Download LungNet News February 2001 - Lung Foundation Australia

LIVING WELL WITH A LUNG CONDITION
2001
news
February
LungNet
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A fresh look at coping with Lung Disease
here is so much that can be written about better
ways of coping with your lung disease, but at the
end of the day coping is a very individual thing,
and what works for you may not work for the next
person. We all have different ways of coping.
T
With the New Year in full swing we thought it was time to
refresh your memory on different approaches to coping.
1) Keeping your stress levels down
Letting your stress levels rise too much may lead to
breathlessness and even panic. To avoid this, you could
learn new ways of keeping your stress levels down. There
are 3 main tasks to your “action plan” for reducing stress:
a) Learn what stresses you
Over the next few days take a closer look at the stressful
activities in your life. Keep track of the reactions you have
to stress (e.g. becoming breathless) and what has caused
this (e.g. trying to do too much at once, getting frustrated
with yourself for not being able to do something as quickly
as you used to).
b) Learn what helps you reduce the stress
How did you deal with the last thing that made you feel
stressed? Did you take time out to think and relax, or just
get angrier and angrier? Are there things you could have
done to better manage or even eliminate the stressful
situation?
Here are some simple stress reducers:
❚
❚
❚
❚
Try not to do too much at once
Slow down when you talk, walk, drive and eat
Let go of non-essential tasks and worries
Off-load unnecessary anger towards others - tolerance
and acceptance are good for your health
c) Set a goal to put your stress management technique
into action
If you are more aware of what causes you stress and how
you can cope with it better, you should be able to mobilise
your stress management plan when you next need it.
2) Think about the value of SUPPORT you’re not alone
A frustrating thing about living with lung disease is that no
one really understands what you’re going through. As
LungNet friend Irene Asquith says “the only way, in my
view, for a person who has healthy lungs to begin to
comprehend how we FEEL is to tape up their mouth and
block one nostril for 24 hours...then ask them to take a
shower, dry themselves, experience the puffing and
panting, sit on their bed until they recover then to make
their bed and bend over to tie their shoelaces”.
The LungNet is an initiative of
THE AUSTRALIAN
Irene says support groups give support in a very personal
way. “We support each other by our personal concern for
each other, by listening and talking. We inspire each other by
our presence at our meetings. Yes we do. Having a chronic
illness is frightening but it is not all doom and gloom. It is
how we cope with it that is important, and when you look at
some of the members attending our meetings, in the same or
worse condition than we are, and you see them coping in a
positive, cheerful way by adding to the warmth which reaches
out to each corner of the room. That is inspiring.
“It’s inspiring because it gives us hope, it prompts the thought
‘What they can do, I can do’. I believe being part of a good
support group is more beneficial than all the medical papers I
have ever read. Papers do not inspire me or give me hope.
They inform me. They do not provide me with living proof,
as our support group does, that this life we lead is better than
the alternative.”
3) A good night’s sleep
Quality sleep is important to everyone. If it is shortened or
disrupted too often, it will make you feel tired and irritable
and decrease your ability to cope with what the next day has
in store.
There are things you can do to give yourself a good chance of
getting quality sleep.
Do
Don’t
❚ Exercise, eat well and stay
active.
❚ Relax before going to bed
(try relaxation techniques)
❚ Take a warm bath or drink
a cup of warm milk
❚ Listen to music to help you
drift off
❚ Eat a big meal before bed
time
❚ Drink coffee, tea, cola drinks
or eat chocolate
❚ Have stressful conversations
before bedtime
❚ Watch emotional movies
that might upset you
4) Laughter - the medicine with great sideeffects!
Laughter releases endorphins (the bodies natural painkillers)
so our mind and body can start to relax!
The whole body benefits from a good laugh, including your
lungs. The psychological benefits of laughing are enormous,
so go looking for things to laugh about. Watch a funny TV
show, ring a friend who makes you laugh, or remember
something funny from your past. Humour very quickly and
effectively breaks the negative thought patterns so have a
good laugh! Laugh for yourself. Laugh at yourself. A fake
laugh can be beneficial too - the brain doesn’t know the
difference! (Remember our Have a Laugh column on
page 2 too). ■
LUNG FOUNDATION
proudly Supported by
1
Have a
place the odd joke here and there. I
don’t want you getting overly excited.
At least check with your doctor before
you read my column...
Laugh
THE LIGHTER SIDE WITH DAVID EMDUR
Hi Folks!
I’m never quite
sure whether I should write about my
crazy adventures, as many people
seem to ask me if these things really
happened! It was only this morning
an attractive blonde asked me this
very question. This took me
completely by surprise, as she’s been
married to me for over 35 years!
So to my latest adventure, back up in
my little fishing spot on the
Hawkesbury River. I was sitting on
one of those lightweight folding chairs
and chatting with a friend (my very
own witness), when my line screamed
off, catching me off balance and near
toppling me off the chair. Luckily after
a minute or two the fish gave me the
slip - thank goodness. I sat there
wondering why do I do this to myself maybe I should take up reading as a
safer hobby! I had a restless night
after that incident, and thought I must
have pulled a muscle during the
excitement. However, I was down
there again the very next day and
actually caught myself a nice fish.
Just to top it off, I had another lousy
night’s sleep.
A day or two later, after much
discomfort, it was time to call my
doctor. Would you believe, that
damned fish had broken my rib and
the catch the following day had made
it worse. I know you think I’m kidding,
so I quote the letter accompanying the
Xray, “a fracture to the anterior end of
the 10th rib”. Beat that!
Enough of me. Let me tell you a little
about a good buddy named Rod. First
off, he has Interstitial Lung Disease.
Basically that’s not an airways
problem, however his lungs, due to
tissue damage, prevent any fast
movement and limit his exercise. He
is able to walk about 300 metres, with
several stops, on a good day. He has
to rest after walking up as little as 3
stairs. Rod has a Concentrator at
home for use during physical effort.
Why tell us all of this, you ask? Well
Rod and I were having a quiet coffee
one day when he suddenly piped up
and said he was bored and that he was
going to put his car on the train to
Alice Springs and drive back! “You’re
WHAT??” I exclaimed.
2
LungNet - Toll Free 1800 654 301
Before you could catch your breath (so
to speak), Rod was sitting on the Ghan
with his vehicle in tow on the way to
“Alice” via Adelaide. He took 5 tanks of
oxygen with him just in case. Rod
managed to collapse on the train
platform at Adelaide after running out
of oxygen. The railway staff were great
and helped him get more oxygen so he
could continue his trip.
After a few days in Alice, Rod took a
little drive to Uluru, 460 km south of
Alice. Later, he took off to Tennant
Creek, just 508 km away! Next stop, Mt
Isa, a mere 650 km!
Fair dinkum! Wouldn’t you think he’d
had enough by now? Not quite. Off now
to Longreach, just another 740 km.
Then Blackwater (485 km), then
Munduberra via Rockhampton, (try 800
km!!) Next day he took it easy, driving
only 300 km to Caloundra. Then 560
km to St George in far western
Queensland. Down to Bourke, (560 km),
then Dubbo (370 km) and finally back to
Bondi (410 km)!!
Hey, forgot to mention, Rod managed
to drop an oxygen tank onto the
connecting tubing and destroyed it. He
was not able to replace it until he
reached Rocky! A happy ending, Rod
actually arrived back in good old
Sydney Town 20 days later. I just can’t
wait to see what he’s going to tackle
when he has GOOD health!!
I really enjoyed our annual LungNet
meet last November and it was great to
meet up with some old friends. I was
expecting a kick in the butt for putting a
Viagra joke in my last column, but no,
all commented that they had a good
laugh. Be assured I will take care if I
I am pleased to report I have found out
that one of our readers uses Viagra,
not to improve his love life but merely
to stop himself rolling out of bed. As
chief test pilot for all new ideas
submitted to this publication, I can
assure you that this DOES NOT WORK.
I had the misfortune of falling out of
bed onto my head and severely
concussing myself on my nebuliser.
I’ll see you next column, if I recover
from all the damage I do to myself.
Have a great 2001! ■
Christmas Seal
Appeal 2000
The ALF extends its grateful thanks to
everyone who donated to this year’s
Christmas Seal Appeal. Once again, we
received many encouraging comments,
Densey Clyne’s lovely butterflies were
very much appreciated. Thank you to all
who took the time to express their
appreciation and encouragement.
Donations resulting from the campaign
to date have reached $33,000, a
wonderful response from you, the ALF’s
loyal supporters. Thank you also to
those of you who passed on the lung
health message with the “Send Seals to
a Friend” option. We hope your family
and friends enjoyed the Seals.
A very special thank you to our
volunteers from the TLC Support Group,
who played a major role in this year’s
campaign. Your help is greatly
appreciated, as always!
We wish you all a happy and
prosperous 2001. ■
About the LungNet News
Publication dates:
February, May, September and
December.
The LungNet National News is
distributed free of charge to all
members of patient support
groups affiliated with the
LungNet, and healthcare
professionals.
The LungNetTM is an
initiative of
Editor
Lara Thompson
Phone 07 3832 2245
Fax 07 3832 1451
Email [email protected]
Editorial contributions from
patient support groups are
welcome. They should be
directed to the Editor, c/- The
Australian Lung Foundation,
Publisher
Level 3, 454 Upper Edward St,
The Australian Lung Foundation Spring Hill, Qld, 4000
When you can’t breathe,
nothing else mattersTM
HelpingHands
In our last issue we talked about why it’s important
to improve your ‘aerobic capacity’ through aerobic
exercise such as walking, cycling, dancing and
swimming.
Your exercise routine should also include some
exercises to keep your muscles strong.
It is very common for people with lung problems to avoid exercise
because they are frightened of becoming breathless. Lack of
exercise may in fact make you feel more breathless. It could also
lead to your muscles becoming weak and de-conditioned.
By keeping your muscles strong you will maintain the strength you
need to carry out those everyday tasks, like hanging out the
washing, cooking a meal and carrying the shopping in from the car.
Exercising muscles in the upper body can also help your breathing
power. Muscles in the shoulder and upper chest, lower ribs and
upper abdomen are all important ‘breathing muscles’.
So to keep your muscles strong you need to ‘train’ two different
muscle groups:
1) The Upper Limbs - strength and endurance in your arms and
shoulders will help with everyday tasks and breathing.
2) The Lower Limbs - it is important to maintain strength and
endurance in your leg muscles.
An example of an upper limb exercise is the Arm Curl.
Stand with your elbows tucked into your
sides. Straighten your arm down and then
bend up until your fingers touch your
shoulders. Start by doing this 5 or 6 times
with each arm and build up the number of
repetitions each time you do the exercises,
until you can do 3 sets of 10 lifts.
You can then advance to using a light
weight for this exercise. Start with
something light like a packet of biscuits,
and as you get stronger, build up to a tin of
baked beans!
An example of a lower limb exercise is the
Knee Bend and Straighten.
Sit on the edge of the bed or on a chair,
with a small rolled towel under your knee.
Bend your knee back as far as you can.
Then fully straighten it and hold for 5
seconds. Continue to bend straighten and
do the exercise 8-10 times on each side.
Build up to 3 sets of 10 on each leg.
▼
These are just two examples of many
upper and lower limb exercises that you
can do. Most exercises are safe to do in
your own time at home. For more help
with upper limb and lower limb exercises
talk to a doctor or physiotherapist who can
help you develop a program. ■
Oxygen
The simple facts
Happy New Year to all LungNet News
readers and your families.
Oxygen conservation and reducing
the cost of oxygen is an ongoing
concern. For many, a trip outside the
home for more than a few hours
means multiple cylinders and often
seems more hassle than what it’s
worth.
The CR50 oxygen conserver from the
oxyCare range is a compact regulator
and conserving system in one. Using
an oxygen conserver is a great way to
enjoy a day’s outing without having
to worry about taking extra oxygen
cylinders with you. It can reduce the
amount of portable cylinders around
the house as well as the constant
change over of cylinders.
The CR50 oxygen conserver is a
demand device that delivers oxygen
at the set flow rate. Oxygen flow only
occurs during inhalation, regardless
of inhalation length. The CR50 will
reduce the amount of oxygen wasted
in between breaths, saving you very
valuable oxygen and money.
The oxygen conserver is easily set
with one simple, easy-to-understand
control, delivering up to 6 lpm. With
the CR50 oxygen conserver you can
rest assured that each time you
breathe, the delivered oxygen volume
equals or exceeds the amount
received with continuous flow. In the
case of mechanical failure, the
oxygen conserver will automatically
switch over to continuous flow,
providing optimum protection.
The lightweight design, yet highly
durable CR50 oxygen conserver is
great for portability. The combined
conserver and regulator only weighs
500 grams and can provide oxygen
savings of between 52% and 65% for
most patients.
For further information on
suitable oxygen equipment for
your lifestyle, contact the BOC
oxyCare team toll-free on
1800 050 999. ■
Exercise Tip:
If the thought of 30 minutes of exercise per day is too daunting to face, remember
that the time can accumulate throughout the day. Try 15 minutes of walking in the
morning and 15 minutes of gardening in the afternoon. Or do your exercise for 10
minutes three times a day. By splitting up and varying your activity time, you’ll
hardly notice you’re exercising at all!
LungNet - Toll Free 1800 654 301 3
for Medicinal Purposes...
Steroids in Lung Disease - Part 1
Inhaled Steroids
Many people have concerns about
taking corticosteroid (“steroid”)
medications. This two part series will
inform you about steroids, including
their benefits and risks.
In this issue, we will talk about inhaled
steroids.
Medically prescribed corticosteroids are
not ‘anabolic’ steroids which build
muscle tissue in athletes.
Corticosteroids are used to control
inflammation in several areas of the
body including:
❚ Bowels (colitis)
❚ Joints (arthritis)
❚ Skin (dermatitis)
❚ Respiratory Tract (Asthma, sinusitis,
alveolitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis)
Corticosteroids are related to cortisol, a
‘natural steroid’ produced by adrenal
glands, which is essential for health and
well-being. During stress our bodies
produce extra cortisol to keep us from
becoming seriously ill.
Inhaled steroids are commonly used in
the treatment of asthma, and are
delivered using an inhaler or dry
powder device. They are prescribed as
preventive medication, usually taken on
a daily basis whether you have
symptoms or not.
Inhaled steroids have been proven to
achieve the following results for
asthma:
❚ Reduced symptoms (breathlessness,
wheeze, cough)
❚ Reduced time in hospital
❚ Improved quality of life
❚ Reduced need for other medication
❚ Reduced further loss of lung function
Inhaled Steroids are sometimes used in
the treatment of chronic bronchitis and
emphysema. Research is still being
conducted to determine the benefits,
which may include:
❚ Increased speed of recovery from
acute illness
❚ Reduced number of acute episodes of
illness
❚ Improved quality of life
❚ Reduced further loss of lung function
Inhaled Steroids can also be used to
treat other respiratory diseases such as
sarcoidosis, bronchiectasis and
interstitial lung diseases (e.g.
pulmonary fibrosis). Steroids show a
good response in some patients with
these conditions, so are often
considered by doctors as “worth a try”.
Side effects from inhaled steroids are
relatively minor when they are used at
the recommended doses and can be
minimised with simple precautions.
The most common side effects are dry
mouth, sore throat or gums, a husky
voice, and yeast infections of the mouth
or throat (thrush). To minimise these
side effects it is important to:
❚ Wash your mouth and spit out after
each dose (some people also find it
helpful to gargle and brush their
teeth)
❚ Use a Spacer device (such as a
Volumatic or Nebuhaler)
❚ Anti-fungal drops or lozenges can
help prevent thrush.
Side effects can be more severe if you
are using a high dose of inhaled
steroids for a long period of time. Some
people bruise more easily than normal
after long periods of treatment.
If you are also taking a bronchodilator
medicine, you should take your steroid
medication 10 minutes after the
bronchodilator puffers as this allows the
airways to open before you inhale the
steroids.
As with any medicine, unexpected
individual reactions to steroids may
occur, and should be reported to your
doctor immediately.
Many readers of LungNet News are
concerned about the side effects of long
term steroid use, particularly oral
(tablet) steroids, which we will talk
about in the next issue. ■
OutandAbout
The Happy Caboolture
Airways Support Group
getting ready to party...
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LungNet - Toll Free 1800 654 301
▼
Heather and Roma from Huff and
Puff at Moe Community Health
Service, Victoria
Don’t forget...
Have you cleaned and serviced your nebulizer lately?
Its important to clean your nebulizer, it’s bowl, mask and tubing regularly using
“Nebulizer Clean” (from your pharmacy) or Pinoclean. Don’t forget, the bowl
needs to be replaced every 3 months, and the mask and tubing should be
replaced once per year. Talk to your pharmacist if you’re not sure what to do.
Lung Support
Setting the Cat
among the Pigeons Around Australia
he Cat certainly was let out of the bag on Thursday December 21st when
both it and the Pigeons were launched from Port Melbourne in the
innovative fundraising event masterminded by ALF’s Tasmanian branch
and its hardworking committee led by Dr James Markos.
T
The Pigeons were released from the DevilCat at 8.45am. The Cat won by just over
2 hours, arriving in George Town at 3.05pm. The first bird touched down in
Ulverstone at 5.15pm. The pigeons were delayed by an easterly wind which
pushed them westward, plus the very warm weather and the fact they were
racing out-of-season added to their difficulties.
All 5 raffle prizes were won in Tasmania. Winners were: 1st E J Smith of Hobart,
2nd C Wickham of Launceston, 3rd T. Round of Coles Bay, 4th R W Robinson of
Launceston, and the Race Promotion prize by W Harris of Hobart.
23,000 out of 50,000 tickets were sold, plus a $2000 donation, raising $23,000 for
medical research into lung disorders.
A huge thank you to the event organizers, committee members and volunteers,
sponsors, prize donors and raffle ticket sellers in Tasmania and
Victoria, and of course the
Tasmanian Homing
Pigeon Federation
and TT-Line! ■
Who Set the Cat
Among the Pigeons?
These people did–
Con Eliades (Ship’s
Captain), Simone
Ferrier (TT-Line),
James Markos (ALF
Tas Chairman),
Geoffrey Matthews
(Tas Homing Pigeon
Federation) and John
Bruce (ALF Tas)
So many groups and so little space to
publish everyone’s news has forced us to
reassess our “Around Australia” column.
We will now be concentrating on New
Groups, New Rehabilitation
Programs and Special Events.
New Groups
Forster/Tuncurry (NSW) - Bob Jones
and Karyn Jarvie have set up a new
group to cover the Forster/Tuncurry area
in NSW. They plan to hold their meetings
on the second Monday of the month at
2pm, at the Community Health Centre,
Breeze Pde, Forster. Karyn hopes to set
up a group in Gloucester next, so if you
know of anyone in that area who may be
interested, please let Karyn know on 0414
473 630.
Bundaberg (Qld) - Not strictly a “new”
group, but close - Bundaberg & District
Lung Support Group Inc celebrated their
first birthday in January. They meet at
the Cross Waves Club at 11am on the 3rd
Monday of each month. Contact Ross
Robson on (07) 4155 3858.
Bowral (NSW) - The first meeting will be
on 8/03/01 at the Old Bowral Hospital
meeting room, at 2pm. All welcome!
Interested patients/carers who are not
able to attend meetings are still welcome
to join the Group and receive support
through telephone and mail. Enquiries
from the public and health professionals
are encouraged. Please contact Greg or
Christine Segal for more information on
(02) 4869 4389.
LAM Lunch Melbourne:
LAM (lymphangioleiomyomatisos) is a rare, terminal (and unpronounceable!)
lung disease which almost exclusively attacks the respiratory system of women
of child-bearing age. The 4th annual LAM Lunch is planned for 24th March 2001
in Melbourne. More information about the Lunch (or the disease) can be
obtained from Virginia Northwood, phone (02) 9810 4828. ■
Sutherland Shire (NSW) - Beginning in
April 2001, the Group will be coordinated by a Physiotherapist, and will
meet at the Sutherland District Trade
Union Club, 57 Manchester Road, Gymea,
10.45am - 12noon (lunch included) on the
1st Wednesday of the month. Contact
Michelle Duvall on (02) 9540 7540. ■
Oxycare and
LungNet cheering on
the wonderful
participants of the
Sydney Paralympics
OutandAbout
Taking a break at the NSW
LungNet Seminar 2000 Margaret, Joyce and Joan
LungNet - Toll Free 1800 654 301 5
Understanding Breathing,
Swallowing and Speaking-Part II
Dr. Lynette Hodgson - Speech Pathologist
Breathing: When feeling tight in
the throat, and breathless always push
air out (on a long whhhh... through
pursed lips). This causes air pressure to
fall in the larynx, so that the vocal folds
open, the lungs and surrounding
muscles automatically work like
bellows, and air is sucked back in.
Struggling to take “a big breath in” can
work against you, by tightening the
throat and upper chest so that
breathing is tense and shallow.
Remember: PUSH AIR OUT TO
ESTABLISH BREATH CONTROL.
Talking: The biggest strains on
the voice are talking loudly, talking
for a long time, and using extremes
of pitch. Minimise strain by avoiding
these behaviours. You can use gentle
voice sounds like “mmmm” to listen
to your own voice and think to
yourself “I need to keep my voice
relaxed and calm like this” and “I
should talk on a nice relaxed low
tone like this.” Another trick is to
imagine you are having a relaxed
quiet laugh, or to talk to people with
“a smile in the voice”- this tends to
relax the laryngeal muscles.
Establish good breath support for
speech by focusing on pushing the
lower chest (or tummy) area in as
you say: Hi! Hey! Make sure there is
no tightening occurring in the throat.
It must stay relaxed!
Swallowing problems are frequently
reported to me. People may have the
sensation of having “a lump in the
throat ”when they swallow, with the
commonest causes of this being (i)
reflux and (ii) chronic extra tightness or
constriction in the larynx. The other
difficulty may be coordinating eating
with breathing. Studies done by speech
pathologists of people with chronic
6
LungNet - Toll Free 1800 654 301
Eating & Swallowing:
Make time for stopping and taking a
few breaths in and out during
meals. Sometimes, you might have
to stop during chewing. Just hold
the food in the mouth, and take a
few breaths in and out through the
nose. During the actual act of
swallowing, the breath actually has
to be held. To make the swallow
easier and more effective, tuck your
chin down slightly (this puts the
base of the tongue in the swallow
“starting position”), hold the breath
and squeeze hard as you swallow.
If chewing your way through a big
meal takes a lot of energy, it is helpful
to convert some of the foods to
smooth, soft foods, thick liquids, or
moist, well-cooked foods that have
been well cut up or minced. Some
people cough or splutter when
drinking fluids. There are several types
of fluid thickener available to help with
this (for example Quik-Thik, Resource
Thicken-up and Nutilis). Remember
water can always be converted in to
soft gels or icy poles. Keeping
hydrated is really important. The
people with the best looking larynxes
have those famous 8 glasses of waterbased fluid per day!
In conclusion, take time to coordinate
swallowing, breathing and eating. Try
to eat meals where it is quiet, free of
distractions and pressure. Remember
also to take your time and treat
yourself to a bit of a rest and relax
straight after a meal. ■
▼
I
respiratory conditions show that
compared with the general population,
they are more likely to have difficulties
chewing and swallowing food, or
clearing food and fluid from the throat.
Special Challenges - C
aring for a loved one with a
chronic disease poses some
difficult challenges for carers.
Caring is a tough enough job
when you live in the city close to
services and help.
C
Imagine the challenges for carers who
live in rural and remote areas. Their
job of caring is made more difficult by
the isolation, a lack of services
available and the costs and time
associated with travelling to reach the
services. Support networks can also
be difficult to build in country areas
where family, neighbours and
community health care workers can be
great distances away.
Here’s a few helpful tips for
readers who are caring in rural
and remote areas:
1) Be informed
Being aware of resources that are
available in your particular area is
important. Every area is different, but
services like those available in
metropolitan areas may be accessible,
although they may work differently
because of your location.
Services to assist Carers which are
often available in cities include
hospital services such as home
nursing and outreach services, Home
Help, Meals on Wheels, Respite
Centres and transport services. You
may not think that any of these
services exist near you, but you never
know unless you pick up the phone to
find out! Countrylink and Health
Department Rural Services are places
where you can start your
investigations.
Take the positive step of finding
assistance before emergencies arise.
The first point of contact should be
your local Carer Resource Centre.
Diet/Nutrition Tip:
When you’re not up to preparing a full meal, try something quick and easy to
prepare like:
❚ boiled or scrambled egg, toast, tomato, lettuce & carrot
❚ sweet corn on toast with a side salad of tomato, lettuce, grated carrot &
cheese
❚ jaffle or electric sandwich maker, filled with leftovers, chicken, baked beans
and cheese, cooked meat or canned meat such as Irish stew
❚ a frozen meal from the supermarket
▼
n our last issue I discussed how the
actions of breathing, swallowing
and speaking take place. It is a
complex process that we don’t
consciously think about until
something goes wrong. In chronic
lung disease the actions of breathing,
speaking and swallowing can
sometimes get mixed up. Here are
some practical tips for overcoming any
problems you may be having with
these very important functions!
Carers
Energy conservation tip:
Make the bed while you’re still in it! While you are still in (or on) the bed,
pull the top sheet and blanket up on one side and smooth them out. Exit
from the unmade side, which is then easy to finish.
Questions
Matter
Frequently Asked Questions
Caring in a Rural Area
These Centres operate in each State
and Territory to provide information
and advice on the services in your area
and general information. They will
provide you with a Carer’s Support Kit
free of charge which includes
information on the various supports
available and handy hints on caring.
2) Link in with other carers
nearby
Your most valuable resource will be
other carers in similar situations.
Through a local carer support network,
you can share coping tips, receive
moral and practical support. Contact
details and a calendar of dates and
locations of meetings is available from
your Carers Resource Centre. If you
are not able to attend meetings
because of distance, you may be able
to link in with the support groups
through the phone. There may also
be another carer living somewhere in
your district who you can talk to. A
local community nurse may be able to
put you in touch with someone who
needs support, just like you.
3) Useful Phone Numbers
National Contacts:
Carer Resource Centres
Freecall 1800 242 636
Carer Respite Centres
Freecall 1800 059 059
Countrylink Freecall 1800 026 222
State Carer Associations
ACT
Ph: 02 6288
New South Wales Ph: 02 9299
Northern Territory Ph: 08 8947
Queensland
Ph: 07 3843
South Australia
Ph: 08 8271
Tasmania
Ph: 03 6231
Victoria
Ph: 03 9650
Western Australia Ph: 08 9444
9722
1499
3877
1401
6288
5507
9966
5922
Q: What is my doctor looking for when he asks
me about my sputum?
sputum, note whether the colour is
pale or dark, whether it is thick or
thin, watery or dense.
Symptoms which help your
doctor to diagnose illnesses
in the lungs include
shortness of breath, pain,
cough and the production of sputum
(or phlegm). The characteristics of
sputum are often extremely valuable
in making a diagnosis.
A
Its not a pleasant topic, but its very
important to monitor the type of
sputum you are coughing up, so that
you can give the doctor the
information he/she needs to help make
a diagnosis.
Your doctor may ask, initially, if your
cough is dry or moist. When sputum
is produced (whether or not it can
actually be coughed up) this indicates
that there is some inflammation in the
bronchial tubes, the passages which
carry air to the lungs. These passages
are lined by tiny glands which produce
secretions when they become infected
or inflamed.
Sputum is only useful in diagnoses
when it is known to have originated in
the lower respiratory tract, ie, that it is
“coughed up’ and not ‘spat out”.
The questions that you should be able
to answer for your doctor are:
1) What is the amount of sputum
coughed up each day?
This information is useful because
some lung conditions produce more
sputum than others. In the chronic
condition called bronchiectasis, for
example, large amounts may be
produced every day, even when you
are relatively well.
2) What is the colour of your sputum?
Knowing the colour of your sputum
can help your doctor diagnose the
problem. When you look at your
Green sputum often signifies a
bacterial infection for which the
treatment would be antibiotics.
Brown sputum may result from blood
leaking from small blood vessels, as
often happens in infections. Bloody
sputum is usually of greater concern
and your doctor will need to
investigate this immediately.
3) What is the shape of your sputum?
Sometimes sputum may assume the
shape of the bronchial tubes from
which they were coughed. These may
be strands or plugs and sometimes
signify a rare allergic condition.
4) Does your sputum have an offensive
smell or taste?
When sputum has an offensive smell
or taste certain infections are
suspected. If a lung abscess is
suspected, then a chest X-ray would
be needed to help make a diagnosis.
In general, remember that sputum is
“better out than in”. Many of your
doctor’s suggestions, whether
physiotherapy, antibiotics, nebulizers,
cough medicines, puffers or exercise,
are aimed at removing as much as
possible from your lungs and bronchial
tubes. Keeping as active as possible,
with regular deep breathing exercises,
assists you in doing this. If you have a
chronic condition a change in your
sputum may indicate a need for a
change in treatment, and so you should
be vigilant in reporting changes in your
sputum to your doctor.
Thanks to Dr Jane Tolman for helping
us answer this question. ■
What to do when...
...There’s an electricity blackout
and you’re worried about your
Oxygen concentrator:
Some electricity suppliers keep a register of people on
oxygen and other life support equipment, who they contact if
there is going to be a power outage. Ring your electricity
company to see what system they have in place. You need to
be prepared in case of unplanned power cuts. When one
occurs you should ring the electricity company to explain
your situation, and ask them if they expect a long or short
interruption to power. If you haven’t got a backup oxygen
cylinder, you may feel safer phoning the ambulance and
going to hospital. If you have a home generator, ensure that
it produces the 240 volts required to run the concentrator.
The most important thing is to remain calm and have a plan
of action! ■
LungNet - Toll Free 1800 654 301 7
Education Leaflets
The Australian Lung Foundation publishes leaflets on a wide range of lung
health topics including Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema, Home Oxygen
Therapy, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Sarcoidosis, Bronchiectasis. For details
of further topics available, call 1800 654 301. For a free copy, send a stamped,
self-addressed DL sized envelope to The Australian Lung Foundation,
Level 3, 454 Upper Edward Street, Spring Hill, Qld, 4000. ■
•
•
•
•
Snoring, Sleep Apnoea and
Other Sleep Problems Booklet
What is LungNet?
This booklet, written for people with sleep related breathing
problems and their families by Professor Rob Pierce and Dr
Matthew Naughton on behalf of the Thoracic Society of Australia
and New Zealand and the Australasian Sleep Association, has been
reprinted and is now available for purchase from The ALF. Copies
are $6.00 each (including GST), or bulk orders of 20 or more for
$3.50 per booklet plus processing fee. For further information or to
order, call us on 1800 654 301 or email [email protected]. ■
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