Ann, I'd disagree with you. For people with OPD, it's all about endurance and increasing it. You are right in that it's not about speed, but if you have limitations you need to be careful of, like not going over a certain heart rate, then you do have to pace yourself so you stay under that magic number. We also have to keep our O2 sats in a good range so we don't desaturate, so there are lots of things to consider when we exercise.

However, if the only problem is our O2 sats, then supplemental O2 is necessary to allow us to really work while we exercise: we need to get to the huffing, puffing and sweating stage and be able to maintain that for at least 30 minutes without stopping. Doing that makes the lung function we do have much more efficient and allows us to be able to do much more in our daily activities. If you can work up to that, you'll find that many things that are hard now won't be quite so hard in the future. That's the beauty of exercising. For me, exercise makes it possible for me to live independently, travel when I want to, continue to work part-time as a consultant, to do lots of COPD advocacy work and enjoy my family.

Talk with your doc, take him a record of what your sats are, and get some O2. If you don't use it, you're asking for right heart failure, brain injuries and other stuff you really don't want.

Absolutely agree with Jean...there is exercise and there is exercise to really benefit from...After my recent episodes, i found it really hard to go back and push myself out of my comfort zone, Once i bit the bullet as i feared doing the walk test n being put on suppliment oxygen, i started walking trial 6 mins n checking oxymeter...It was dropping to 92% which never happened before.....7 days later i can get around the block like before with levels at 94%.but quick recovery to normal 98%....Sure i am really SOB at the end but i am so thrilled and full of confidence...Mind you i am at 18% Lung Function...of course it is the PLB technique that i give credit to.......

oxygen therapy , look into it... your Dr should be told about this

Not sure why in your case but generally that qualifies you for Oxygen therapy....Have you done a 6 minute walk test? Maybe have another PFT and see if supplimental oxygen is appropriate...It also depends on how quickly your saturation returns back to your normal resting rate..as to what you need to do..

But to continue to exercise with low oxygen levels can lead to organ damage, cardiac and respiratory failure.

Hope it helps but it is only what i learnt in Rehab........Take care xxxx
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