Pulmonary Rehab Day 3

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

DAY 3 - PULMONARY REHABILITATION

everyone. I am moving along well so they tell me and much to my surprise, I am still not sore. Today was a strenuous day at rehab but a good one. When I say the word, strenuous, I mean that I worked hard at what I did. They never have pushed me in any way to increase my workout which is very much appreciated by me. We talk about the days workout and then decide together what the next rehab day's workout will entail. I felt good this morning, but did have to rush a little to get there on time since I had dilly dallied around the house a bit too long this morning. I was a bit out of breath when I arrived at rehab but that was my fault, so I sat down and rested before even checking in at the desk.

I checked in, exchanged by oxygen for theirs as usual and they took my stats. All was well, and off I went to the walking track. I could tell right away that even pulling the oxygen tank behind me that I was walking at a faster pace than before. It was comfortable to do that, and I really didn't think about it. I assumed I would become a bit tired after the first walk around (we walk twice around for our warm up), but I did not. This was another pleasant surprise. I thought to myself, "This exercise/rehab must be working." And, I do believe it is. I did my stretching exercises and noticed that when I did the one whereby I reach back with my right hand and grab my right foot and pull, I previously felt a real tightness in the right thigh muscle. Today, it did not feel anywhere near as tight. I was surprised. It felt the same as my left thigh. My right thigh must be becoming accustomed to the stretching exercises, walking and other exercises. It wasn't sore either. So, that was very nice and very positive.

I was given my card of exercises to do and sat at a bike next the man who had the lung transplant. He said he is doing well and feeling better. He said the healing process has been slow but well worth it for him even though he is on a lot of medication. I noticed that he did not seem short of breath. I could only think, "What a wonderful thing for this man." Research and trials are ongoing and there is hope beyond measure for us all, whether we have pulmonary problems, cardiac problems or both combined. He was beaming with a new lease on life. Bravo for him and also for all the people working on our behalf and those who give money for the research. I climbed on my bike and two minutes were added to my time. I did twelve minutes, instead of ten, on the bike and the level was maintained between 6 - 8. I pretty much stayed near the six today. I did get it up frequently to the 8, but I could tell that I was using my legs much more to push the pedals and since they have told us to always stay at a comfortable rate, 6 was the most comfortable for me. I was a little out of breath but not much when finished, but I could really feel it in my legs. Nothing hurt, and there was no pain, but my leg muscles were quite tired.....a good quite tired I must say. I think I have been expecting pain or exhaustion or something bad, but nothing at all about pulmonary rehab has been painful nor bad. I don't know why I had this in my mind. I just assumed it, and wrongly so. I also did two minutes of resting my legs and pushing the handles which was not difficult. My stats were taken midway through the bike ride as usual.

I would like to mention too that if we feel we can do one or two more minutes of any exercise, then we can, but they do request that we ask them first so they can document it.

My legs were pretty tired by the time I got to the Treadmill, but I got on and finally was able to set the machine (the Treadmill) correctly without help. I walked 10 minutes at a rate of 2 miles per hour today. I didn't have any problems doing this. Again today, I exercised with a lady named Carol, and she finds the Treadmill to be more difficult than the bike, and I am just the opposite. I am not sure why this is. What I do know is that each person is different with different needs and different problems and is on different meds. As we exercise we talk or listen to others talk about their meds, how they feel, and how copd has changed their lives. For many, rehab is one the happiest and brightest times of their week. I am one of those.

Today's rehab seemed to go by faster than usual. I noticed the time when I went to do my cool down walk on the walking track. I think it is because I now know the routine better and don't have to read my card at each point in time as to what to do when. I want to emphasize that although I didn't type this in previously today, I did sanitize my hands off and on throughout the exercises. It is very important to do this to protect ourselves from each other's germs. My cool down exercises went smoothly, and I replaced their oxygen with mine once again and seated myself in a chair to await the Respiratory Therapist.

My blood pressure and oxygen saturation was good today, prior to and after rehab. I decided not to weigh myself today but will weight myself on Tuesday. I'm still so happy about losing three pounds that if I have gained any, right now, I don't want to know it!

After talking with the Respiratory Therapist, she decided that my rates/levels stay the same for this coming Tuesday. She and I talked about my exercising this weekend, and her suggestion was that I make a point if possible to find a place to walk on Saturday or Sunday. She wants me to walk with my oxygen for ten minutes, two times. If I want to do this at one time, then I am to walk ten minutes, rest completely, and then walk the other ten minutes. My other option is to walk ten minutes on two different days. I will probably walk the ten and ten in one day and see how that feels. I'll post what I have done this weekend.

That was the end of my rehab today, and as usual, I was quite hungry. I am finding that after exercising, I am hungry but not starving and didn't feel the need to "stuff" myself or overeat as I normally do. Normally I would have stopped by a fast food restaurant and had a wonderfully delicious cheeseburger with french fries and a glass of sweet tea. Today, I drank from my water bottle while driving home, and when I got home, I satisfied my hunger with a piece of warmed up Mahi Mahi from last night's supper along with a lot of lettuce all rolled up in a tortilla shell with a small amount of light mayonnaise. I didn't have the craving for the normal good southern sweet tea but wanted and drank cold water with ice cubes in it....the colder the better. It quenched my thirst and I was full.

Today was another good day, and I look forward to this weekend for a good walk. I am eating supper out tonight with my daughter for her birthday celebration, and I don't feel as though I have the desire to stuff myself full or look forward to that feeling of being "full." I know I want a salad, and I know I want either pork chops or fish, but for some reason, not steak. And, we are going to a steak house It's possible that some of my tastes for foods is changing. It's a strange thing to me to not want a steak. There is nothing wrong with having a steak, but I just wanted to mention it since this change in my eating desires is brand new and might have something to do with the changes going on in my body with exercises. We shall see.

Until next time...Joyce