Have no idea what to expect !
I just did the 6 minute test with the Pulmonologist and had above average results ! Then I come home and 2 days later I go for a walk and am extremely out of breath. I am taking Trilogy and doing the Neb 3 times a day. Why do I keep seemingly slipping back to what seems to be another flare up ? It seems that I have gone from nothing to severe in just the matter of 2 months. I am really down.
sal678,
You have to remember that COPD can change in a matter of seconds. One second you are feeling fine, the next you can't breathe. Your 6-minute walk test was done in a controlled environment. Clean air and probably air conditioned. Very little if any allergens or air particulates that irritate your lungs. Two days later, you go for a walk. Now you are subject to all kinds of outdoor irritants. Pollen, dust and dander, ozone, wind, heat or cold, etc. It makes a huge difference in your ability to be able to breathe and exercise or walk at the same time. You are not alone in this. All COPD sufferers are in the same boat. I always check the air quality before I go outside for any amount of time. Knowing what causes me breathing problems helps in the evaluation of air quality. Hope this helps a little. Take care and God Bless!
I hear how frustrated you are. It's hard to figure out what's going on when you have no idea how you're going to feel each day. Dminor is right in that most people with COPD have fluctuations of good and bad days. That said, it sounds like you have been struggling with flares consistently for some time now. What did the pulmonologist say about this? It may be worth another discussion -- you are using your nebulizer a good bit, perhaps a change in medication or a pulmonary rehab program could help you. Additionally, learning to do pursed-lip breathing is a crucial skill if you don't already do it regularly. Here's a video that demonstrates:
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/resource-library/pursed-lip-breathing-video
Beyond that, it's important to be patient with your body. It can take a while to recover from a flare-up or illness, and giving it time and not pushing yourself is often the best way forward. We're here to support you! -Melissa, team member
