Can you inhale properly ?

Well, who would've thought it ? Inhalers can be fun !!

Andrea Robinson brought a large bag of tricks, in the form of a huge variety of inhalers. Some need a long slow breath and the others need a quick, strong, deep breath, We all think we are using this medication properly, but how many of us really are ?


We used a machine which showed how efficient our techniques are. I found out that I am not inhaling my dry powder Seretide and Spiriva correctly. The medicine is not getting down into my lungs. The test showed that my breathing isn't strong enough due to the severity of my COPD. - note to self - have a chat with my doctor about a change of prescription. It seems after all these years (10 in all) that I have not been getting the right amount of drug into my lungs. Is it any wonder there is confusion when you look at all the different inhalers on offer. These here are just a few of them.

This all sounds very serious, which it is of course, but Andrea made it into a fun session. There were so many devices to try out, and get the giggles over.

She did show us a device - an Incheck DIAL - which every surgery should have. It's a simple and cheap (about £25 I think) device which quickly indicates which type of inhaler is suitable for each patient by testing their sucking power.

 It's amazing how many people are prescribed these inhalers with little or no instruction of how to use them - hence the true story of the man who was given an inhaler for his bad chest. Sometime later his nurse asked him if it was helping. "No" came the reply "I spray it on my chest and rub it in, but it doesn't do any good" What an incredible waste of an expensive medicine, and how sad for the person who didn't get the help he needed.

Just how safe are we ?

In fact we are very safe here in Neath Post Talbot and South Powys. however we do need to be vigilant against doorstep, internet, post and telephone scams. These people who approach us in our homes are a real nuisance, if not criminal. How annoying it is to struggle to the phone, when short of breath because of a lung condition, only to find a dead phone line or someone trying to sell you something you don't want, or some crook trying to get your bank details for the sole purpose of robbing you.

The general rule is don't give out any details to anyone who has called you. If you have called them asking for a service that is different. Always look for the padlock on any internet site you are using - as in the sample below.

Then you will know that the site is to be trusted.

Fit a chain to your external doors then you are in control if any unwanted or unknown callers come to your door. They are few and far between but better safe than sorry.

Sian Morris talked about all the usual things, which we should all be doing, such as hide your purse when out shopping, don't put cards or wallet in your back pocket, NEVER keep pin numbers and debit/credit cards together - if you can't remember your pin, write it on your hand, no one can steal that.

There are thieves about but most people are honest. Don't worry, just take care and stay safe !

How to breathe and how not to breathe !

Rhiannon Kendrick gave us an interesting talk on different ways to control breathing. We all know how ghastly it feels when you have a lung condition and you get breathless. I know I feel out of control and it can be frightening.
the British Lung Foundation information leaflet explains it much better than I can, so check the link below and www.blf.org.uk to see all the other information there is free to download, or to be sent to your home.

Dealing with breathlessness

Don't forget the BLF Helpline - 03000 030 555

Volunteer Award 2015

On Monday evening, surely one of the wettest and windiest evenings of the year, we were very proud to receive a Volunteer Award for our Breathe Easy group. It was given for the all round work we do in supporting people with lung conditions and their carers, for raising awareness at various locations and events in the area, Also campaigning work and fundraising.

 

 

The award was presented by Gwenda Thomas AM

 

It really was worth turning out on such a foul night

Amazing result !

At last all the sponsor money is gathered in for our abseil and this year we have raised a wonderful

£4,007

 

 

 

 

This is the 9th year we have held our abseil and in that time we have raised £44,337. When we first started I would never have thought that was achievable.

It has all been made possible by the fantastic support we have had from all the people who have taken part and those who dug deep into their pockets to donate.

None of this would have been possible without the support of Call of the Wild, who run the event free of charge every year. Call of the Wild.

 

We need first aiders on standby (never necessary thank goodness) and that has been provided by Dulais Valley Ambulance Service (now retired) and the local St John's group www.stjohnwales.co.uk/ - again, no charge to us.

 

Also our friend Bob Grainger comes along each year to photograph our abseilers and provide them with a key ring or fridge magnet and he donates to our fund www.bobgraingerphotography.com/

 

Natural Resources Wales have also waived their fee to help us raise more money for our charity naturalresources.wales/

 

Without this support, year after year, we would never have achieved so much, so, thank you to all of you.







A visit to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales

Recently we were were lucky to be awarded a grant under the Carers Small Grant Scheme. We used this yesterday to take our members and their carers (husbands and wives) to visit the National Botanic gardens in Lanarthne.
We all had a lovely time. The Mediterranean plants in the wonderful dome, designed by Norman Foster, are always a delight. It is well laid out with plants from all parts of the world which enjoy a Mediterranean climate.
From there we went down to the restaurant for lunch and then outside to see the display by the Pembokeshire Birds of Prey. There was a Merlin, an Eagle Owl, a Vulture, a Red Kite and many more, all flying and showing off their agility or speed.




An Eagle Owl waits on its perch before the show begins

Lynne was thrilled to be able to get so close to the Eagle Owl

 



Without our mobility scooters we would never have managed to cover the gardens properly





The azaleas were a blaze of colour.
 

These gardens are well worth a visit at any time of the year. We had our own mobility scooters but they do have scooters abd wheelchairs to hire for half a day or a full day. Also there is a land train to take you up to the glass domed building at the top of the site. Then it is downhill all the way down to the restaurant, through the gardens and back to the car park.


Swansea in the 60s

Phil Treseder returned to give us one of his interesting illustrated talks about Swansea in the 60s. What a shame that most of our members who were there, couldn't make it on the day. So Phil was talking to outsiders. But it was interesting for us non locals to see how Swansea used to be and compare it to what we know today and to compare it to where we all lived in the 60s. They do say if you remember the 60s you weren't there, but this was about bricks and mortar, rebuilding and city centre planning after all the damage caused by World War II.

 

Before

 

Bomb damage was extensive, but as in all other cities in UK, it gave the chance to replan and rebuild.

 



 







After

Swansea is now a vibrant modern city, constantly changing to meet the needs of its people.