COPD

[Nick]

Hello - First time on this forum. Been erging for a couple of years - working on my 4th million meter - 76 yrs old. Just been diagnosed with pretty advanced COPD - but my doc enthusiastically endorses rowing as primary exercise along with weights and walking. Anyone out there dealing with COPD? Would sure like to learn about others experiences and get some tips on erging and dealing with COPD. Especially interested in use of pulse oximeter while working out. Thanks in advance. Nick

[jackarabit]

Nice to have the oxy saturation number but most of the Chinese cheapies are not tolerant of movement so readings while rowing will actually mean readings handle down and stationary. Any chest belt and HR watch or other enabled receiver gives beats per minutes. The probability that you're getting an accurate ECG display from a twenty dollar device seems very low imo.

[jackarabit]

Forgot to say Welcome, Nick. Also erging less than two years, 200k short of 5MM meters. Also diagnosed with COPD; would have been called silicosis 25 yrs back. Have the powder capsules and emergency inhaler. Never used the inhaler. Hope yours is not debilitating or limiting daily activity.

[Nick]

Hey Jackrabbit - Just logged 5000 meters in preparation for the upcoming challenge. Very, very slow time - but who cares! Not short of breath for more than 30 seconds - recovery to 95-96% 02 in less than a minute - heart rate to 58 in less than a minute following erging. Doc won't put me on any meds - since all of them have probable side effects that would be most uncomfortable and dangerous for this 76 year old battered body. So, the good doc wants me to continue my fairly rigorous program of work-outs (he emphasizes rowing, walking and weights), practicing deep breathing - considering yoga and meditation (don't laugh!). Just continuing to fight the good fight. Don't know where all this COPD will finally take me - but I will not stop fighting the good fight. Thanks for your reply - it's very helpful - best, Nick

[jackarabit]

Prolonging the fight IS winning the fight. A pyrrhic victory of course but which ones aren't? Keep doing what you're doing, Nick, and I'll do the same.

[Nick]

As my old Uncle used to say "Every challenge is an opportunity!"

[heroesfitness]

Hello - First time on this forum. Been erging for a couple of years - working on my 4th million meter - 76 yrs old. Just been diagnosed with pretty advanced COPD - but my doc enthusiastically endorses rowing as primary exercise along with weights and walking. Anyone out there dealing with COPD? Would sure like to learn about others experiences and get some tips on erging and dealing with COPD. Especially interested in use of pulse oximeter while working out. Thanks in advance. Nick

It's great to see you are still rowing in your later years, keep up the good work and I hope you cope with the COPD

[Nick]

Spencer - Thanks for the encouraging message. After a lifetime of being very active the COPD is quite an adjustment. But as a good friend from your side of the pond told me may years ago, "Carry on dancing until the band goes home" BTW, I've spent a good deal of time in Blighty - primarily London, the West Country, and very briefly in Belfast and Londonderry - lots of great times, good friends and marvelous memories. All the best - Nick

[TheHorsetoWater]

Hi, am new here, I do not have COPD but just wanted to encourage you.

I would ask the respiratory clinic about what kind of oximeter you could buy. I know from experience that Nonin are used, and a website you can get one from is medisave. They are not cheap but the other guys are right - you would need a good quality one not a knock-off.

At the respiratory clinic perhaps ask what your target oxygenation level should be and discuss any spirometry results with them because this could tell them what lung function you have and how rowing could be accommodated. Generally people with COPD run at a lower oxygenation than non-COPD people but they adapt to handle it with pursed lipped breathing etc.

Another thing you could ask them is what reserve you have and how not just your lungs but also your heart can cope with exercise and these are only questions that a respiratory clinic could answer with the appropriate test results.

You could also log your workout along with your 02 saturation along with your RR and Pulse and discuss that with your doctor.

That said, ff your doctor has endorsed the exercise then that's fantastic.

I wish you the very best.

[Nick]

For Horseto water - Thanks very much for your extremely helpful post. The target rate that I constantly hear is 88%; however that's the doctor's benchmark for a patient requiring supplemental oxygen (something that I am determined to put off for as long as humanly possible). My resting 02 levels are between 95% and 97-98% and the docs are satisfied with that number. Are you referring to oxygenation levels during exercise? Obviously, if I really push myself and get out of breath my 02 levels decrease but my recovery time is very quick - no more than a minute to 95%. I practice pursed lip breathing while exercising - especially fast walking and it helps considerably. I don't get out of breath when I lift weights. I don't know what you mean by reserve - but I'll check with my pulmonologist on that. All of my docs (GP, cardiologist/pulmonologist) have not only approved exercise, but have insisted on it. My pulmonologist and GP have been adamant about rowing and weight training - they both like the aerobic/pulmonary/cardiac benefits but also the muscle/skeletal strengthening that weight training involves. All in all, I feel great, just finished the Concept 2 challenge for the winter solstice - made 128,000 meters, and expect to hit 135,000 meters for December. Thanks again for your great post - Happy Holidays - Nick
P.S. Carry on rowing till the pool dries up!!!!!!