Pulmo Rehab

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Haven't had a chance to post for a few days but I am back!! I had my

second pulmo rehab visit yesterday. I learned pursed lip

breathing!! Now I actually know what it is!! She also tried to

teach me diaphragmatic breathing and I think I will never get it!!

It is totally opposite of the way I breathe. She said I need to

learn to breathe through my stomach instead of my lungs. I am

supposed to push my stomach out when I inhale instead of sucking in

when I inhale which is what I do. I will never get that one right!!

I got to get on all the machines they had and they checked my sats

after each one. Did 5 minutes on a rowing machine, sat was 99. Did

5 minutes on an exercise bike, sat was 99. Did 5 minutes on a

NuStep, sat was 99 (actually I think it dropped a little then because

she didn't take it right away after I got off the machine. I had

rested a few minutes before she took it. Lastly was the treadmill.

Was SUPPOSED to do 10 minutes at 1.2 mph (not fast at all). Made it

to 5 minutes and I was like, man this is a long 10 minutes. She said

if you are getting tired, you can stop. I said no. I was going to

MAKE myself do the 10 minutes. Next minute went by my chest felt

like it was on fire!! She came back and stood beside me and said,

you are just huffing and puffing. We had better stop you at 8

minutes. Got off, sat was 91. She said if it was 89, I would have

needed oxygen or they may have even sent me over to the ER. I asked

her, " so if I had made the 10 minutes, it probably would have hit

89? " She said yeah, probably. So I only made it 1 hour yesterday

instead of two, but am to go back Wednesday and Friday, so will be

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 3. I knew my sats had to be

dropping during exercise cuz I get so SOB. I just didn't realize how

much. So basically, after 20 minutes of exercise, I dropped to 91.

I feel like I am going to be seeing oxygen in the very near future,

if nothing else for now during exercise. The thought scares the hell

out of me!! I know so many of you are already there and I have been

fortunate to have made it this far without it. I have been trying to

get a cold the last couple of days. Started with the sneezing and

cough Saturday, coughing more yesterday, coughing even more today

with sinus drainage. YUK!! That is all I need. Weird how this

disease sometimes stays dormant and you forget you have it. I have

been fairly well the last few weeks, then boom the bomb drops on you

again and you realize all over -- HERE WE GO AGAIN!! I am sick

again. I REALLY REALLY HATE THIS DISEASE!!! My Birmingham date is

getting closer and closer (June 17) and I am excited about that, so

that is keeping me pumped up somewhat.

I hope all is well with everyone. I have been trying to keep up with

the posts but this is the first chance I had to actually post

anything. Have been swamped with work but keeping busy. Maybe why I

got sick again. I am just exhausted.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful day and a wonderful week!! I

think of you all each and every day!! Hugs from me!!

Caro