St Clare Hospice’s Breathlessness Group helped Nigel enjoy life again while living with COPD
Nigel is the kind of man who doesn’t like to throw anything mechanical away if it can be mended – which is how he came to be the proud owner of 60 lawnmowers and 80 chainsaws!
He loves his shed; his wife, Carol; and his beloved three-legged dog, Rony, who, as a tiny puppy, tucked himself into Nigel’s jacket no longer after their son Tony died of cancer.
Nigel is living with COPD, often known as emphysema, after a lifetime of heavy welding, paint spraying, fibreglassing, working outside on combine harvesters, shovelling grain, and working with absestos. His lung function is minimal.
Nigel is beginning to clear his shed, thinking about what life might be like in the future.
‘When I was referred to St Clare by my nurse at St Margaret’s Hospital, I thought, do I want to go?’
Nigel describes himself as shy, and the thought of being referred to the Hospice Breathlessness Group took him outside of his comfort zone. But since attending, his life has changed for the better!
‘Everyone at St Clare is so kind, considerate, caring. And I’ll fly the flag for Alexandra, the physiotherapist there. She has explained everything just how I want to hear it. She makes it sound simple, and now I understand why I’m feeling like I am with my breathing. It makes me more relaxed.’
‘Before I went along. I found it hard to get upstairs as I was struggling for breath. I’d get up there and be pooped. Eating dinner, walking the dog – they were all hard as my shoulders would go up and down and I couldn’t get the air in my lungs.’
‘Now I’m more confident because I’ve learned how to do the tummy breathing. I’d tried doing that for years, but it never stuck. But the way Alexandra explained it was magic. I’m enjoying life again!’
– Nigel
We’d like to thank Nigel for sharing his story with us.
If you or someone you know is living with COPD, heart failure, pulmonary fibrosis or cancer, find out how we can support you by calling our First Contact Service on 01279 773774