enough for surgery. He thinks he hasn't had it done as he hasn't noticed any difference. Hence the exercise!
Daffy 654 You need as much information as you can get. You are so young my heart goes out to you. The RBH is one of the worlds best chest hospitals. Contact Dr Shah 020 7351 8021 or
Dr Ed Cetti 020 7351 8029
or [email protected].
Send an email, Tell them you're ayoung mum and you want to go on any future trials they may hopefully have planned. I hope they can help you.
Good luck and God bless you. Daffy Mouse

[daffy654]

Thanks for the information Daffy Mouse. I am already under the care of a good consultant at Blackpool Victoria Hospital (Dr. Saba) which has a great respiratory medicine department.I have been under their care since my first spontaneous pneumothorax when I was 29 years old. I am being managed with inhalers at the moment and have had surgery. Next step is assessment for oxygen. I think the Royal Brompton would be a little too far for me to travel for any treatment anyway but I will discuss it with my fiance and see what he thinks.

[campbellking]

Has he been assessed for home oxygen ? This would involve taking a blood gas sample and seeing how hypoxic (underoxygenated ) he is. If he does meet the crietria for LTOT (long term oxygen therapy) he would have to use it for 16 hours a day to gain benefit. (Most people would have an oxygen concentator fitted in their house and make up most of the 16 hours overnight).
A respiratory physiotherapist could help him with an exercise regime, and he should ask his G.P. to refer him to his local one. (If the G.P. refers him to his local outpatient service they should be able to steer him in the right direction).
Any muscle will lose strength if not regularly exercised, and you are right that an exercise programme should be started sooner rather than later. Often the sheer terror involved in becoming breathless will stop people from exercising, and little and often is better than long, heavy sessions.
Hope this helps.

[Daffy Mouse]

Campbellking, Thankyou for your reply. It has been very helpful. Warm regards,
Daffy Mouse