Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forums Forums PF Communities PF Life: 50+ We Should All Try to Slow Down Our Breathing

  • We Should All Try to Slow Down Our Breathing

    Posted by Mark Koziol on July 28, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    There is one common thing everyone on the planet takes for granted except for lung disease patients: being able to breathe freely. As PF patients, we know the value of taking our next breath because of the struggles we face daily. An article was sent to me by a friend titled; “How one hour of slow breathing changed my life.” The author writes the article for the Guardian, I believe as self-promotion for his book. I had a short text discussion with Lynn Gorton, the respiratory therapist at the pulmonary rehab facility I attend. She has been the topic of a forum post and the subject of a column of mine. Lynn agreed with the author on many points in his article.

     

    Lynn often tells me I over breathe and this is where many lung disease patients experience problems. In his article, the author writes, “We’ve been conditioned to breathe too much as well as eat too much.” As soon as I read this statement I immediately thought of Lynn and being scolded for over-breathing. Lynn consistently emphasizes to slow my breathing along with others who are in the class. She also facilitates the Better Breathers Club. In this group, she teaches the Buteyko breathing method. This technique is similar to the breathing technique the author is describing in his article.

     

    I also agree with the message the author is conveying. I believe most people do over breathe, especially lung disease patients. Before my transplant, I can remember going into panic mode several times a day. It was horrible. I wish I had known Lynn back then. I believe she would have given me the direction I needed to avoid many of my struggles.

     

    Forum Members: How many members have experienced problems with over-breathing?

    What did you do to rectify the situation?

    Have you practiced a particular breathing method to slow down your breathing?

    Karen Martin replied 4 years, 2 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Susan Howitt

    Member
    August 18, 2020 at 10:16 am

    I know I now over breathe, used to be able to hold my breathe for a fair while, now 10 seconds and I get an instant headache, goes just as quickly though.  Dizziness is my worst symptom making safe walking a little scary, I am usually alone in a forest as it is the only flatish place for miles.  I now have to stop every 100 metres or so to get my sats up from 75/79 (painful and very scary as it is a very sudden drop)  to my, upright as opposed to laying down, max of 91.  In March I could walk 4kms, now I struggle to do 2kms.  I have learnt to nose breathe, almost impossible not to on pulsed oxygen.  Still trying to breathe from the diaphragm but now getting very hard, I can breathe out pretty well but in is another matter altogether.  Sitting or laying I can keep my sats at 95 or on a good day not even require oxygen !!!! not willing to spend the rest of my life just sitting though.

  • Mark Koziol

    Member
    August 19, 2020 at 8:02 am

    Hello Susan, I think you being cognizant of your breathing method is great. It is difficult sometimes for patients to do this. I know I had my troubles and now I still have to remind myself. Take care and stay as active as your body permits, mark.

  • Karen Martin

    Member
    August 19, 2020 at 9:14 am

    Mark, thanks for posting this link. I have known for a long time that I probably have relatively long pauses between many of my breaths. In fact, tracking my breathing patterns makes me anxious! It was suggested to me that visualization might be a better tactic for me. It was only during a yoga class that I found I could comfortably track my breathing at the end of the session when I was very relaxed. These days when I find myself short of breath for whatever reason, I usually lean forward and “listen” to a song in my head until my sats come up. Weird, I know, but I wonder if there are others out there who are like this. Thanks again for providing great food for thought!
    Karen

  • Mark Koziol

    Member
    August 19, 2020 at 9:21 am

    Hi Karen, I am pleased you found this topic useful. Take care, Mark!

  • Susan Howitt

    Member
    August 19, 2020 at 10:07 am

    Hi Karen, I actually use certain songs when in the car to try and regulate my breathing as I breathe too fast most of the time as my O2 recuperators are now not powerful enough if I move too fast or too far, very annoying, you have made me think I really must buy something where I can listen to music when I walk the dogs of an evening, maybe I can recover some of the distance I have lost of late.  Thaénk you

     

  • Karen Martin

    Member
    August 19, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    Hi, Susan. Glad that maybe I was of help to you. This forum is wonderful for making new contacts and getting new ideas. Take care and stay safe on those evening walks.

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