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Post by bobbioh on Dec 13, 2007 22:14:57 GMT -5
DAY 27 - PULMONARY REHABILITATION
Today was my evaluation day at rehab. I was to arrive at 10:00am and assumed that I would be finished by 11:00am and then would exercise. However, the evaluation lasted until noon.
The evaluation was much more detailed than I realized, but I am glad to know that they go to this amount of time and trouble to let me know how they think I am doing and to let me tell them what I think of what I have been doing. I had been given some forms to fill out regarding my progress and turned them in to them prior to the evaluation this morning.
The first person I spoke with was the dietitian. She looked over my forms and asked a few questions and told me that she felt that I had made some good changes in my eating habits. My body fat was lower, and I felt my endurance level was higher along with increased strength in my lower extremities.
She was not concerned about my weight gain. Today I weighed 180 lbs. She said that I have now completed Phase I of the program and that I have ten more sessions to complete. I told her that I probably was eating more in quantity even though the quality of my food intake was better. She wants me to try to decrease the quantity of the food I eat by eating smaller portions and hopefully I will lose a little weight over these next 10 sessions.
Holly, one of the Respiratory Therapists, then came in and we talked about how I felt I was doing along with the pros and cons of the program. I told her that I felt my upper body needed strengthening. She suggested that next Tuesday when I go to rehab that they will select a machine for me to use to strengthen my upper body and due to the time restrictions, will reduce the time slightly on the Bike and Treadmill to accommodate the new machine. This sounds like a good idea to me.
Last but not least, Randall, another Respiratory Therapist, came in and measured me. I still don't have a waistline!! He told me that I was doing very good. He wants me to exercise three times a week instead of two. This is now Phase II of the program. He said that I could either come there to the hospital on Mondays or Fridays to exercise with no cost to me or just walk in the mall for twenty minutes and do some home exercises along with upper body exercises such as the theraband from home. I asked him to let me think about it. I worry somewhat that if left on my own to do the third day of exercise that I might not do it, therefore I won't progress. However, I need to be motivated enough on my own to do at least one day of exercise from my home. I don't want to slip backward, so I may accept the three days at the hospital pulmonary rehabilitation.
The evaluation was very positive and thorough. They seemed to know more about me than even I remembered!! They do keep track.
I enjoyed today and talking with these people. They all seemed very interested in me as an individual both physically and mentally. They reminded me that the Better Breather's Club will be having it's first meeting about mid-January. They will send me something in the mail reminding me of this. It was a good day today and quite enjoyable.
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