Abstract
Background Fatigue is reported to be one of the most common symptoms among people with COPD. However, there is hardly any qualitative research describing how fatigue affects people living with COPD.
Aim To study people's experience of fatigue when living with COPD.
Method In the years of 2008-2010, a purposive sample of 20 people with COPD stage II-IV, according to GOLD, was recruited from the OLIN COPD-study in Northern Sweden. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews and the participants were interviewed about their experience of fatigue. The interviews were subjected to a qualitative content analysis.
Results One theme was identified: To reconcile with the dimensions of fatigue, and four categories: To understand the reason; To preserve fatigue unexpressed; To be controlled and To struggle against. In COPD, fatigue seems to appear in different dimensions. People are aware of the cause of fatigue and they seem to reconcile with the symptom believing it is a natural consequence of COPD, and therefore it remains unexpressed. Fatigue is an always present feeling that involves the whole body, raising feelings of hopelessness making life heavy and invincible. Further, by increased dyspnea, fatigue gets even heavier and more severe to manage. To cope, people have to force themselves to struggle against fatigue, regardless of dyspnea that was triggered by physical movements.
Conclusion Fatigue affected the daily life of people living with COPD. In relation to dyspnea, fatigue was described to be overwhelming, and most important fatigue seems to be unexpressed to healthcare professionals and relatives. This knowledge is significant for nurses in order to meet the person's needs of care.
- © 2012 ERS