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[robotwars]

Hi! My mother has COPD and is suffering from anxiety attacks, I have spoken to the doctors many times but they don't seem to be able to do anything to help her, its making her breathing worse, when she has an attack she has tingling in her legs, down her arms and worries about it, we have been told its a side effect of the anxiety but she is just getting worse, I just don't know what to do to help her anymore, she has also been told she is suffering from hyperventilation..... she gets out of breath now just walking from the sofa to the kitchen...... its so hard to watch and know you cant do anything to help, I have asked about getting carers/home help in but she wont have it, I have suggested buying a wheelchair to help her get around but no she wont have it! I think she is scared of losing her independence and is finding it hard to accept help, but I feel like I have no time to myself between working and looking after her, that is my day at the moment................ and what with all the perimenopause  symptoms as well life's great at the moment!!! LOL   sorry just needed to vent I will feel better in the morning..................

[CLKD]

I think your mum is experiencing state of the art panic attacks which feed on themselves as we know all too well!

Ask her to learn some relaxation exercises: sitting in a comfortable chair with hands in the lap, breath in sharply through the mouth, hold for the count of 3, then let out through the nose as slowly as possible.  3 times. Have a buzz word ……. 'relax', 'sunshine' ….

Sitting in a comfy chair, hands in lap - eyes shut, then starting from the toes - tense, relax - through all the muscle groups.  Concentrating on the muscle groups calms the body.  Practicing 3 times a day is important as well as in bed if she can't sleep.

Soothing music ……… again in the chair, sitting quietly - tuning the brain into the upper line of the song/tune, or the bass if it's male singers, anything to concentrate the mind.

The tingling is probably an adrenaline surge.  For me it's like hot water running through my veins  scared the pants of me the first time ….. not a pleasant sensation but does dissipate eventually.

When do you see her again?

[Taz2]

Hi robotwars - this kind of panic is common with illnesses such as COPD and IPF and can be due to the changing oxygen levels in the blood. I take it that your mum has a specialised nurse assigned to her or at least access to a respiratory clinic? Does she use oxygen yet?

You may find this helpful in that it recognises that panic attacks are common in COPD sufferers. http://www.everydayhealth.com/copd/managing-copd-panic-attacks.aspx

Taz x

[robotwars]

Thanks for all your replies, I will be back there today as I go over every day......
she has just come out of hospital for the third time since November, this time she was in 3 weeks, she also has chronic heart failure,
she is only 74, such a shame! they will not give her air at home they say it's poisoning her blood, in hospital they arranged for a physio to show her how to breath from her stomach (who I didn't see!!!) and left an email address to contact to arrange for someone to come into the home once a week and show her how to do this but so far no one is replying to my email.
The COPD nurse hasn't been in contact yet since she came out this time, been home a week now!!! she said she would call round and see her but so far no sign!!! I have telephoned every day so far!!!!!
I have made an appointment to see her GP next week.
I have managed to get a monitor fitted at home so she can register her air flow/heart rate etc......this is connected to the COPD centre, every day they phone back and ask if she is ok as her levels are so low!!! But all they suggest is she goes back into hospital which she doesn't want to do as last time she caught the noro virus!!!
Oh Well another day awaits...................
Im thinking of a wheelchair as her bungalow has grass out the front and its a small walk to the car which is proving very difficult to get her their!!

[Taz2]

I'm not sure what they meant by "poisoning her blood" robotwars. It seems to me that if she has COPD and heart failure then her body is having to work really hard to cope. Have you tried contacting The British Lung Foundation? My friend found it really helpful during her husband's lung illness http://www.blf.org.uk/Page/Support-and-information  They did have a helpline but not sure if it is still active.

Taz x