Re: Re: Recovery after Vats

[Guest guest]

Bruce- I stopped using the spirometer when I had my stitches out and the surgeon said I was healed and had no pneumonia. Are you supposed to use it continuously? I am usually such a joyous person but not now and that bothers me. Of course my son and his significant other came to visit and I made breakfast for everyone. As soon as they left at 11 I collapsed and fell asleep for hours. It was very hard for me to make scrambled eggs, bacon and waffles. That is so weird. It's as though the vats made me worse. Maybe I ought to force myself to get out and do some gardening or clean the house or something. I still have pain in the front of my stomach too. They told me it is from the nerve and it would go away but it's still there and my stomach is still numb. Perhaps it is because I have not moved enough that I am having such difficulty? I see my doc on Monday and will ask. I don't think they have pulmonary rehab here. No one has suggested it. Does medicare pay for it? Joyce Rudy AZ

Re: Recovery after Vats

JoyceIt's different for everyone but if you're coughing has increased andother symptoms, its worth talking to the doctors. Were you given anincentive spirometer to use and are you still getting the same levels aswhen you left the hospital? I never quite got back to where I was beforethe VATS but I couldn't say whether that was just normal progression ofmy disease. Others feel fine quickly. Anything involving anesthesia maytake a lot of energy out of you and take time to recover from thataspect. This is without even considering that it was your lungs. This isalso where pulmonary rehab can be very helpful and I'd suggest you talkto your doctor about it. I'm sure it's available even where you live asits not just for PF patients.>> How long does it take to recover to your original state after havingthe VATS? It has almost been a month now and I am just not up to par. Imade scrambled eggs and bacon and waffles for my son and his girlfriendand after they left I collapsed in bed. I was so fatigued. I slept. WhenI woke up in the afternoon my muscles still were weak. When I picksomething up my hand trembles. Things like that. I simply have nostamina. My O2 is ok but I am not the same. Also I am coughing all thetime now and I rarely coughed before the vats. Joyce Rudy AZ>

[Guest guest]

I found out there is a rehab in town but my friend said Medicare doesn't pay for it. Is there a special way to write a prescription? She said the only way it pays for rehab is if you have had heart surgery and that is for a few weeks. I should call Medicare and find out if that is true. If I could go I would love to utilitze it. Joyce rudy AZ

Re: Recovery after Vats

JoyceMedicare will pay for pulmonary rehab. Your Primary seemed to be verysupportive and since he's local you might get him to refer you. It'stremendously helpful but yet many doctors don't even mention it.As to the spirometer, I still use mine. You might try it just to see ifyou're still hitting the levels you were when you were using it. It'salways good exercise too.You talk about forcing yourself to do things. Yes, within limits. Keepan eye on your saturation levels. Don't overdo. But do what you can. Getout and about or walk in your yard. We all get tired and have to limitour daily activity, but understand you've had virtually none for a whilenow, with the surgery. It's natural you feel weaker. You need to learnthat balance that is right for you. But sitting doing nothing isn't goodfor you anymore than doing way too much. That's where rehab really doeshelp. You should definitely ask about it. It will help you get startedback and you'll be amazed.> >> > How long does it take to recover to your original state afterhaving> the VATS? It has almost been a month now and I am just not up topar. I> made scrambled eggs and bacon and waffles for my son and hisgirlfriend> and after they left I collapsed in bed. I was so fatigued. I slept.When> I woke up in the afternoon my muscles still were weak. When I pick> something up my hand trembles. Things like that. I simply have no> stamina. My O2 is ok but I am not the same. Also I am coughing allthe> time now and I rarely coughed before the vats. Joyce Rudy AZ> >>

[Guest guest]

Make sure that your doc is requesting for Pulmonary rehab for a person with lung issues. Not the rehab for people with heart issues. I remember when my doc was looking for where I could go for rehab, there was a clear distinction.

Subject: Re: Re: Recovery after VatsTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, June 7, 2009, 2:47 AM

I found out there is a rehab in town but my friend said Medicare doesn't pay for it. Is there a special way to write a prescription? She said the only way it pays for rehab is if you have had heart surgery and that is for a few weeks. I should call Medicare and find out if that is true. If I could go I would love to utilitze it. Joyce rudy AZ

Re: Recovery after Vats

JoyceMedicare will pay for pulmonary rehab. Your Primary seemed to be verysupportive and since he's local you might get him to refer you. It'stremendously helpful but yet many doctors don't even mention it.As to the spirometer, I still use mine. You might try it just to see ifyou're still hitting the levels you were when you were using it. It'salways good exercise too.You talk about forcing yourself to do things. Yes, within limits. Keepan eye on your saturation levels. Don't overdo. But do what you can. Getout and about or walk in your yard. We all get tired and have to limitour daily activity, but understand you've had virtually none for a whilenow, with the surgery. It's natural you feel weaker. You need to learnthat balance that is right for you. But sitting doing nothing isn't goodfor you anymore than doing way too much. That's where rehab really doeshelp. You should definitely

ask about it. It will help you get startedback and you'll be amazed.> >> > How long does it take to recover to your original state afterhaving> the VATS? It has almost been a month now and I am just not up topar. I> made scrambled eggs and bacon and waffles for my son and hisgirlfriend> and after they left I collapsed in bed. I was so fatigued. I

slept.When> I woke up in the afternoon my muscles still were weak. When I pick> something up my hand trembles. Things like that. I simply have no> stamina. My O2 is ok but I am not the same. Also I am coughing allthe> time now and I rarely coughed before the vats. Joyce Rudy AZ> >>

[Guest guest]

Adrienne makes a very good point. In some areas Cardiac rehab and Pulmonary rehab are given at the same place and sometimes the classes are mixed. If you find that's the case in your area, don't be put off by it. There is still tremendous value in the classes.

Medicare should pay for it though I know sometimes, in some parts of the country there can be difficulties. I've been told that the doctor should write the prescription specifying that the purpose of rehab is to increase exercise tolerence and to decrease respiratory symptoms. If your long term goal is to qualify for transplant, the doctor can also write transplant preparation on the script. The more specific he is when he writes the script the more likely it is to be accepted and paid for not just by Medicare but by any insurance.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2009 2:42:08 PMSubject: Re: Re: Recovery after Vats

Make sure that your doc is requesting for Pulmonary rehab for a person with lung issues. Not the rehab for people with heart issues. I remember when my doc was looking for where I could go for rehab, there was a clear distinction.

From: JOYCE RUDY <greycharlie@ q.com>Subject: Re: Re: Recovery after VatsTo: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comDate: Sunday, June 7, 2009, 2:47 AM

I found out there is a rehab in town but my friend said Medicare doesn't pay for it. Is there a special way to write a prescription? She said the only way it pays for rehab is if you have had heart surgery and that is for a few weeks. I should call Medicare and find out if that is true. If I could go I would love to utilitze it. Joyce rudy AZ

Re: Recovery after Vats

JoyceMedicare will pay for pulmonary rehab. Your Primary seemed to be verysupportive and since he's local you might get him to refer you. It'stremendously helpful but yet many doctors don't even mention it.As to the spirometer, I still use mine. You might try it just to see ifyou're still hitting the levels you were when you were using it. It'salways good exercise too.You talk about forcing yourself to do things. Yes, within limits. Keepan eye on your saturation levels. Don't overdo. But do what you can. Getout and about or walk in your yard. We all get tired and have to limitour daily activity, but understand you've had virtually none for a whilenow, with the surgery. It's natural you feel weaker. You need to learnthat balance that is right for you. But sitting doing nothing isn't goodfor you anymore than doing way too much. That's where rehab really doeshelp. You should definitely

ask about it. It will help you get startedback and you'll be amazed.> >> > How long does it take to recover to your original state afterhaving> the VATS? It has almost been a month now and I am just not up topar. I> made scrambled eggs and bacon and waffles for my son and hisgirlfriend> and after they left I collapsed in bed. I was so fatigued. I slept.When> I woke up in the afternoon my muscles still were weak. When I pick> something up my hand trembles. Things like that. I simply have no> stamina. My O2 is ok but I am not the same. Also I am coughing allthe> time now and I rarely coughed

before the vats. Joyce Rudy AZ> >>

[Guest guest]

When I did my rehab, it was combined Cardio/Pulmo...the dr writes the script for what he wants and the RTs know the difference.

For awhile I was the only pf patient...all were cardio/COPD.

It's really not complicated....

MamaSher; 70, IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

Re: Recovery after Vats

JoyceMedicare will pay for pulmonary rehab. Your Primary seemed to be verysupportive and since he's local you might get him to refer you. It'stremendously helpful but yet many doctors don't even mention it.As to the spirometer, I still use mine. You might try it just to see ifyou're still hitting the levels you were when you were using it. It'salways good exercise too.You talk about forcing yourself to do things. Yes, within limits. Keepan eye on your saturation levels. Don't overdo. But do what you can. Getout and about or walk in your yard. We all get tired and have to limitour daily activity, but understand you've had virtually none for a whilenow, with the surgery. It's natural you feel weaker. You need to learnthat balance that is right for you. But sitting doing nothing isn't goodfor you anymore than doing way too much. That's where rehab really doeshelp. You should definitely ask about it. It will help you get startedback and you'll be amazed.> >> > How long does it take to recover to your original state afterhaving> the VATS? It has almost been a month now and I am just not up topar. I> made scrambled eggs and bacon and waffles for my son and hisgirlfriend> and after they left I collapsed in bed. I was so fatigued. I slept.When> I woke up in the afternoon my muscles still were weak. When I pick> something up my hand trembles. Things like that. I simply have no> stamina. My O2 is ok but I am not the same. Also I am coughing allthe> time now and I rarely coughed before the vats. Joyce Rudy AZ> >>