Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Barbara There are two parts of your post that concern me and seem to disconnect. You say no oxygen yet, then you talk about what happens if you walk your dog to the end of the driveway. Do you know what happens to your osygen saturation when you make that walk? I'm on oxygen and I could walk a dog to the end of my driveway. Now, it might require 5 lpm of oxygen for me. The walk to the end of the driveway sounds just like the drop of saturation in a six minute walk. It doesn't matter how many other things you have, I can fully understand if you're feeling oxygen deprivation why you'd find it hard to motivate yourself to enjoy. Although planting things is of no interest to me, Beth does all the time, on oxygen. I don't know what liter flow she uses to do it, but it allows her to enjoy what is pleasurable to her. > > Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! > > I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about? > > Well, there's a big part of me that says " Get over it. Look at what you CAN do. " There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh. > > That's all. Thanks for letting me vent. > B > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Barbara.... it's hard to train ourselves that roses have thorns or thorns have roses... You'll see the blessings instead of the curses after awhile. If theses are things you really love doing then tackle one little task at a time. you'll be doing something you really enjoy and you'll have the finished project to look at. What you just can't do ask for some help! Post us some pictures of the finished tasks. Keep on keepin' on. MamaSher; 70, IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Re: Sunday afternoon rant BarbaraThere are two parts of your post that concern me and seem to disconnect.You say no oxygen yet, then you talk about what happens if you walk yourdog to the end of the driveway. Do you know what happens to your osygensaturation when you make that walk? I'm on oxygen and I could walk a dogto the end of my driveway. Now, it might require 5 lpm of oxygen for me.The walk to the end of the driveway sounds just like the drop ofsaturation in a six minute walk.It doesn't matter how many other things you have, I can fully understandif you're feeling oxygen deprivation why you'd find it hard to motivateyourself to enjoy.Although planting things is of no interest to me, Beth does all thetime, on oxygen. I don't know what liter flow she uses to do it, but itallows her to enjoy what is pleasurable to her.>> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her ownway. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh!>> I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house,the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....),my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me.I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?>> Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at whatyou CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated thatI cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without havingto sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I siton my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are stillfall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. Thatthere are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway sinceleast spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year'sdregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small treesthat need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I loveto do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not goingaway. Sigh.>> That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Barbara.... it's hard to train ourselves that roses have thorns or thorns have roses... You'll see the blessings instead of the curses after awhile. If theses are things you really love doing then tackle one little task at a time. you'll be doing something you really enjoy and you'll have the finished project to look at. What you just can't do ask for some help! Post us some pictures of the finished tasks. Keep on keepin' on. MamaSher; 70, IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Re: Sunday afternoon rant BarbaraThere are two parts of your post that concern me and seem to disconnect.You say no oxygen yet, then you talk about what happens if you walk yourdog to the end of the driveway. Do you know what happens to your osygensaturation when you make that walk? I'm on oxygen and I could walk a dogto the end of my driveway. Now, it might require 5 lpm of oxygen for me.The walk to the end of the driveway sounds just like the drop ofsaturation in a six minute walk.It doesn't matter how many other things you have, I can fully understandif you're feeling oxygen deprivation why you'd find it hard to motivateyourself to enjoy.Although planting things is of no interest to me, Beth does all thetime, on oxygen. I don't know what liter flow she uses to do it, but itallows her to enjoy what is pleasurable to her.>> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her ownway. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh!>> I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house,the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....),my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me.I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?>> Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at whatyou CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated thatI cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without havingto sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I siton my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are stillfall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. Thatthere are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway sinceleast spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year'sdregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small treesthat need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I loveto do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not goingaway. Sigh.>> That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Barbara, Since I met you in Orlando I seem to sense what you are going through and how you feel. I know you are at the stage where you "don't look sick" but yet there are some activities that have become a little bit harder to do. You look around your yard, home, etc. and wonder, "I need to do that" but "I really can't do it the way I used to do it". My suggestion is to find easier ways to accomplish what you want to do. You can still walk the dogs, but only slower. The yard looks terrible and it needs to be fixed--get someone to help you especially to do the worse part. Keep finding new ways to do what you used to do. Keeping a slower pace is most important. Can you check your oxygen saturation at home when you are involved in various activities? That is most important because you will then know how to pace yourself. We are all different. This morning I went to church. Eddie had to be there earlier and was only getting in the shower when I was going to leave. I was almost late to Sunday School. I had to park further away--there were no handicapped parking places--I had to walk a long way to the elevator to go upstairs to my class which is on the fron side of the building and I parked in the back to be closer to the elevator--I had to leave class early to go and get a choir robe--go back down the elevator walk to the sanctuary--get my gloves--make sure my bells were in place--move two bell cases so I could sit down and rest. I really dreaded going through all of this today but I craved the fellowship of my class. etc. etc. Eddie should have been there to help me or should have risen earlier and been ready. Who knows what to do! I just try to adjust my pace so I can "do" >> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! > > I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?> > Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at what you CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh.> > That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Barbara, Since I met you in Orlando I seem to sense what you are going through and how you feel. I know you are at the stage where you "don't look sick" but yet there are some activities that have become a little bit harder to do. You look around your yard, home, etc. and wonder, "I need to do that" but "I really can't do it the way I used to do it". My suggestion is to find easier ways to accomplish what you want to do. You can still walk the dogs, but only slower. The yard looks terrible and it needs to be fixed--get someone to help you especially to do the worse part. Keep finding new ways to do what you used to do. Keeping a slower pace is most important. Can you check your oxygen saturation at home when you are involved in various activities? That is most important because you will then know how to pace yourself. We are all different. This morning I went to church. Eddie had to be there earlier and was only getting in the shower when I was going to leave. I was almost late to Sunday School. I had to park further away--there were no handicapped parking places--I had to walk a long way to the elevator to go upstairs to my class which is on the fron side of the building and I parked in the back to be closer to the elevator--I had to leave class early to go and get a choir robe--go back down the elevator walk to the sanctuary--get my gloves--make sure my bells were in place--move two bell cases so I could sit down and rest. I really dreaded going through all of this today but I craved the fellowship of my class. etc. etc. Eddie should have been there to help me or should have risen earlier and been ready. Who knows what to do! I just try to adjust my pace so I can "do" >> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! > > I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?> > Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at what you CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh.> > That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Barb, I think I can safely say we all have moments like you describe. The frustration at times can be overwhelming. While I've told myself the same thing you have, 'get over it. there are so many people worse off than you. etc etc' That only helps momentarily, right? It's just hugely disappointing to have my life turn out so differently than I pictured. That said I would suggest once again that you find a way to check your sats when you are active. If you haven't purchased an oximeter please consider it. It can give you information that can ultimately allow you to be more active and get back to doing some of the things you love. I understand you don't want to be on oxygen. I get that you want to delay that as long as possible. Sometimes I think it was easier for me because I went straight from diagnosis to oxygen 24/7 all in one hospitalization. I had no choice and was foreced to make the adjusment. I think the gradual thing may be more difficult in some ways. In any case if you don't yet need oxygen, you will need to learn to pace yourself very carefully. You will need to slow down and divide tasks into very small segments. Count every small thing you accomplish a victory. Taking down small trees is probably not something you can tackle. Raking or planting may be something you can do slowly and in little pieces. Many of us use a "15 minute rule". With almost any task I do what I can in 15 minutes and then take a rest. Sometimes I have a tendency to stretch it to 20 or 25 minutes but you get the idea. I spent a good part of today planting the things that I bought yesterday at Lowes. I know how you feel, I love to be outdoors and have my hands in the dirt. I rolled my concentrator to just outside the front door, plugged it in, set it at around 5, attached 50 feet of tubing and got to work. The oxygen allows me to do what I love. It's an adjustment to do it all with the tubing but I can do it. Just don't ask me about what happened the time I was pruning....LOL Also Bruce doesn't understand about gardening. He puts plastic flowers in the ground and calls it a gardent. LOL (Love ya Bruce but that is just so wrong) Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 3:11:22 PMSubject: Sunday afternoon rant Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at what you CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh.That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Barbara the supplemental o2 enables me to do a lot of the things that you just listed I need to sit on a stool to garden, bending over is tough, even with o2 walking the dog means filling up the portable, but I am able to do it there are advantages to using o2 it enables people to get on with their lives Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Sunday afternoon rantTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 3:11 PM Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at what you CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh.That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 thanks for saying it Bruce Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: Sunday afternoon rantTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 3:22 PM BarbaraThere are two parts of your post that concern me and seem to disconnect.You say no oxygen yet, then you talk about what happens if you walk yourdog to the end of the driveway. Do you know what happens to your osygensaturation when you make that walk? I'm on oxygen and I could walk a dogto the end of my driveway. Now, it might require 5 lpm of oxygen for me.The walk to the end of the driveway sounds just like the drop ofsaturation in a six minute walk.It doesn't matter how many other things you have, I can fully understandif you're feeling oxygen deprivation why you'd find it hard to motivateyourself to enjoy.Although planting things is of no interest to me, Beth does all thetime, on oxygen. I don't know what liter flow she uses to do it, but itallows her to enjoy what is pleasurable to her.>> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her ownway. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh!>> I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house,the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....),my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me.I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?>> Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at whatyou CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated thatI cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without havingto sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I siton my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are stillfall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. Thatthere are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway sinceleast spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year'sdregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small treesthat need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I loveto do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not goingaway. Sigh.>> That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 good response Jane Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: Sunday afternoon rantTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 6:10 PM Barbara, Since I met you in Orlando I seem to sense what you are going through and how you feel. I know you are at the stage where you "don't look sick" but yet there are some activities that have become a little bit harder to do. You look around your yard, home, etc. and wonder, "I need to do that" but "I really can't do it the way I used to do it". My suggestion is to find easier ways to accomplish what you want to do. You can still walk the dogs, but only slower. The yard looks terrible and it needs to be fixed--get someone to help you especially to do the worse part. Keep finding new ways to do what you used to do. Keeping a slower pace is most important. Can you check your oxygen saturation at home when you are involved in various activities? That is most important because you will then know how to pace yourself. We are all different. This morning I went to church. Eddie had to be there earlier and was only getting in the shower when I was going to leave. I was almost late to Sunday School. I had to park further away--there were no handicapped parking places--I had to walk a long way to the elevator to go upstairs to my class which is on the fron side of the building and I parked in the back to be closer to the elevator--I had to leave class early to go and get a choir robe--go back down the elevator walk to the sanctuary--get my gloves--make sure my bells were in place--move two bell cases so I could sit down and rest. I really dreaded going through all of this today but I craved the fellowship of my class. etc. etc. Eddie should have been there to help me or should have risen earlier and been ready. Who knows what to do! I just try to adjust my pace so I can "do" >> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! > > I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?> > Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at what you CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh.> > That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 good response Jane Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: Sunday afternoon rantTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 6:10 PM Barbara, Since I met you in Orlando I seem to sense what you are going through and how you feel. I know you are at the stage where you "don't look sick" but yet there are some activities that have become a little bit harder to do. You look around your yard, home, etc. and wonder, "I need to do that" but "I really can't do it the way I used to do it". My suggestion is to find easier ways to accomplish what you want to do. You can still walk the dogs, but only slower. The yard looks terrible and it needs to be fixed--get someone to help you especially to do the worse part. Keep finding new ways to do what you used to do. Keeping a slower pace is most important. Can you check your oxygen saturation at home when you are involved in various activities? That is most important because you will then know how to pace yourself. We are all different. This morning I went to church. Eddie had to be there earlier and was only getting in the shower when I was going to leave. I was almost late to Sunday School. I had to park further away--there were no handicapped parking places--I had to walk a long way to the elevator to go upstairs to my class which is on the fron side of the building and I parked in the back to be closer to the elevator--I had to leave class early to go and get a choir robe--go back down the elevator walk to the sanctuary--get my gloves--make sure my bells were in place--move two bell cases so I could sit down and rest. I really dreaded going through all of this today but I craved the fellowship of my class. etc. etc. Eddie should have been there to help me or should have risen earlier and been ready. Who knows what to do! I just try to adjust my pace so I can "do" >> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! > > I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?> > Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at what you CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh.> > That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 good response mary beth Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: Sunday afternoon rantTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 7:26 PM Barb, I think I can safely say we all have moments like you describe. The frustration at times can be overwhelming. While I've told myself the same thing you have, 'get over it. there are so many people worse off than you. etc etc' That only helps momentarily, right? It's just hugely disappointing to have my life turn out so differently than I pictured. That said I would suggest once again that you find a way to check your sats when you are active. If you haven't purchased an oximeter please consider it. It can give you information that can ultimately allow you to be more active and get back to doing some of the things you love. I understand you don't want to be on oxygen. I get that you want to delay that as long as possible. Sometimes I think it was easier for me because I went straight from diagnosis to oxygen 24/7 all in one hospitalization. I had no choice and was foreced to make the adjusment. I think the gradual thing may be more difficult in some ways. In any case if you don't yet need oxygen, you will need to learn to pace yourself very carefully. You will need to slow down and divide tasks into very small segments. Count every small thing you accomplish a victory. Taking down small trees is probably not something you can tackle. Raking or planting may be something you can do slowly and in little pieces. Many of us use a "15 minute rule". With almost any task I do what I can in 15 minutes and then take a rest. Sometimes I have a tendency to stretch it to 20 or 25 minutes but you get the idea. I spent a good part of today planting the things that I bought yesterday at Lowes. I know how you feel, I love to be outdoors and have my hands in the dirt. I rolled my concentrator to just outside the front door, plugged it in, set it at around 5, attached 50 feet of tubing and got to work. The oxygen allows me to do what I love. It's an adjustment to do it all with the tubing but I can do it. Just don't ask me about what happened the time I was pruning....LOL Also Bruce doesn't understand about gardening. He puts plastic flowers in the ground and calls it a gardent. LOL (Love ya Bruce but that is just so wrong) Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 From: Barbara <bamny (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 3:11:22 PMSubject: Sunday afternoon rant Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at what you CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh.That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 MB/Barb Now, we do have a couple of large pots near the street where we're moving and since doesn't like my style of planting, I will have the yardman put something live. doesn't do outdoors period. Now, I will probably do something out back with artificial. lol. I, like you, went straight to oxygen. I guess had I any doubts, learning about the risk of PH and reading Joyce's posts would have driven me to it. But, the event that told me to love oxygen was the first time I got on the treadmill. Months earlier I'd tried and couldn't make it 10 minutes. Of course, it was just thought I was out of shape. Well, I got on with oxygen, set it on 2 mph and was shocked it was so easy and I could do it. So, turned the speed to 2.5 and turned up one more liter and it was no harder. I went 30 minutes the first time and stood there wondering how much better I could have felt for so long had I had it earlier. I never thought of oxygen as a choice. My first six minute walk I dropped to the mid 80's. I think some of the same feelings Barb has hit again when you have to turn it up a little higher. But, again, it enables me to do what I want plus I'm so mentally obsessed with maintaining over 90%, I never think of there being a choice, I just do it. As to going slower and taking breaks and spacing things out, I think of this as my retirement (sounds better than disability) and the fact I've earned the right through decades of hard work and hurry and stress to just relax and do things without any pressure of time. > > Barb, > I think I can safely say we all have moments like you describe. The frustration at times can be overwhelming. While I've told myself the same thing you have, 'get over it. there are so many people worse off than you. etc etc' That only helps momentarily, right? It's just hugely disappointing to have my life turn out so differently than I pictured. > That said I would suggest once again that you find a way to check your sats when you are active. If you haven't purchased an oximeter please consider it. It can give you information that can ultimately allow you to be more active and get back to doing some of the things you love. > > I understand you don't want to be on oxygen. I get that you want to delay that as long as possible. Sometimes I think it was easier for me because I went straight from diagnosis to oxygen 24/7 all in one hospitalization. I had no choice and was foreced to make the adjusment. I think the gradual thing may be more difficult in some ways. > > In any case if you don't yet need oxygen, you will need to learn to pace yourself very carefully. You will need to slow down and divide tasks into very small segments. Count every small thing you accomplish a victory. Taking down small trees is probably not something you can tackle. Raking or planting may be something you can do slowly and in little pieces. Many of us use a " 15 minute rule " . With almost any task I do what I can in 15 minutes and then take a rest. Sometimes I have a tendency to stretch it to 20 or 25 minutes but you get the idea. > > I spent a good part of today planting the things that I bought yesterday at Lowes. I know how you feel, I love to be outdoors and have my hands in the dirt. I rolled my concentrator to just outside the front door, plugged it in, set it at around 5, attached 50 feet of tubing and got to work. The oxygen allows me to do what I love. It's an adjustment to do it all with the tubing but I can do it. Just don't ask me about what happened the time I was pruning....LOL > > Also Bruce doesn't understand about gardening. He puts plastic flowers in the ground and calls it a gardent. LOL (Love ya Bruce but that is just so wrong) > > Beth > Moderator > Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Barbara bamny@... > To: Breathe-Support > Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 3:11:22 PM > Subject: Sunday afternoon rant > > > Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her own way. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh! > > I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house, the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....), my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me. I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about? > > Well, there's a big part of me that says " Get over it. Look at what you CAN do. " There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated that I cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without having to sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I sit on my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are still fall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. That there are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway since least spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year's dregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small trees that need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I love to do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not going away. Sigh. > > That's all. Thanks for letting me vent. > B > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 well said Dyanne Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: Sunday afternoon rantTo: Breathe-Support Date: Monday, April 6, 2009, 1:18 PM Georgia, Bruce is right, get thee to an oxygen supplier. I pickedcherry tomatoes this morning and my spring garden is growing just great,lettuce, carrotts, onions and beans. (we get two gardens in phoenix,spring and fall) I do all of this on 8lpm, I "walk" my lovey dauchshundRikka in my Jazzy chair with a portable at 3lpm. Sunday I went for a"walk" of 3 miles with my grandchildren all frighting over who got toride with Nany. I will not give up my pleasures and neither should you.You need o2 to keep your organs healthy, not just your muscles and lungsand heart. Some think o2 is a bad thing. I found it liberating becauseI could go back to the things I couldnt do when I was gasping for air. Have faith!Dyane Phoenix IPF 02>> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her ownway. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh!>> I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house,the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....),my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me.I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?>> Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at whatyou CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated thatI cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without havingto sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I siton my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are stillfall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. Thatthere are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway sinceleast spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year'sdregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small treesthat need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I loveto do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not goingaway. Sigh.>> That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 well said Dyanne Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: Sunday afternoon rantTo: Breathe-Support Date: Monday, April 6, 2009, 1:18 PM Georgia, Bruce is right, get thee to an oxygen supplier. I pickedcherry tomatoes this morning and my spring garden is growing just great,lettuce, carrotts, onions and beans. (we get two gardens in phoenix,spring and fall) I do all of this on 8lpm, I "walk" my lovey dauchshundRikka in my Jazzy chair with a portable at 3lpm. Sunday I went for a"walk" of 3 miles with my grandchildren all frighting over who got toride with Nany. I will not give up my pleasures and neither should you.You need o2 to keep your organs healthy, not just your muscles and lungsand heart. Some think o2 is a bad thing. I found it liberating becauseI could go back to the things I couldnt do when I was gasping for air. Have faith!Dyane Phoenix IPF 02>> Hello, all. Hope everyone is having a good day, each in his/her ownway. I have a good day, but can't do anything much with it! Auggghhhh!>> I live in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. I have a nice house,the financial markets didn't take ALL my money (at least not yet....),my husband loves me, my two terriers think the sun rises and sets in me.I'm not taking any drugs for this IPF thing I've got, nor any oxygen. All good, right? What do I have to complain about?>> Well, there's a big part of me that says "Get over it. Look at whatyou CAN do." There's another part of me that is mad and frustrated thatI cannot walk my dog to the end of my driveway and back without havingto sit for 20 minutes to catch my breath. I'm annoyed that when I siton my lovely covered deck in my cushioned chair, that there are stillfall leaves that need to be picked up and put in the compost bin. Thatthere are three bags of garden soil living in my front walkway sinceleast spring. That all my plant pots need to be emptied of last year'sdregs, and readied for this year's plants. That thare are small treesthat need to be taken down. That all these outdoor things - that I loveto do - remain undone because I just can't do it. And that's not goingaway. Sigh.>> That's all. Thanks for letting me vent.> B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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