How do you handle shortness of breath (dyspnea)?

Thank you so very much Carol.

@Hidden username Haven't been in public toting around a tank or such (yet) but when someone sees me in an SOB situation I tell them my lungs got toasted fighting a forest fire.  True story but it's only part of what made my COPD.  Using a bit of imagination there is a great reason you carry around some extra O .   

@Rathin you are so funny! Maybe you can come up with jaw-dropping, sympathy-inducing stories for all of us to tell those who question us.

I hope it's not too late to comment, but I remember in one of the first training/information sessions I did for COPD management always talked about pursed-lip breathing. You breathe in with your mouth closed and then breathe out like you're blowing out a candle. I think it's pretty intuitive and we tend to do it on our own naturally, but when you do it by counting slowly it really helps me. :)

@Hidden username Why not go, it just shows you are a fighter doing your best. Anyway who says you will be the only one there with it?

Rhonda S.’s COPD made her feel short of breath and like she was constantly dragging. While her inhalers helped some, she just didn’t feel like herself anymore.

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Well I went to my class reunion and all went well. Of course, I was the only one on oxygen. In fact I have never seen one person in my life on oxygen except for me. But I do everything I want to now. I still work out at Anytime Fitness and go shopping and all sorts of things. It finally hit me to not be mad about this because I am "only suffering the consequences of my behavior" (Smoking) Funny how that helped me see things with a better attitude. And we read the names of the classmates who had died and I was more grateful for my machine. 

A couple years ago Medicare paid for a portable concentrator for me, and when I got it I found that WITH the battery it weighed as much as my 6 liter tank with regulator in a backpack. The unit malfunctioned the day I got it new-in-the-box, so I turned it in and went back to the 6 liter tanks. I see no advantage to it.

@Weyploul5 My portable that I carry like a shoulder purse weighs 6 pounds. It  is OK for  a while but when shopping it goes on the cart and went I am walking on a treadmill I don't have to carry it so I can walk a long ways. Mine is from Allina Health and I wish it were lighter but I really do love it. Allina gives it to you and takes care of all the supplies (thru Medicare) so I have no headaches. I wish you could find a good one because it really does set you free.!

Hi. I have mega allergies!! Sometimes difficulty breathing is part of them. My former allergist prescribed an inhaler. I use it once in a while, not lots. Glad to know it's available should I need it.