How do you handle shortness of breath (dyspnea)?

I had my first bout of bronchitis and I have had it for 4 weeks took two rounds of prednisone and antibiotic cough gone but not the dypsnea so frustrating 

@Pelletierc123 Hello Pelletierc123, thank you for opening this discussion. I'm sorry you're still having after effects from bronchitis! Let me tag some other members who can maybe share their experience and how they handle dyspnea.

Hello everyone, how are you today?  Do you ever experience dyspnea (labored breathing or shortness of breath) with your COPD? How do you cope with it? Has it ever been persistent after a bout of illness like in @Pelletierc123‍'s case?
@PattiSample‍ @CarolSchmidt‍ @Shadygrl‍ @Laurabrandt‍ @Dalelee‍ @Dazzle64‍ @mystic‍ @Tiraehuy‍ @glenm77‍ @jeankos59‍ @renee21760‍ @krclark3‍ @Bp1961‍ @Anglkiss‍ @lylealan‍ @dadof3‍ @Bdl0715‍ @Mako9152‍ @Slrdmr1‍ 

Feel free to share any experiences or advice with us here!

Take care,
Courtney 

COPD's main symptom is shortness of breath, IMO. When it is worse, I rest for a minute, If it continues, I kick my inogen setting up to 4 liters from my usual 3, and if that doesn't work I take two puffs of Albuterol rescue inhaler. So far, this works. Never had to be hospitalized yet for a severe episode. I'm in stage 3.

I find just taking the time to just sit and focus on your breathing without distraction helps calm the urgency to breath. Breath deeply through your nose and with pursed lips breathe out as much bad air as possible to expel the bad juju left that can build up in your lungs. Doing this a couple times a day or more helps. Dont turn up your oxygen level, I only do this if I'm physically engaging in activities like vacuuming or just walking around for long periods of time.  I am in stage 4. Been on oxygen for 6years. Diagnosed by a doctor in 2006, belive I have had it since 2002. Just got bad enough to go to the hospital were they keep me up to a week. Good luck,  just remember to Breathe! 

@Laurabrandt‍ how long did it take you to get to stage 4 from 3 and from first diagnosis? I was diagnosed with COPD in Mexico in 2011 and put on Symbicort and told to move down closer to sea level, which I did. First pulmonologist in Phoenix said I had restrictive breathing disorder and took me off of Symbicort, but onto a Bipap. He retired, next lung doctor says level 3 COPD, oxygen 24/7, trelegy, albuterol. That was a year ago. I’m 78, overweight, with a heart condition. Comments? I would really like input. I know everyone is different. I am inspired that you seem to be doing so well so long at stage 4.

I was in stage 3 for 10 years and had a bad exacerbation and then I became stage 4, I am also having first time with bronchitis and it has been 5 weeks and it affected my breathing so bad just sitting I want to keep yawning been on 2 full rounds of prednisone and now on 3rd and doesn’t to be working I guess we all have different problems but it is so good to talk to people who understand 

How many weeks does a copd bronchitis flare up last

@Pelletierc123 That's how  I feel. Nice to talk to people who understand.  I was on a couple of rounds of prednisone and still couldn't breathe and they did a breath test and found out I was Stage 4. Inhalers didn't seem to work any more so now I am on 24/7 oxygen and fighting tears half the time. It has only been about 10 days with this oxygen. I have a class reunion next summer that I was so excited about it and now I don't know if I even want to go with an awful breathing machine at my side.

After  blowing into a desktop PFT rig in 2004 the nurse told me I have the lungs of a 140 year old.  Xmas day 2018 was my first full blown respiritory failure with intubation and a 3 day ICU stay. Don't remember what happened but am told it was awful having me carted off in an ambulance. My bad SOB episodes now are so severe I lose control of bodily functions.  I call them PDBL (pee down both leg) events and the only way I can recover is to totally relax and focus on the exhale.  Hoping to have endobronchial valve treatment soon and get a little more time before I stroke out from no O to the brain.

Laughing to keep from crying. @wymzark‍, I'm on water pills for related heart problems and I spend $45 a month on 24/7 incontinence products and still pee down both my legs sometimes.  I sit on the toilet and breathe slowly and deeply to relax. I don't leave the house for the four hours or so of the worst after taking the Lasix in the morning. I was able to get an Imogen portable concentrator form y waking hours (regular oxygen at night attached to my BiPap) and I started on 2 liters but quickly went up to 3 for every day. When I am having breathing trouble I put it up to 4 and a few times a month even 5, if I have to climb stairs or walk more than 100 feet. Are you on oxygen at home? How awful that you had to be intubated. And now you can't count on there being a hospital bed and a ventilator when you need it because Covid patients are overflowing our medical system with the worst yet to come. I surely hope you can get an endobronchial valve treatment soon that will help a whole lot.