"I feel the class was very beneficial to me"

I have acute COPD and manage my health well by taking my medication as advised, eating healthily, keeping my weight down, walking everyday and attending yoga classes.

August 2022 I caught COVID after isolation and being careful. The virus did not seem to affect my lungs but I have a really bad productive cough which I believe was coming from my sinuses and upper respiratory. My head felt it was stuffed with cotton wool. I was in bed very often, felt fatigued and generally unwell. I had various appointments with health professionals, 2 lots of antibiotics and was eventually seen by a respiratory consultant who sent me to a NHS Rehab class.

I found this class to be incredibly helpful. It took place over 6 weeks and I attended twice a week.  The class was run by NHS nurses, one of which was a Respiratory nurse who I found incredibly helpful. The class had a different talk every time such as medication, inhalers, healthy eating, smoking. and then gentle exercises for about 40 minutes.

I found my fitness improved over the 6 weeks as I had been unable to do much walking and yoga since getting COVID over a year before. Even though I have been taking inhalers for years I learned that I was not taking them properly and they were also able to answer questions I had.

During the 6 weeks the nurses were there answering questions and giving advice the whole time of the class and not just while the talk was being given.

I feel the class was very beneficial to me and I had the feeling that if my health gets worse in the future there are things that I can get help with which will help me breathe and allow me to continue to walk and get outside birdwatching and being in wild areas, which is my favourite thing to do.