Friday, March 30, 2007

Week 11 ~ Thursday


I am red-faced as I report that I didn't go to rehab on Thursday either. A whole week. I really had to weigh my options this week and it was very hard to balance what I needed to do. But I did what I did and next week won't be as hectic and I won't have to make such hard choices. Right now I can honestly say that at least I know how important exercise is in my life. I guess I wouldn't agonize over missing it, if I didn't know that it is allowing me the ability to do more with each passing week.




We just finished writing a grant to get some funding to develop a pilot program to provide free home visits for patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) who fall between the cracks of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurances. I am so excited about it and hopeful that with this program, we will be able to provide important education and support to allow patients to be more proactive in the management of their illness and increase the quality of their lives.




Audrey has returned home from her double transplant and is doing very well. She is just 12 years old and a hero to all of us who know her. She and her family have been through so much and to now be on the other side of the transplant after waiting for 4 long years is so heartwarming! Go Audrey!


I'd like to mention here that your comments are welcome here. I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, support, questions etc that you would like to make! The more the merrier!




See you next week!


~Eileen

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Week 11 ~ Tuesday


OOPS! I did it again. I overextended my day with work and appointments and didn't make it to pulmonary rehab. Again. The last couple of weeks have been hectic and since I need money, I'm torn about this. But work just cannot remain an obstacle to getting my exercises in.


It's a viscious circle for me. It's due to the renewed commitment to my health that allows me the ability to do more work. Now, due to the increased work and related researching, meetings and classes, I am having trouble fitting in the thing that I feel is so important. But work and purpose are important to me too.


I didn't sleep a wink last night worrying about this and how to handle it. I can't rest today because I have a class to get ready for, I have a doctor's appt, and class tonight. Tomorrow I WILL go to rehab. Period. I've had this conversation with myself before.


Geesh. I wish the oxygen guy would get here so I can take a shower. If he doesn't get here soon, I'll be rushing to take it and we all know what happens then.


I never had these problems when I just sat around on the couch with the remote in my hand...


See you Thursday!

~Eileen

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Week 10 ~ Thursday


I finished off the week doing 15 minutes on each machine. Next week I will work up to 20 minutes. My blood pressure has been good and O2 sats as well. I'm looking forward to 'kicking it up a notch'. I've also started working with therabands at home and they are really fun!


We had some rain and my breathing was worse before and during it. It is so frustrating to know I can do something and the weather dictates whether or not I can do it on any given day. We are expecting some snow tonight and I just can't do anything without getting excessively short of breath. Tomorrow will be better.


Audrey is managing well without oxygen and they are working on discharge planning with her and her family. She takes all of her meds by mouth now and hopefully will have the last of her chest tubes removed soon. Go Audrey!!
See you next week!
~Eileen

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Week 10 ~ Tuesday


Today I had a meeting to work on program development for our CNA class, and although I said that I had to leave early for rehab, the time ran on and before I knew it, it was too late to get in exercise. I am very disappointed in myself. As I've said before, work was always my excuse for not attending in the past and I didn't want it to ever be a reason for not going again. I plan to work twice as hard this evening to make up for it. I have weights and I have now got therabands so I have no excuse not to work out at home.


Our little friend Audrey is doing well and they think she might go up to a regular floor this week. I was doing a little research because I really don't know alot about cystic fibrosis, and the sad part is that she will still have the disease and these new lungs will last only about 4 years. The image at the top of the page is cystic fibrosis. I know she will be enjoying her new breath but my heart hurts that this will become something that she will have to endure again. What a brave child!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Week 9 - Thursday


I am a walking list of excuses. I can find an excuses to never do anything good for myself and I'm not afraid to use them. BUT, lately I am fighting back. This morning, I thought that I needed to spend my rehab time working on a project for work but realized that work had been my excuse for not attending pulmonary rehab so many times in the past. Time for a change! I overrode my own decision and went to rehab and I'm so glad that I did.


I finished out the week by continuing my progress. I'm doing 15 minutes on each of the pieces of equipment that I use. My oxygen sats remained at 97% and my pulse ran around 116 during exercise. My blood pressure is VERY good at 110/70.



I am going to go for 20 minutes on each next week. I feel really good and the more I do, the more I want to do. I have never felt such a sense of well being before. It took emphysema and a fight for my life to do it. I have been consistent and motivated and it has rewarded me greatly with a renewed lease on life. People around me see it and comment about it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have another chance on making my life better!

See you next week!

~Eileen

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Week 9 ~ Tuesday


It was back to rehab again today for me. I thought I did very well even though I had to squeeze in the session during a very busy work day.


I added another 5 minutes to the treadmill, so my time is 15 minutes now at 1.0 mph. When I get to 20 minutes I am going to start adding some speed to that walk!


I also went up 5 minutes on the Nu-step to a total of 15 minutes. Today I was able to get to 1,200 steps. When I get to 20 minutes on this, I plan to increase the work load.


I remained at 10 minutes on the UBE.


Throughout the exercising, my pulse ran in the 120's. My blood pressure remained pretty constant around 144/70 and my O2 sats ran 97%. After the exercising, my O2 sats remained at 97%. I am pleased with my progress and look forward to more.


Little Audrey is doing well. She has been getting up to a chair, her vent is out and one of her chest tubes is also out. They are keeping an eye on a small pneumothorax, but she is stable and her pain is being managed very well. Please keep Audrey and her family in your prayers.


~Eileen

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Week 8 ~ Thursday


I got some wonderful news today at rehab. Audrey, the 12 year old who had been waiting over 4 years for a transplant, got 2 new lungs this week!!! (see day 2 post) Way to go Audrey! So far she is stable but right after the surgery, which lasted about 12 hours, they had to put in a temporary pacemaker for an irregular heartbeat. Please keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery. Audrey had just been 70 pounds when she had the surgery, and she had become quite debilitated. I am so happy that her long wait has ended and I pray that she will finally be able to laugh and dance and breathe well with this wonderful gift.
My workout was the same as Tuesday. I had hoped to increase the time, but my body wasn't ready yet. My pulse ran around 110-120, my BP from 144/82 to 126/67, my O2 sats stayed at 97%. I look forward to attempting more next week!
~Eileen

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Week Eight


Today was my first day back to rehab after 2 weeks of being away. I have to say, just sitting at the table when I got there, felt so good! It was where I was supposed to be. I got a rousing welcome back from everyone, which felt awesome, too.
I might suffer tomorrow from today's workout, but it doesn't seem that I lost a whole lot of ground in my 2 week absence. I was able to do almost what I was at when I left. My pulse ran much higher during the exercise, but not dangerously so.
My BP was 125/76 when I got there, and my pulse was 126. The walk in had been tough. I stopped 2 times on the way in to catch my breath. My O2 sat was 97%. (Oxygen at 4L continuous for exercise). I rested about 10 minutes before starting.
First I did the UBE, and was able to do 10 minutes, which was where I left off. My pulse ran around 122 and my O2 sat 95%. I have always detested this piece of equipment, but today the time went by in a snap and I didn't dislike it so much. I hope I can like it someday!
Next was the TM. I did 10 minutes at 1.0 MPH. My pulse ran in the upper 120's to a high of 132. My O2 sat was 96%. I had been up to 15 minutes previously so maybe Thursday I will try for that again.
The last one I did was the Nu-Step, which I love. I worked 10 minutes at Level 5; the last time I did it I did 15 minutes. Again, perhaps Thurs I will work up to that again. I only was able to do 665 steps, a far cry from the 1500 I was previously able to do. But it's progress, not perfection, that counts. My pulse ran in the 120's; O2 sat 96%.
By the time I was done, and resting for the last time before leaving, my O2 sat was 96%, Pulse 110 and BP 109/68.
Of course, during all this there was constant conversation. Cheryl, who has cancer as well as COPD, hasn't been attending because she just started another round of chemotherapy. Her wonderfully positive attitude had been such a blessing for all of us and we hope she comes back soon.
I love the conversation that goes back and forth among all of us. It helps the time go by and making new friends is always a good thing for me. I feel so comfortable there and I'm so happy that I didn't have as much of a setback as I had thought.
~Eileen

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Week Seven


Unfortunately I didn't make it to rehab for a second week. I was feeling better but coughing like crazy and that left me breathless and exhausted.


I have been keeping up with sitting exercises and upper body exercises using my weights but I really feel the difference from not attending rehab. So even if I have to go and just sit, I will still go to pulmonary rehab on Tuesday! It is very disappointing to see the decline and I hope it doesn't take long to build back up.


~Eileen