I hope someone out there can halp me

sandy45
0 Recommendations

Hi,
I have now gone from 131 to 176 in less than a year, since I was put on Prednisone. It really does help me feel much better so i hate to stop taking it.
I honestly do not overeat, which brings me to the second part. I am on oxygen
24/7(set is 5) I lost a lot of lung capacity with radiation. I cannot walk more than a few feet without being very winded. What can i do to exercise. I feel great besides these to issues, (I do have emphezema too which was also a shocker) I have been done with treatment for 3 years. I really would appreciate any advise you may have,
Has anyone just stopped taking the prednizone?
Thanks much
Sandy

14 replies

Cognachai

Although new to the scene - my cancer has yet to be properly defined and I haven't started any treatment - I wonder whether isometric exercising might help you improve body tone and even control your weight. You will need a book or someone to describe what to do and the fortitude and persistence to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day (not all in one session) to this activity which consists of working different muscles against a static resistance - eventually until they "burn" a little. As an example, press your hand against your side and hold it there to feel the pectoral muscle tense. I don't know whether this activity, which can be conducted in your chair or lying down, will make you breathless but it's worth a try. One warning, isometrics are used to build muscle which is heavier than fat so your weight might not change a lot but you should feel better.

I'm sure you will continue to fight and, with help, win the war.

barbsdaughter

Hi Sandy,
My mom has COPD, on oxygen 24/7- on prednisone - same as you. She was having great difficulty walking, breathing etc I got a physical therapist for her and by the end of 8 weeks, my mom was actually doing squat thrusts ( I dont think that she had ever done them in her life. The PT taught her how to breathe differently and it sounds easy but it was very difficult to try to change how you did something for 63 years You should look into PT as it helped my mom tremendously!!!! Good Luck

sandy45

Hi
I am sorry that you have a need to be on this site, but you have come to the right place for support. Your idea is a good one. I am going to try it.

My best to you!! Thanks so much
Sandy

sandy45

Hi
Not only do we have the same disease, I am also 63! I had thought of PT but didn't think I would be able to do it. I absolutely will get busy and try to find a PT. How did you locate the place your Mom goes to? If your Mom did it, no reason I can't. Between this and the isometrics that were alo suggested, maybe I can get this body back in shape,
that will be fabtastic!! Thanks so much
Sandy

tlookingforcurestge4

Hello,

I thought maybe some breathing exercise my help strengthen your lungs. I know a lady who was taking inhalers for her copd and she started doing yoga and breathing exercises daily and now she no longer uses the inhalers, and breaths well on her on. I do not know what presdnone is. Keeping believeing in hope and believe things can get better.
hugs
tonya

Marie400

When my Mom was first dx'd with COPD she was referred for pulmonary rehab. They teach you different ways to breath for different activities. It was something she did for a long time and it really seemed to help. Your PCP should be able to refer you someplace for that.

sandy45

Hi

Thats great , I will give his office a call and srart there. Who knows, maybe I will be jogging soon : )

Thanks much
Sandy

liznj226

Pulmonary rehab is probably a great thing to look into but whatever you do, don't just stop taking the prednisone all at once. You have to be weaned off of it gradually or you can get a lot of complications.

God Bless,
Liz

mitziger

Hi, I too am taking prednisone and I do not like it, you cannot just stop it, you have to taper off of it or can have some bad reactions. You might really need it for your lungs if you are on 5 on oxygen. The oncology nurse put me on steroids for a cough that she thought might be from allergy. The pack she gave me you are supposed to take 6 one day, then 5 and on down each day by one, until you get off of them. I also get them before chemo was 5 two times evening before chemo, I didn't sleep for 32 hours so she cut it back to 2 twice and now 2@ day for 6 days. I guess the strength determines how you go about tapering off, just don't stop on your ownplease... Not sure how you react and really don't want to find out. I do eat and munch too much I weighed 127, quit smoking, went to 132, now with steroid am at 134. Which is not bad, I haven't smoked for over 5 months after 57 yrs of it and my cancer was not due to smoking, I am told......Please talk to your doctor about the prednisone and please do not do it on your own. God Bless and take care

sandy45

Thanks for the sdvise. I see him Next Wed. and will see what he says. I was having problems ie. bronchiris, fluid on my lung, collapsed lung and they gave me the predisone and it seemed to help. I will ask him if I can try getting off it now and how i can safely do that. This is so super to be able to talk with people who have some first hand knowledge about these things. I don't feel so isolated anymore. This gives me a lot of hope. I wonder if medicare will help with the cost?

Have a great evenng
Sandy

mitziger

Medicare certainly helps, make sure your doctor accepts assignment too and they will pay 80% of the approved amount. Mine did and my AARP paid all of the balance. Hopefully you have a good supplement policy, AARP has been great. I am glad you found the site and am sure you will get great help from the wonderful people here, some have been through so very much. Take care and just have faith. I tell it to get out of my body, I do not have room for it with God and I in there. Please do talk to your doctor, I don't believe everything they say sometimes, but with your problems you just might have to stay on them. They put my sister on them all of the time with her bronchitis and copd, she also uses a machine twice a day that she has to breathe on. Take care and get well.

sandy45

You are such a great help. I have been on Cobra plan since i had to retire and am just changing to Medicare. I got the Medicare advantage plan thru humana but I do not have a Suppliment Where do I get that part from. Is it real expesive? I feel like a Dufus!!
Thanks for letting me know.Sandy

barbsdaughter

Sandy,
My moms physical therapist came to my home thanks to the Visiting Nurse Association One other thing that I would like to mention to you - My mom had been on prednisone for a while We had to get a new oncologist and he was outraged that my mom had not been placed on Bactrim as well I guess it is very common to get a lung infection being on prednisone Bactrim is an antibiotic to preven such complications please be sure to ask doc about it!!

sandy45

Hi
Thanks for that information. I don't currently take that and will ask my doctor for it. My Resp. doctor was the one who put me on it. I do not go to him anymore as he just has a negitive way about him that I don't like but I am sure my Onc or regular doctor will give me a prescription. Thanks again, I DO get lung infections pretty often and have to go on antibiotics.
Please ignore my boo boo I really do know how to spell HELP : )

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