Sharing the Health
To avoid some of those nasty bluish red bruises to the forearm that a lot of us with COPD experience, I buy the elasticized wrist bands (extra-long) that are available in any sports department. If I can’t find the extra-long, I use the regular size and double them up on my arm to protect the area from my wrist to my elbow. This keeps the bruising to a minimum while doing the smallest task around the house.
Shiela Bolan, Sebring, FL
A meeting of caregivers on a recent trip gave us these suggestions on how to live with someone with chronic lung disease, which at times can be a little difficult:
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State your feelings and discuss them, don’t hold them
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Get help when needed, from family, friends, neighbors, church members or hire someone if no one is
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Join a support group to be able to talk to other (Visit www.nfcacares.org or www.care giver.org among many sites.)
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Take a time out–just for you–every day!
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Take one crisis at a time–don’t let things get
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Plan ahead to avoid
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Keep a positive attitude!
I too saw the warning on the Spiriva package insert about “urinary difficulties” and wondered what that meant. I’ve been taking Spiriva for quite a while and it works great for me. But I have developed a urinary condition that’s hard to describe. My bladder gives me no warning until I’m ready to explode. I have to press on the left side of my abdomen to get it completely empty. My doctor calls it “lazy blad- der.” Since Spiriva works so well for me, I hate to try changing medications. Lorraine Oleaga, Boise, ID
Roxlyn Cole recommends watching a lecture on COPD by Dr. Bart Celli, a renowned pulmonary physician through your computer at http:// tinyurl.com/29j5w4
We asked in out last issue if anyone had suggestions on what to do with empty prescription medicine bottles.
Many crafty people told us they use them to put supplies in, such as beads for jewelry making or needlepoint yarn. Annie from Texas uses them to sort similar 
color pieces while she is doing a jigsaw puzzle. Jerry Jones from Illinois saves them for her veterinarian who gladly uses them in his practice. Jeri Mondloch from Minnesota writes, “A gal at our church collects brown medicine bottles. She removes the labels, washes them and saves the bottles for the medical teams that go on mission trips. They dispense medicines while there. I have been saving mine for her for a couple years!”
Dr. Francis Adams, author of The Asthma Source- book, will be hosting Dr. Radio from 6 am to 8 am on Tuesday mornings on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 114 or you can listen online at www.sirius.com. The program is sponsored by New York University Medical Center. The show welcomes questions–you can call 1-877-698- 3627 or email [email protected] . If you miss hearing the show live, you can listen to a repeat on Tuesday evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Being on oxygen 24/7 and having severe osteoporosis, I sometimes have to use a walker to get around the house. I was having a hard time getting my dinner plate and glass to the table. I found if I use a cookie sheet across the top of the walker, I have a built in tray. Sometime we just have to adapt!