Top Tips to Help You Through the Day from the Oxford Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group

Top tips to help you through the day from the Oxford Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group

Waking Up  Sit up slowly and there is no need to get up straight away, why not watch breakfast TV or listen to the radio.  If you have to leave at a particular time then get up a bit earlier, and take things slower.  Have a drink. Why not have a glass of water or a flask of tea ready by the bed.  If you’re prescribed it, use supplementary oxygen for 10-15 minutes prior to your morning routine.

Washing and bathing/showering  Pace yourself - accept it just takes time  Steam in the bathroom can affect your breathing; make sure it can get out.  Handrails in shower can be helpful. If you don’t have a shower stool (do find out how to get one) and perhaps use a garden chair in the meantime.  A bath can be more relaxing than a shower.  If a wash is too tiring, perhaps have one towards the end of the day; does it really have to be in the morning?

Getting dressed  Do this sitting down, perhaps on edge of the bed.  Get clothes ready before hand  Putting on shoes and socks can be challenging. Aids can be helpful. Slip on shoes can be easier and why not use a shoehorn?  Partially roll up socks before you try putting them on.  Breathing out while you bend to put shoes and socks on can help.

Cooking  Make this a joint effort; it can be more fun this way.  Any part of the cooking process can be ok as long as you can do it sitting down.  Ask someone to pass you the ingredients, allowing you to focus on the rest.  No rush jobs, do it in stages. The cooking is still as tasty, it just takes bit longer.  Smaller meals can be more enticing; large portions more off putting.  Please be careful with your supplementary oxygen while cooking with gas. Cleaning  Cleaning the car and sweeping out the garage. Are you the only one who can do that? Really?  Hovering the stairs, can become one of the hardest jobs. If you can’t reach it easily don’t clean it. Can someone else do that bit?  Avoid dust and detergents wherever possible.

Gardening  Hoeing, digging and rotavating; however you do it, avoid bending down wherever possible.  Try extendable shears and secateurs to avoid bending or over reaching.  If you love gardening but bending over always causes breathlessness, try gardening in pots while sitting down at table height.

Lifting and carrying  Think do you really need to do this? Can someone else help?  Reduce the weight if possible; share the load.

Shopping  Use a wheelchair trolley, though any shopping trolley can be a fine walking aid.  Shopping centres can provide wheelchairs or powered mobility scooters free.  Find out which car park is nearest to the shops you want to visit. Plan your trip and find out before hand.  Shop on-line  Can you delegate the shopping to someone else?  If there is an in-store café, why not take a break?  You don’t look ill and other people can rush about trying to hurry you along; just take your time.  Always use a trolley so you can put your oxygen supplies in it, so you carry less and fellow shoppers may take the hint.

Travel  Travelling, especially in the UK can still be done, but organisation is key.  There can be a lot of kit so plan ahead and ask about getting oxygen cylinders supplied locally, including on a cruise.  On an aircraft or on a cruise you will be surrounded by people and their bugs. Do you know what to do or who to call if you become ill? Get advice before you travel and if you have standby antibiotics then please take them with you.  Public transport can be more daunting, if you have supplementary oxygen make sure it is with you.  A disability badge helps. Find out if you can get one.  Travelling with a group of people with an itinerary can be more difficult. The thought of having to tackle hills can be a constant worry. Make sure you share any concerns before hand.  Theatres and galleries will often have mobility aids and also concessionary rates for partners and carers. Give them a call and find out before hand.

Bedtime routine  Must be planned and carefully paced.  Lock up and put the cat / dog out earlier in the evening.  Take the stairs at a slow pace, take a break during your ascent and have a pause at the top.  If you have an oxygen concentrator in your bedroom, you may need to get used to the noise. Earplugs?  Try a hot water bottle for cold feet and hands.