For living well with COPD, I rely on these tips, tricks, and gadgets
Among them is what I call the 'laundry basket crawl'
I have a few tips, tricks, and gadgets that help me live a good life with my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They come during my morning and evening routines, which help us do what’s important for our health. They can become habits that spur us to remember necessary tasks we might forget, like taking meds and clearing mucus.
One tip involves my laundry. My washer and dryer are downstairs, so I throw my clothes down there after sorting them. Then I pick them up and carry them a short distance to the laundry room. One of my friends thought this technique was one step too close to lazy, so she purchased a net laundry bag that she rolls down her stairs.
To get the laundry back up the stairs, I use something I call the “laundry basket crawl.” First, I position the basket on the step that is at my farthest reach and then step up to the stair below it. Then I repeat the process until I get to the top. While I’m doing the basket crawl, I do pursed-lip breathing so that I’m not out of breath when I reach the top.
I continue to do pursed-lip breathing throughout the day, which helps me expel the air that’s trapped when I hold my airways open.
Helpful devices
I also use two gadgets to help me control my COPD. One is The Breather, which adds resistance as I inhale and exhale. The purpose of this device is to train and strengthen the muscles involved in breathing. I use it in the morning and occasionally in the evening.
The second gadget is called the Acapella breathing trainer. I use this device in the evening when I have mucus in my chest that needs to be expelled. It helps me have a productive cough. My doctor prescribed it when I was recovering from pneumonia.
Other gadgets that help me are a cordless, lightweight sweeper and a Roomba. The latter doesn’t work well if I try to program it because my house has different levels. The advertisement says it detects steps and won’t fall down them, but that hasn’t been the case in my home. I do find it to be useful for cleaning under beds, so I let it work in a bedroom but close the door so that it can’t escape and fall down the stairs.
These are some of the tips, tricks, and gadgets that help me as I cope daily with COPD. I hope your own tips, tricks, and gadgets help you live a good life with COPD, too.
Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
About the Author
Becky Hopkins
Thank you for the tips, I love reading your articles
Adele Bell
Hi, Thought I throw in another tip I use and a slight addition on the laundry. I use your method to bring clothes upstairs, for taking clothes down, I have a landing at the top of my down stairs, and leave a laundry basket there to accumulate dirty clothes and then bump them down stair by stair and carry short distance. Another way is to hang a laundry bag on the top of the railing, and daily, bring down dirties and stuff in the bag and then drag down stairs to the laundry. Thanks
David A Sylvester
Great tips Caroline...Soooo. I have the cordless vac and the Roomba (I lock mine in the bedroom too)....I have the Breather and the Acapella....Great minds think alike!!!!! Thanks
Ronald Markowski
THANK YOU FOR SOME GREAT ADVLICE ON COPD....
Larry M KIMANI
Thanks for sharing Caroline. We look forward to more people living with COPD sharing their experiences, tricks and gadgets and dodges; this will most certainly help someone lead a slightly happier life.
Kathy Petrillo
Thank you for all your tips. I have the breather which I use daily. I also have the acapella but I don't always use it. I will have to try using it at night and see if it helps.