“I’ve got more energy and I feel I am more active and feel like there’s lots more that I can do.”
Living with COPD meant everyday activities could leave Carole from Hough feeling breathless and exhausted. Walking uphill, climbing steps and mowing the lawn often required long periods of recovery.
After being referred to the NHS Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme at Crewe Lifestyle Centre, which is delivered in partnership with Everybody Health & Leisure. Carole has seen significant improvements in her breathing, fitness and overall wellbeing.
She now exercises regularly and feels more confident managing her condition, proving that with the right support, people living with COPD can make positive changes to their health and quality of life.
Carole attends an annual review for her COPD and during her most recent appointment, she was asked whether she would like to join the pulmonary rehabilitation programme at Crewe Lifestyle Centre.
Wanting to do everything she could to help manage her condition, Carole decided to take part. Reflecting on life before the programme, she said:
“If I was walking uphill or going up a lot of steps if I was sightseeing. I’d have to stop and catch my breath and maybe use my inhaler.
If I did some gardening and was mowing the lawns, even though I had a mower that was a petrol driven, one that had an accelerator lever, it could take me about 40 minutes to recover, sit down and get my breathing back to normal.”
Carole completed the eight-week NHS pulmonary rehabilitation course in January and February. Following this, she was referred to Crewe Lifestyle Centre for a further three months, taking part in a variety of classes and gym sessions. She has since become a permanent member and now visits the centre three times a week, enjoying classes such as Good Boost, Yoga, Circuit Gold and Zumba Gold.
Speaking about the difference exercise has made, Carole said:
“I have some breathing difficulties when I exert myself, so I was really interested when I was offered this programme. Since joining Crewe Lifestyle Centre, I wasn’t doing the exercises that were actually benefiting my health. So, that’s changed.
At the beginning and end of the programme, Carole completed fitness assessments which showed an improvement in her breathing capacity. She also began noticing positive changes during everyday activities “because I had the energy and the fitness to be able to cope with all of that.”
Alongside becoming more active, Carole also made changes to her diet and lifestyle.
“I feel like I have lots more energy. When I started the course, I also combined that with healthy eating. I’ve lost over two stone in weight, and I’ve got more energy, I feel I am more active and feel like there’s lots more that I can do.”
Although she was initially unsure about what to expect, Carole quickly felt reassured by the support available.
“The first time I arrived I was very breathless and curious as to what’s going to happen, but, as soon as I started the programme, it was explained what kind of activities we’d be carrying out, and all the different talks about different aspects of COPD was really helpful, so I was put at my ease straight away.”
Throughout her journey, Carole received ongoing support from the team at Crewe Lifestyle Centre, including regular reviews with Jack to help tailor her activity programme.
“We would talk about what things I enjoyed and what was good for my condition and so with a combination of his input and what I enjoyed doing we built a programme of activities that suited me.”
Looking back, Carole says the biggest changes she has noticed are in her fitness, energy levels and overall confidence.
“Looking back, the things that I enjoyed most about the programme was that it was tailored to me and what my capabilities were and I felt very well supported. What I was doing I knew was right for me and right for my body. I was supported by the NHS team that attended during the COPD sessions and by Crewe Lifestyle Centre staff, Jack reviewed me on a regular basis, so I felt very comfortable and well supported in what I was doing.
The programme was built around my capabilities, about what was good for my condition. I felt very well supported and I felt confident in using the equipment which I was shown how to use. I felt that everything that I was doing was very safe.”
For anyone living with COPD and considering Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Carole has a simple message:
“There’s nothing to worry about and to come and give it a go because there’s absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. I can only say that I found it an amazing experience and it’s really helped me and my condition and I’m carrying on now.
It’s become a way of life, so hopefully things will improve and I will stay as fit as I can for as long as I can, and I think you could do the same.”
Watch Carole’s full interview here.
Find out more about our specialist rehabilitation classes here: Health & Wellbeing | Everybody Health & Leisure
