Sharing the Health!

 

Peg Studdard puts her oxygen tubing in a mesh bag with a towel for 10 minutes in the dryer to warm it up. When she takes it out and stretches it out, it lays flat and eliminates the kinks in the tubing that would shut off her oxygen supply.

When using a mop, broom, vacuum cleaner, or long handle duster, it is not unusual for us to continue working just a few more moments beyond our en- durance and develop acute shortness of breath.

Create a large loop with Zip ties, or Vel- cro® straps, even cannula tubing. Attach it to the handle with extra strong duct tape if the tool does not already have an opening. Some mops already have a small loop to hang it to dry or a vacuum cleaner handle has a large opening. You want a loop large enough to easily place over a door handle.

The idea is to use this loop to quickly place it over the nearest door handle or knob before you sit to get control of your breath with pursed lip breathing. Once you are breathing well enough to continue your task, the tool will be at an easy height rather than having to bend over to retrieve it from the floor.

D.Penndorf, West Hartford, CT

 

Margaret H. recommends no matter how you feel, make your bed in the morning. She recently heard this advice and thinks it works. It will make you feel like you accom- plished something and give you a small sense of pride to start the day. This encourages you to complete other small tasks and at the end of the day, you will feel good about yourself!

 

Janis Shive from Edgewater, Florida, writes: As you can see from these before and after pictures, life is what you make it!