With the help of my daughter's mother-in-law Gail, I went back to pulmonary rehab this week. I am so grateful for her time and effort to get me into the building so that I can begin to recover from this most recent exacerbation. The long walk surely would have discouraged me from going.
Just entering into the rehab room was wonderful! Seeing everyone after almost 2 months was so comforting to me. The welcome back was sincere, and I had such a feeling of belonging that is hard to describe. I sat at the table and just looked around for a few minutes. Then I checked my BP, 159/92. This isn't good. My pulse was 98 and my O2 sat was 92%. The numbers showed that I wasn't in good shape but I had expected that. I have to start somewhere.
I went to the Nu-step and worked for 10 minutes on Level 5. I was able to complete 870 steps. My sats didn't rise above 92%. I was disappointed but I know that this will improve and I have to be patient. Next I tried the treadmill. I was only able to walk 5 minutes at 1.0mph before I was gasping for air. My oxygen was up to 6L but I just couldn't continue. Another disappointment. Again, my sats didn't rise above 92%, but at least they didn't drop either. I finished the session on the UBE, and did 10 minutes. I went to sit again at the table and I was really tired. This little workout was tough. But I felt that it was a good start and I wasn't as bad as I could have been, given the pneumonia that accompanied this exacerbation. My ending sats were 92%, BP 141/84 and pulse 96.
Thursday came and I was quite breathless in the morning. My shower was difficult and hard to complete. I think that the shower will be my guage to determine my progress. I hated showers and they were the single hardest thing that I ever had to do with COPD. But eventually they became easier and I was really enjoying them again. Once the shower becomes pleasurable again, I'll feel that I'm making good progress. It is amazing to me how quickly we decompensate during an exacerbation! I've bounced back very quickly in the past 2 years, but I think that this time the pneumonia was what did the damage this time around. I need to remember that it will take time and patience to work back up to my "normal" again. But I'm willing to do the work!
Today, Thursday, I started out with a BP of 150/83, pulse 72, O2 sat of 96%. Aha! A sign of improvement! I went to the UBE first and did 10 minutes. My O2 sat ran 96%. Next I attempted the TM, and could only get to 6 minutes. I was ready for a nap after that! My O2 sats ran around 95% for the 5 minutes I walked. I am taking this as a big improvement because last week, my sats would drop when I got up and moved around the house. This week they are staying up. I finished up on the Nu-step and did 12 minutes at Level 5. My sats were 96% and my pulse ran 96.
I am optimistic that I will be able to see an improvement next week, and I am determined to have a good attitude no matter what I accomplish! I am motivated and I am very fortunate to be able to exercise at all!
I learned today that our little friend Audrey, who had a double lung transplant, just had a checkup and her fev1 is 100%!!!! Way to go, girl!
See you next week!
~Eileen
2 comments:
Excellent Eileen, already showing improvement. I'm sure it won't be long before you are right back where you want to be.
These exacerbation's do take a lot out of us but you have the determination and attitude to achieve your goals.
Thanks for sharing your
accomplishments with us. It is so encouraging.
Tim
Bravo, Eileen!
For getting back to rehab, for being sensible about your routine and for not being too hard on yourself. You will get back to where you were with patience and time.
Thank you so very much for your courage in sharing this experience with everybody. I'm sure its helping many.
Jane.
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