How to manage new shortness of breath with bc mets to lungs?

Hi Patchwork,
I'm sorry to hear about your shortness of breath. That's unfortunate and very hard to live with! My husband has lung cancer and often has shortness of breath. He has inhalers and a nebulizer machine with medicine that helps a lot. You might want to talk to your doctor about prescribing those kinds of things for you.

You also might want to consider home oxygen. Be aware that home oxygen can be very expensive; $2000 to $4000 to buy a new machine or $200 to rent it. However, we found a cheaper home oxygen that doesn't require a doctor's authorization. It only cost $189 which fit our budget better. We haven't had it delivered yet so I can't tell you if it's worth it but I'm hoping it's an answer to our prayers. We ordered the oxygen machine from a company called Osito. You can do a Google search for it.

Another thing that helps shortness of breath is drinking lots of water. When you get dehydrated you get short of breath. My husband drinks a lot of water and it helps him a lot.

It also helps to pray and leave everything up to God. He's always there for you. You just have to ask.
I'll say a prayer for you.
Best of luck!
PML

Thank you PML! I will be setting all of that up. I have an oxygen concentrator now but have been quite reluctant to be tie down with it but I am changing my thinking on that :).
I just received my nebulizer and prescriptions.
I appreciate the reminders of God's presence and strength for me.
Patchwork1013

I struggle with shortness of breath as well. For many reasons too.
I think the anxiety around it really increased the stress of it as well. I purchased a fitness watch that has 0xygen levels in it as well as heart rates and alarms to notify if my rates are out of alignment. That helped me feel a little bit like I had some control.
I also learned that different activities affected me differently.
I had to also give myself some grace .
I shop through Amazon or instacart now. I use automatic vacuum, dishwasher etc to help relieve any physical burden. I save energy for what is important. I found working on my computer gives me activity to challenge my mind but at times I am sure even that can be hard for you.
When I have a day that is especially hard , I try to rest where I can see outside, it lifts my spirits.
I hope you are encouraged to day ! Prayers for you

Thak you so much! Love the fitness watch idea! I have always been so active and this has been just so difficult to be pretty much sidelined. But....I am seeing improvement with the oxygen use today and am encouraged by the helpful, understanding feedback.
I will continue to hope.
Thank you

I have asked for 50 feet of tubing with my concentrator, when I need it, it gives me the ability to be where I choose in my house and isolate the noise in another room. I do not require it all the time, but when I do, I really do.
I have not required the inhalers or nebulizers yet, but my brother did use them and they were a godsend. Our most wonderful doctor also prescribed an anti anxiety which really did help him when the shortness of breath was at the worst.
I do find that the more I think about my breathing, the worse it gets. Sometimes I just distract myself so I can “just breathe”.
May I ask about the status of your mets? Is the active treatment shrinking them?

Chris,
Thank you for your support. I am breathing much better today. My shortness of breath may be brought on by other issues...Reactive Airway Disease. I have been struggling with sudden shortness of breath, and we are trying to figure it out, but until we do, I appreciate your feedback so much.
My mets are stable. Some areas have been "healing" in my bones and yes some lesions are smaller. Mets to lungs have been stable so we think it is not the cancer as much as inflamation being caused by that or other things.
I have lung function test in 10 days, so we will get to the bottom of it!
Thank you so much for your advise.