I don’t know what’s causing it , but I’ve had an unusually long string of bad breathing days lately. For the past two weeks , my peak flows and my dyspnea levels have been all over the place. Maybe its due to environmental stuff, like the weather, high pollen and mold counts….That sort of thing. I guess I shouldn’t rule out internal stuff either .Maybe it’s anxiety or stress. Whatever it is, I wish it would ease off.
I have a hard enough time walking when I’m feeling “good”. And , because I have very little lung reserve , it doesn’t take much to wear me out. Today for example, I was able to walk a total of six miles, but I had to stop for a rest break every single mile of it. As for the racewalking segments of my walk, at most, I was able to do, maybe one 50- meter burst, per mile . After each velocity burst, I would ease back down into a fitness walking pace and transition into some technique drills . (which also allowed me to catch my breath without stopping completely.
I just want to have a few good green days so I can get out there and racewalk my ass off, or at the very least, do a six mile non-stop fitness walk.
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I know what you’re going through, and it will get better at some point. I’m impressed that you keep walking; you’re like the Energizer Bunny but without a drum. (Well, Iguess you have the blog to beat, hm?)
Have you considered the possibility that you might have a lung infection, too? I know that’s not your main problem, but I should think that even a mild infection of the kind most people don’t even know they get would drastically affect you.
BTw, what’s dyspnea?
Hmmm….. Energizer Bunny.. my battery’s been running low latetly.
You might be right about an infection . With me its usually viral. The slightest cold can send me over the edge.
Regarding Dyspnea; ( a respiratory therapy term)
As you probably know, “shortness of breath”, is very subjective. The way you experience that feeling might be different than the way I experience. Dypnea is one’s own perception of how short of breath they feel.
Confusing huh.
In response to the question you left on my blog…
My PFTs before IVs (and post-albuterol) were 27% best FEV1. After the IVs, I’m up to 43% post-albuterol. I think it will go higher.
I followed the link you had on peak flow meters. The whole page has really good information. I was surprised to see that the scales put me in the “severe” range of pulmonary disease. I would have said “moderate” maybe. Severe is like those people with 18% lung function and are on O2 all the time. That’s not me.