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News
Living Well With a Lung Condition
February 2006
Nutritional Issues in COPD
How to eat well if you have COPD
by Lucy Tartaro, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Physical Healthcare, Preston VIC
N
o doubt you are thinking how
do I eat well with COPD when
eating can be difficult, exhausting
and less enjoyable? The prospect of
preparing or eating any meal can be quite
daunting, with commonly experienced
symptoms like wheezing, coughing,
coughing up sputum, shortness of breath
while eating, a feeling of fullness after
eating, breathlessness after exertion,
even when at rest, swallowing problems
and fatigue.
What is often seen with COPD is weight
loss because of the loss of appetite
caused by symptoms. The key to coping
better with COPD is to keep up your
nutrition. Most individuals know that
food provides the body with energy
and nourishment to work properly.
However with COPD your body needs
more energy and nutrients because
it has to work extra hard to breathe.
Eating well and having a well-nourished
body can help boost your energy levels,
strengthen your breathing muscles and
help fight off infections. So how do
you optimise your energy intake and
nutrition from food, and help maintain
and improve your nutritional status,
health and overall sense of wellbeing?
Here are some clever and practical
ways to increase and stimulate your
appetite and help maintain and
achieve a healthy body weight.
• It is important to enjoy a wide
variety of food to maximise intake
of vitamins and minerals. However if
you can only eat small amounts, then
including foods that are high in energy
(kilojoules) and in protein will help you
maintain a healthy body weight and
meet your body’s increased energy
needs. Foods like meat, egg, cheese
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and milk are good sources of energy
and protein. Adding skim milk powder
to scrambled eggs, milk recipes,
gravies, soups, casseroles, desserts
and sauces is an easy way to increase
the energy and protein of a meal.
• To reduce the feeling of fullness
after meals and shortness of breath
while eating, eat six smaller meals
per day rather than three larger
meals. Large meals can make
breathing more difficult. Smaller
meals are better tolerated.
• To prevent spoiling your appetite
and to reduce the feeling of fullness,
avoid drinking large amounts of liquid
for an hour before and half an hour after
meals. Drink only what is necessary
to wash down food with a meal.
• Substitute foods and fluids that
have little nutritional value, are low in
kilojoules or bulky, with foods that are
more nutritious. For example, instead
of having clear soup, add small-diced
chicken and vegetables to the broth to
provide more energy, protein, vitamins
and minerals in the one meal.
• Try not to miss meals.
Take advantage of those times you
do feel hungry. Serve small amounts
of food on a small plate and have
seconds if you still feel hungry. If your
appetite is poor, try to set regular
times and eat according to the clock.
Stimulate your appetite by including
your favourite foods at that time of the
day when you are usually not hungry.
Cold foods like sandwiches, cheese
and cold meat may be more appealing
than hot foods as the smell of food can
sometimes cause a loss of appetite.
Continued over on Page 2
The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
From the CEO’s Desk
Dear readers,
Firstly let me wish our readers a very Happy New Year
from all of us at The Australian Lung Foundation. We have
a big year in prospect and are excited about the plans
to improve our service to LungNet members in 2006!
Since I last wrote to you, we have enjoyed a very
successful World COPD Day on 16th November. We had a
great response from LungNet members, with more than
70 groups around Australia and New Zealand becoming
involved with the day’s activities. This certainly helped
create interest in Canberra and from all sides of politics!
Many of you will have seen the media coverage in the
press and on television which has raised the awareness
of COPD and emphysema to a new level in Australia. Of
course, there is still much work to be done.
Thank you also for your incredible support for the 2005
Christmas Seals Appeal and for buying so many of the
Christmas cards we produced for your enjoyment. Demand
was very strong and we sold more than 5,000 cards!
In November we hosted the final LungNet Education
Seminars of 2005 in Adelaide and Sydney, and attended
the Toowoomba Seminar, where we presented on the role
of LungNet and the Patient Support Groups. Once again,
the seminars were very well attended and we appreciate
your support. Any ideas for inclusion in the 2006 round
of seminars will be gratefully received!
Our work to encourage clean air in Australia continues,
and I met with Anna Bligh (QLD Deputy Premier) in early
December to launch the “E10 initiative” by Suncorp whose
entire car fleet (600+ cars) now run on ethanol blended fuels.
The ALF’s involvement in lung cancer is progressing, and we
launched an updated Lung Cancer Case Statement at the
Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) conference
in Brisbane in November, with contributions from members
of the ALF Lung Cancer Consultative Group. Please do not
hesitate to contact us if you would like a copy.
We have also been successful in launching the first
Australian Lung Cancer Conference, which will be held in
Palm Cove, Cairns in late June this year. The conference
will focus on multidisciplinary lung cancer care. We have
been offered generous support by Professor Frances
Shepherd from Canada who will be a keynote speaker.
We have taken the opportunity to make some alterations
to our Brisbane offices in Lutwyche during the quieter
holiday period. This will make work more comfortable for
our trusty band of volunteers, with a larger workspace and
better access to the office storage systems. Do drop in and
inspect the offices for yourself if you are in the area.
We were sorry to say goodbye to Liz Alexandre, our Office
Administrator, at the end of 2005. Liz had been with The
ALF for just over two years, and we wish her well in her next
phase of her career. We welcomed two new staff members
to The ALF in January, with Stacey Hehir taking over
administrative functions, and Elissa Callaghan helping Juliet
Gale in the LungNet Call Centre, and assisting Heather Allan
with the COPD National programme.
Yours Aye
William Darbishire
Continued from previous page
• You will enjoy eating more if meals are quick and easy
to prepare. Tinned and frozen foods, commercially
pre-prepared meals, sauces and other condiments are
convenient. So stock up your pantry, freezer and fridge
with foods that are time and energy savers. Use tinned
vegetables like baked beans, tomatoes and frozen
vegetables to reduce the amount of time taken in food
preparation. Try ready-made sauces for pasta dishes.
• Keep nourishing snacks and drinks available in the fridge
like yoghurt, cheese, fromage-frais and custard, milk and
fruit juice. Other nutritious snacks include fruit filled cakes
and biscuits, nuts, fruit (fresh, dried, tinned or stewed),
and commercially prepared nutritional drinks. Try to drink
nourishing drinks like milkshakes and fruit smoothies before
other drinks like tea or coffee.
• Make adjustments to your grocery shopping, food
preparation and cooking to ensure plenty of rest and
minimise unnecessary over-exertion that may affect your
appetite. Organise your weekly menu and shopping list
to save time when grocery shopping. Most supermarkets
have a home-delivery service at minimal cost. Some
dishes can be pre-prepared, cooked in double-quantities
and then frozen for another time. Leftover cooked rice
and pasta freezes well and can be reheated easily.
• Try enhancing the flavour and texture of foods you usually
eat by using different herbs and spices, gravies and sauces.
You can also boost your favourite dishes with extra energy by
using evaporated or full cream milk, yoghurt, sour cream,
cream, butter, margarine, salad dressing, mayonnaise, sugar
and honey. Add sauces or gravies to dry foods to prevent
irritating your throat and reduce bouts of coughing.
The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
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World COPD
Day Round-up
by Heather Allan, Executive Director Clinical
Relations, The Australian Lung Foundation
Phewwwww!
On Thursday November 17th, a collective sigh
of relief could be heard across the country.
World COPD Day was over for another year
and all that remained was to reflect on a huge
success that was contributed to by hundreds
of LungNet members across Australia.
This year The Australian Lung Foundation
launched a national media campaign and
MP briefing programme aimed at hammering
home the important messages around early
diagnosis of COPD. In order to attract media
attention, we promoted a new message
highlighting the increasing epidemic of COPD
amongst women, citing research that shows
1 in 6 Australians have some form of COPD.
As well as these findings, specially
commissioned research by Newspoll
supported our messages with
some disturbing, but not surprising
results. (see facts box)
In addition to this national work, The
Australian Lung Foundation’s LungNet
network of support groups really outdid
themselves. Over 60 groups around
the country organized an event to mark
the day. Amongst the wide array of
activities, there were spirometry tests,
shoppping mall displays, exercise days
and seminars. Some of the groups even
got their local MP or Mayor involved.
Facts
•20%
of f
said th emales over
4
ey hav
e symp 5 polled
•24%
t
o
ms of C
of male
OPD
so
they h
ave sy ver 45 polle
mptom
d
•Nea
s of CO said
rly half
P
D
(45%
aged 4
5 or ov ) of Australi
e
a
have s
ympto r who say the ns
ms of C
y
not se
OP
en a do
ctor ab D have
•Only
o
ut it
one
aged 4 third of Aus
tra
5
have h or over say t lians
hey
eard o
f COPD
As a result of all this work – many groups
took up the challenge to contact their
local media – we were gratified to receive
unprecedented media coverage for the day.
To date, over 133 items of coverage
have appeared, including 15 TV, 55
radio and 63 print. There are more
stories in the pipeline which will ensure
that the campaign continues to have
momentum into the New Year.
So from all of us at The Australian Lung
Foundation to all of those LungNet
groups that worked so hard to organize
their event –THANK YOU! And mark your
diaries for November 15th 2006!
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The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
The Lighter Side
by Larry Emdur
Hello everyone and happy New Year!
You’ve probably already broken all your
new year’s resolutions (I have), so I won’t
bother wishing you luck with those.
It’s hard to believe it’s been one year since Dad
passed away. We did something very special on the
anniversary and he would’ve loved it. We all got
together and ordered up the biggest “artery clogging”
“deepest fried” “slap-up” Chinese meal from his
favourite take-away. We ordered heaps of his most
loved dishes then sat round and cried and laughed,
and laughed and cried as we recalled our best stories
about Davo. The great yarns always revolved around
his ability to make something positive, or light, of his
predicament.
My favourite story, which resurfaced somewhere
between spring rolls and chili prawns, was when he
met us at Bondi in his buggy. He’d made a special towrope, he sat little Tia on his lap and then towed Jye on
his skateboard up and down Bondi Beach.
It was the funniest thing you’ve ever seen, all the
Japanese tourists raced after them taking photos
and videos and everyone he passed screamed out
a “Yeeehah!! “ or “Whooooaaaaa!” It became a
favourite event for both the kids and of course for Dad.
We’ve received some more great stories for “The
Lighter Side” column in this edition of LungNet News,
and John “Bung Lungs” Shearer wins the “Best Chat
with a Doctor” award.
John writes:
“In bed at Nepean Hospital with drips, and prongs in
my hooter, I felt lousy and probably looked worse.
Dr:
“How far can you walk?”
John: “Not too far at the moment”
Dr:
“No, I mean normally?”
John: “A good normal day, or a bad normal day?”
Dr:
“No, I mean when you are better?”
John: “I never feel better”.
And just as the good doctor tries to work out what to
say next, here comes the slam dunk, “How long is a
piece of string?”
Doctor stands, nods and walks out, other patients
laugh. I had thought of telling the Doc that I could
reach the toilet but decided not to as they would’ve
thought I was better and discharged me and I would
have missed out on all that great hospital food.”
Hey John, would I be right in reckoning you were the
“cheeky kid” at school?
Imagine waiting face down in a hospital cubicle for the
doctor. He eventually arrives and starts feeling his way
around your body. Starting from your feet he somehow
manages to find your lung area.
That’s exactly what happened to Christine Moyle in
London, here’s the twist. The doctor said he was blind.
Yeah sure Christine, what a great line from the good
Dr, I bet he says that to all the girls. Sounds like the
blind leading the behind.
If you thought you were having a bad day consider the
92 year old great grandmother on the Price is Right.
She won a huge Harley Davidson motorcycle then
exclaimed on national television, (in slightly more
colourful words), “What on earth do I do with that?”
She was last seen doing wheelies around the bowling
club car park!
Keep those stories coming. And remember
there’s always a lighter side.
All the best for 2006
Larry Emdur
We look forward to receiving more
of your stories for the next issue of
LungNet News – without them we
wouldn’t be able to have a column.
Please share them with us and send to:
Larry Emdur
“The Lighter Side”
The Australian Lung Foundation
PO Box 847
LUTWYCHE QLD 4030
Fax: 07 3357 6988
Email:
The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
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LungNet Lifestyles
Nikki Moore
Nikki Moore is a graduate lawyer
from Sydney. She is 30 years old
and had a lung removed at the age
of 23. On 23rd October 2005, Nikki
took part in the Port Macquarie HalfIronman Triathlon comprising a 1.9km
swim, a 90.1km cycle and a 21.1km
run, all to be completed within 7.5
hours! In doing so, she determined
to raise funds for The Australian
Lung Foundation. This is her story.
“My name is Nikki Moore and several
years ago, my left lung was removed.
I had a benign pea-sized tumour in
my left bronchial tube which was
unfortunately located under my aorta
and may eventually have become
malignant. In order to be sure they
got the whole tumour, the surgeons
had to remove my entire lung.
Before I underwent surgery, one of
the nurses told me that from her
experience, living with one lung would
be like living “with a hand-brake on”.
She was trying to be realistic, but it
was a sadly negative thing for me
to hear at the young age of 23.
After my surgery and during recovery,
I decided I was never going to live my
life with a hand-brake on. I had always
been athletic, so I gradually started
training again, first with a terrific
personal trainer who started with
me when I could only run 3 minutes
and finished when I could run 5 kms,
and then with a local triathlon club.
Since then I have not looked back. I
am a slow but persistent triathlete.
Over the years I have thought how
wonderful it would be to raise
awareness about the nature of lung
disease and to support those who
suffer from it. I recently found a
wonderful charity which does just that:
The Australian Lung Foundation, which
aims to bring about understanding,
management and relief of lung disease.
On 23 October I completed the HalfIronman triathlon in Port Macquarie
in seven hours 25 minutes and 42
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seconds. I was not the last person
to cross the finish line, and I was
one of 687 people who finished
successfully, out of 758 starters!
At 6am on the 23rd, I walked into the
transition area beside the Hastings
River in Port Macquarie feeling sick
with nerves and with legs shaking. I set
up everything I would need on the bike
ride and the run, and moved towards
the water. Forty three minutes later, I
approached the shore. As I came out
of the water, friends lined the swimfinish yelling my name. I ran towards
the transition point to the bike leg,
pulled on my bike shoes and helmet,
unracked my bike and was off. It was
time to start the long haul of the race.
The bike leg was filled with undulating
hills and a particularly perilous
downhill stretch! Luckily I had trained
for hills, and enjoyed these sections.
The scenery was beautiful, along wild
beaches and wide expanses of ocean.
Coming off the bike was a great feeling.
I ran into transition for the second time
racked my bike, pulled on my runners
and was off. Only 21.1kms to go!
The first 8kms of the run were flat.
I got into a good rhythm and felt strong
but the second half of the run was all
hills. On a flat run I could have made
reasonably good time, but those hills
were tough. I walked up a few and tried
to make up time by pushing harder on
the down hills. After about 14kms, the
course took a steep turn downhill to
the beach. This was bad news because
it meant I had to travel back up again.
At the bottom of the hill, I crashed,
walking back up from the beach and
hoping it would get easier from here.
Luckily it did. My husband, Dave and
my close friend, J were waiting for
me at the top of that hill, shouting
encouragement. They got me running
again and then dashed off to the
next aid station, where they told the
volunteers I was coming. Each aid
station from that point on was a joy
- I would run in to a crowd of people
yelling my name, and to Dave and J
telling me what was left of the course.
When I hit the 18km mark I was thrilled
to hear it was all downhill from this
point. As I ran, I kept hearing the
beat of the music at the finish line
getting closer. Glancing at my watch,
I realised I was going to make it on
time. Euphoria built and then I saw the
finish line. Ironman logo mats lined
the ground and fences lined each side
creating a narrow chute, through which
I ran - to loud music, to the announcers
welcoming me in, to cheers of friends
and strangers on the sidelines, to a
clock counting down the time and
cameras flashing. What a thrill! Once
over the finish line, volunteers in
Ironman t-shirts made a tunnel with
their hands, and I ran through to
find Dave and all of my friends and
supporters with ready hugs and a few
tears. Seven hours and 25 minutes
after the horn went off, I stopped
my watch and prepared to rest and
recover with a huge smile on my face.
This was a truly great day. And to
top it off, over $3,000 was raised
for The Australian Lung Foundation!
Thanks to everyone who gave so
much support. Your generosity made
this day into something much bigger
than me and my race, and you have
helped people who might never be
able to experience the pure joy of
swimming, cycling or running - or
who may now decide that they can
start doing these things, reaching
higher and living better – because it is
possible if you put your mind to it.”
Nikki intends to take part in
future Half Ironman races, where
she will continue to promote The
Australian Lung Foundation.
The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
Deficiency Association
by Heather Allan, Executive Director Clinical Relations, The Australian Lung Foundation
Through an initiative by Steven
Knowles, the Alpha-1 Association
of Australia (AAA) was established
in June 2005 during a Melbourne
meeting of key opinion leaders,
kindly enabled by sponsorship from
The Australian Lung Foundation,
CSL Bioplasma, and St Vincent’s
Hospital Melbourne.
Initial objectives also included
establishment of a formal Australian
registry, finalisation of Australia’s
membership of the Alpha-1
International Registry (AIR), and
raising awareness of this relatively
unknown condition amongst
general practitioners, other health
professionals, and the general public.
The AAA functions as a support
group for patients and families
affected by a genetic disorder known
as Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
(A1AD). The AAA also aims to
function as a centralised knowledge
base for issues relating to A1AD in
Australia, and acts as a driver and
catalyst of issues that impact on
A1AD patients.
It is estimated that about 1 in 50
people carry the defective gene that
can lead to disease associated with
A1AD, particularly if a child inherits
a defective gene from each parent.
The most common manifestation is
genetically inherited emphysema in
adults, but A1AD can also lead to
liver disease (especially in children),
vasculitis, and more rarely a skin
condition known as panniculitis.
The AAA operates an online
discussion group which can be
found at the website http://health.
groups.yahoo.com/group/Alpha1ANZ. Membership of the group
can be requested via the site.
To maintain the group’s primary
focus, membership is restricted
to Australian and New Zealand
residents affected by or with an
interest in A1AD. Alternatively
you can contact Brisbane-based
AAA President, Steven Knowles by
telephone: 0424 820 739 or 0402
105 150, or email emailus@knowles.
net.au
Moving?
Don’t forget to let us know if you change address or telephone numbers
to make sure that your newsletter goes with you.
Patient Support
Australia and New Zealand
NSW
VIC
Another new group has started in regional NSW.
The “Wheezing Westies” from Rooty Hill are associated
with the Mount Druitt Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Programme, and meet at Rooty Hill Senior Citizens
Centre on the first Monday of each month at 10.30am.
Contact Secretary, Faye Sloan on 02 9864 4229 or
Christine Gleeson on 02 9832 9655 for further details.
Pat Milthorpe has started up a new Support Group
in Castlemaine. The group, which is linked with
the Mount Alexander Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Programme had its first meeting on 26th October 2005
and meets on the third Wednesday of each month
from 10am-11.30am at Mount Alexander Hospital.
Contact Pat on 03 5470 5050 for further details.
Two existing NSW groups are trying to encourage
new members in 2006. “Chesties Bonding” meets at
Warringah Mall Library Meeting Room at 10.30 am on
the first Thursday of even numbered months, and “Step
Out at Ryde” meets at Gladesville Library Meeting Room
at 10am on the third Monday of odd numbered months.
Their next meeting is on Monday 20th March with a guest
speaker presenting on back care. For further information
on both groups, contact Sally Watts on 02 9808 9686
Regional Victoria has also seen the formation
of a new group in Boronia, which had its first
formal meeting on 8th February. For more details,
contact Winifred Bickerdike on 03 9801 3091.
The Book Fair in October 2005 was a fantastic
success raising over $3,500. Planning is proceeding
for the 2006 Book Fair to be held around World
COPD Day on 15th November 2005. Contact Nan
Albinski on 03 9570 3935 for further details.
The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
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NT
State Coordinator Jenni Hibble reports that activity is slowly
starting up again in the NT. Breatheasy STAARS enjoyed
their Christmas break-up and are looking forward to another
busy year. Their AGM was held on 21st February to discuss
forthcoming plans for 2006, including the LungNet Education
Seminar in August.
SA
State Coordinator Paul Cafarella reports that World COPD
Day events and Christmas break-ups have been high on the
agenda in SA since the last issue of LungNet News.
Auckland-based GASP enjoy their Christmas break-up
TAS
TAS State Coordinator, Lyn Joseph reports that a new group in
Kingston has started. The first meeting was on 2nd February
at Kingston Community Centre and they meet on the 1st
Thursday of each month at 2pm. For further details, contact
Lyn on 03 6222 8308 (pager number 6152).
World COPD Day was marked by events across the whole
State. At the Royal Hobart Hospital, Federal Member Harry
Quick and State Member Carol Brown participated in
spirometry testing. LungNet members in the northwest also
did their bit, with events organised by LUST in Launceston
and LIPS in Somerset/ Ulverstone. Media coverage included
a story on WIN Television News and an article in The Mercury
newspaper. Dr Jim Markos also conducted a radio interview
to raise awareness of COPD.
Lyn is hoping to initiate a State newsletter to keep all
Tasmanian Support Groups informed of each other’s activities
and increase the strength of the LungNet network. If anyone
has any articles they would like to contribute, please send
them to Lyn Joseph, Department of Respiratory Medicine,
Royal Hobart Hospital, 48 Liverpool St Hobart TAS 7000.
WA
Marianne Winser of Albany’s “HuffPuffers” Patient
Support Group has told us about a new initiative in WA
called the Chronic Respiratory Disease Clinical Service
Improvement Framework. The framework aims to bring
about much-needed changes relating to most chronic
respiratory diseases. It deals with all aspects and
management of both COPD and asthma, and maps out
standards encompassing prevention, detection, screening,
management, treatment, and rehabilitation for Chronic
Respiratory Disease up to 2007. The framework is a
tool for driving improvements in quality and access to
health services specific to chronic respiratory disease.
Further information is available on the website http://
www.clinicalnetworks.health.wa.gov.au/respiratory
QLD
Michele Kennedy, QLD State Coordinator reports that all the
groups enjoyed their Christmas break and are ready to get
back to business in the New Year. A focus of 2006 is once
again to increase the number of Support Groups.
This year’s LungNet Education Seminar will be held at KedronWavell Services Club, on Wednesday 30th August 2006.
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In Elizabeth, the Northern Windbags worked tirelessly
for World COPD Day, promoting lung health at their local
hospital and at a stand organised at Elizabeth Shopping
Centre. Mount Gambier’s South East Lung Disease Support
Group was very busy organising a stall at the local hospital
for World COPD Day, and Whyalla Happy Lung Support Group
organised an event at their local shopping centre. Further
south the South Coast Breathless Buddies were also kept
busy organising their World COPD Day event.
After all the hard work of 2005, Christmas break-ups were
enjoyed by many of the groups including West Air with their
Christmas barbeque. They are looking forward to 2006, with
their AGM taking place on 22nd February. At this meeting,
they will discuss what to do with a grant they recently
received from Port Adelaide Enfield Council. Happy Valley’s
Air Club had their Christmas break-up at the Morphett Arms
Hotel and enjoyed it so much that they have already booked
next year’s lunch on 14th December 2006!
Patient Support via Email
To compliment the internet-based patient support offered by
the Lungaroos (email: [email protected]), WAbased Marianne Winser who runs the HuffPuffers Support
Group in Albany has offered to provide email support to
anyone with a lung condition, or their families, friends and
carers. Marianne is a trained counsellor and therapist,
and can also help with useful information resources,
supplementing those available from LungNet.
To contact her, email: [email protected]
She is also happy to take calls from people without
access to email. Contact LungNet on 1800 654 301
if you would like Marianne’s telephone number.
ALF’s Handy Hints Corner
ALF’s Handy Hints has taken a break for the
first issue of 2006 but will be back in May.
If you have a handy hint, you would like to
share, please send it to The Australian Lung
Foundation, PO Box 847, Lutwyche, QLD,
4030, or email us: [email protected]
The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
Experience of Setting up a
LungNet Patient Support Group
by Maureen Klinberg, Respiratory Care Coordinator, Albury Base Hospital, Albury, NSW
Last year, The ALF started a campaign
called Project 200 with the aim of
increasing the number of Patient
Support Groups in Australia to 200. We
recognised that there were still many
areas in Australia which did not have
a group, and that many people with a
respiratory condition were missing out
on the benefits of being involved with
one. A new leaflet, “How to Start up a
LungNet Patient Support Group” was
produced to accompany our Patient
Support Group Start-up kit, and the
LungNet State Coordinators were set
the challenge of starting as many new
groups as possible. 2005 saw the
formation of 15 new groups, which is
a great achievement, however, we feel
that there is still a long way to go!
Many people can be daunted by the
prospect of starting up a new group
from “scratch” but the group can be as
formal or informal as you like. There are
no set guidelines for how many people
you need to make your group viable
– even as few as two people meeting
up for a coffee and a chat is enough!
Maureen Klinberg who coordinates
the Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Programme at Albury Base Hospital
was one such person who recognised
the need for a Support Group in her
area, and went ahead and organised
one. Below is her report from the
launch of the COPD/ LungNet Support
Group for Albury/ Wodonga:
“After each Pulmonary Rehabilitation
group, I have found that participants
are reluctant to finish meeting with each
other, so the idea of a Support Group
has been high on my list of priorities.
Early this year, Marlene Kennedy
attended a Pulmonary Rehabilitation
programme at the hospital, and agreed
to help with the formation of a group.
I had previously attended
a workshop by Pieter Walker in
Melbourne entitled, “Utilising Emotional
Intelligence to Improve Psychosocial
Management of Chronic Lung
Conditions” and was very impressed
with his knowledge of Pulmonary
Rehabilitation and Support Groups.
We invited Pieter, in his capacity as a
member of The ALF’s COPD Coordinating
Committee, to be our guest speaker
at the proposed launch of our group,
and he agreed. We sent information
regarding the launch to local doctors,
physiotherapists and chemists. In conjunction with Simone O’Shae,
physiotherapist at Wodonga
Hospital, we sent out invitations
to past participants of Pulmonary
About the
Your
Comments LungNet News
Since the November 2005 edition
of LungNet News, there have
been a few comments about the
article on exercise which appeared
on page 5, and concern relating
to the statement that Seretide
should be used prior to exercising.
Please remember that Seretide
should be used only as directed
by your doctor and extra doses
should not be taken prior to
exercise. If you have any queries
about any of your medications,
please consult your doctor.
Foundation Sponsors
Supporters
Rehabilitation Programmes from the
Wodonga and Albury Base Hospitals.
The launch took place on Friday
23rd September at Mirambeena
Neighbourhood Centre in the
Albury suburb, Lavington. It was a
warm day and unfortunately the air
conditioning failed! However, this
didn’t stop Pieter from presenting
a great talk on managing COPD in
an interesting and interactive way.
Marlene and I introduced the concept
of Support Groups, explaining how
the idea for the formation came
about. We found out that there
was plenty of interest in forming
a group and set the date for the first
meeting on 12th October at Glenecho
Neighbourhood House in Albury.
We wish to thank The ALF for
their help in the venture and
for their ongoing support.”
2006 Sponsorship Update
As we were going to print, we received the
sad news that BOC Medical have decided
not to renew their support for the LungNet
programme in 2006. We are very grateful
to BOC for all their support over the years.
It was through BOC’s generous insight
and founding sponsorship that LungNet
was established in the late 1990s.
However, the news is not all bad; Air
Liquide Healthcare has increased its
educational grant for the LungNet
programme in 2006, which will underpin
our work to support those burdened
with lung disease in Australia.
Publication dates 2006:
February, May, August and November.
Publisher and Editor:
The Australian Lung Foundation
PO Box 847, Lutwyche Q 4030
Toll Free: 1800 654 301
Phone: 07 3357 6388
Fax: 07 3357 6988
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is
submitted from many different sources. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor or
The Australian Lung Foundation. Medical information contained in this publication is intended to be used as
a guide only, and not as an authoritative statement. Please consult your doctor if you have questions relating
to medical information contained in this newsletter. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by means of electronic, mechanical,
photocopying or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.
The LungNet is an initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation – Toll Free 1800 654 301
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