Pulmonary Rehab Eval

[Guest guest]

& Beth thanks so much for your response> It is wonderful to have

people to talk to who understand what you deal with everyday it has been really

difficult the past 4 years not having anyone who really understands.

Beth do you live close to Duke or did someone recommend it to you?

I find the facility at Duke and everyone there really professional,

knowledgeable and compassionate.

My daughter lives in Boston so I went to Mass General for 18 months when I was

first diagnosed because they are highly rated and have a couple of doctors who

specialize in IPF, but it turned out they just do research and had almost no

real treatments available. Duke has been a blessing. I guess it sounds like I

have been everywhere but I was just so frightened by the whole diagnosis I felt

like I had to try to help myself and the 2 pulmo docs I saw here when I was

diagnosed just felt there wasn't much to do.

I would love to hear from folks who go to Emory for the pulmo care.

Look forward to hearing more -

Dorothy, Fayetteville, GA

dx UIP 7/05

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> > > > >> This morning I was evaluated for pulmonary rehab at the Duke Center

for Living-Fitness Center. I met with a respiratory therapist who explained the

program and then I had my 6 minute walk. First time ever I did a 6 minute walk

on an indoor track instead of a treadmill. I started out at 6 liters and

after two laps, the RT upped my flow to 8 liters. I walked a total of 1320 feet

in 6 minutes, roughly a 1/4 mile. My sats stayed in the low to mid 90's.

> > > > >>

> > > > >> Then I did an exercise tolerence test which seemed to be very similar

to a cardiac stress test but with the added attraction of ABG's both before and

after. The fun just never ends huh? LOL

> > > > >> I passed everything with flying colors and the next round of rehab

that has spaces available starts 9/9/09.

> > > > >> The program at Duke runs for 4 weeks, 5 days a week from 12:30 to

4:30. Intense...as a matter of fact it's actually called  " Intensive

Pulmonary Rehabilita tion " . (The RT's at my old pulmonary rehab program referred

to Duke's as the 'boot camp of pulmonary rehab'.) It involves walking,

stationary bike, weight training, pool walking and educational lectures. I am

actually looking forward to it. I need a kick start in the exercise dept. I

expect it to be both tough and challenging but nothing ventured, nothing gained

right?

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> > > > >> We'll see...by the end they'll probably be mopping me up with a

dishtowel. lol

> > > > >>  

> > > > >> Beth

> > > > >> Moderator

> > > > >> Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

> > > > >

> > > > >Wow Beth that is some Pulminary Rehab. My Pulminary Rehab is

nothing like that. I go Tues. and Thur. for 2 hours, for 16 weeks. I see a

Respritory Therapist for one hour, 15 min on NuStep and 7 min of hand bike, then

15 min on treadmill. Then I see the Physical Therapist for one hour, 8 min. on

total gym, then 3 min of stair steps, then arm weights. That is all I do.

> > > > >

> > > > >Today I had my 6MW test. When I first got there I was told I was having

PFT's. I said no I was there for a 6MW, she said no I was scheduled for PFT's. I

said NO I was there for a 6MW. She finially called the DR. and found out I was

supposed to have a 6MW sombody had made a mistake and scheduled me for PFT's.

She finially did the 6MW. I started out a 96 at rest. At 1min I dropped to 90,

at 2 min I was at 85, then I dropped every min, at 6min I was at 76. It took 2

min for my sats to come back up to 96. She said I definately qualify for o2.

> > > > >This afternoon my o2 was delivered. I am on 2lpm with exertion. They

brought me 7 tanks that each last about 3-3 1/2 hours, they are in a backpack

but the are heavy. I can't imagine being gone for 8 hrs. with these. They told

me later I could switch to something else. I guess this will be a learning

experience. I can see why some people never go anywhere. Tomorrow I go to

Pulminary Rehab, I will see how this goes. More later.

> > > > >

> > > > >Jo Ann 53 MI UIP 9/07

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