"Has helped to relieve my fear and anxieties"

I recently attended two physio/respiratory appointments at Bideford Hospital, seen by Helen, physio/respiratory therapist.

She listened to my history of worsening breathlessness and severe coughing, some of this caused by inability to remove excess fluid from my chest. She empathised with the ongoing and understood my feeling of fear of not being able to breathe properly and frustration because I felt there was little I could do about it putting my worsening state down to recent diagnoses of interstitial lung disease and Bronchiolectasis.

I was taught a new technique - autogenic drainage. Helen first demonstrated the technique and through the first session I was encouraged to practice AD. I found this technique more helpful as I practised it at home dally and the results in extraction of fluid from my chest were variably successful. If I had to practice the technique for 30 minutes or more, I found it to be tiring and possibly more breathless.

These two appointments with Helen were among the most important as something was demonstrated which was effective within my respiratory system. Helen relieved my fear and anxieties because I was worried I was going to die choking and wanting for air. I have further review session with Helen.