Mom has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is overweight. She has started refusing to leave the house. What could be wrong?
Your mom may be starting to feel uncomfortable and unsafe when out of the house. If she is always short of breath, she may have great difficulty in walking. Sometimes, even the short distance from the house to the car or from the car to the store may be too much for your mother. She will probably benefit from a doctor’s appointment to see if there is any medication that might help, or maybe she needs to have portable oxygen. Has she recently gained weight? Maybe she feels uncomfortable in her current clothing and could benefit from some new clothes. The most important thing right now is to assure your mother that you care about her and want what is best for her.
