Pulmonary Rehab Day 2

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Day 2 - PULMONARY REHABILITATION

It was off to rehab for me this morning, and much to my surprise, I lost 3 pounds. I now weight 164 and have absolutely no idea how I could have lost three pounds except for last week's rehab and cutting back on my fat intake. I was thrilled. I woke up feeling well rested this morning and had a good outlook on today's rehab exercises. I had a light breakfast along with my coffee. I was glad to have somewhere to go and a reason to get dressed and out the door.

I arrived early as usual and am beginning to know the routine. I checked in at the desk, located an empty locker for my purse and Helios, located my cannula and tubing and proceeded to hook myself up to their oxygen tank. I then sat down and waited on the Respiratory Therapist. She came by and took my blood pressure and oxygen saturation, asked how I was feeling and if I had any questions which I did not, and it was off to the races, or I should say the walking track for me. On the walking track I met up with a lady named Carol whom I had exercised with last week. We chatted briefly and it was good to see her. At least I'm not the only person who arrives early. Walking the track two times is part of the warm up, so I did not rush but walked at a steady pace and tried to maintain good posture since I tend to slouch. Standing straight instead of slouched over makes it easier to breathe, so I've learned something new today which is good. With head held high and back straight, I rounded the corner to the warm up area and did my stretching exercises. I can still really feel that back right hamstring pull when I stretch. It probably hasn't been stretched since 1985, so that explains it. But I'm not discouraged. I'm going to loosen up than hamstring bit by bit no matter how long it takes...but, very slowly as to avoid injury. I sanitized my hands and along with Carol, headed for the bicycle.

We were told to do the exercise we felt most difficult, first, so I climbed on a bike. I am still going by a card they gave me with the instructions as to how much exercise I am to do on what machine. My bike level stayed the same as last week since last week I had become short of breath, but today I did the full ten minutes keeping the level between 4 - 6 and did well with very little shortness of breath, much to my surprise. I could feel my muscles pulling in my legs, but that was alright since it did not hurt. They changed the second part of my bike exercise due to my right hand and arm which I will explain. I have arthritis in my right thumb and need a joint replacement, so I wear a hand splint which was given to me by my orthopedist. Also, this past July I pulled a muscle in my upper right arm, and it aches a lot when I try to reach or pick up things. They decided that I need to have that checked by my orthopedist before I do anything strenuous with it. So, today I didn't use my right hand much. I did only three minutes on part two of the bike exercise whereby my feet are on a steady, level place..not peddling, and I exercised my left arm and pulled the handlebars with only my left hand. About half way through the first portion of bike riding, they checked my blood pressure and oxygen saturation.

I like the Treadmill, but had trouble working it again today. I thought I had it figured out, and it seemed right, but then I noticed it was set for kilometers instead of miles per hour, so I got some help setting it up. I'm not good at mechanical things, and to me, this is mechanical. They upped me from level 1.6 to level 1.8 mph, and the time flew by with very little shortness of breath, plus I was able to watch the news on TV. They never turn the channel to soap operas or Foodnetwork or sports, so we get the news and that's all. My BP and oxygen was checked also while I was on the treadmill.

Besides Carol, I did see a lot of the same people there, but it seems to change day to day as to who comes when. I know they had said that if we have to rearrange our rehab schedule due to doctor's appointments or any reason, they would be happy to do that. It's a nice thing to know.

I sanitized my hands and walked at a relatively slow but steady pace around the walking track to cool down. I felt good today. I did my stretching exercises too and noticed a poster for a headband called Oxyband. There was a picture. Since I still get entangled in my oxygen tubing when sleeping, my eyes were glued to that poster. It was a plain white, somewhat wide headband (it looked stretchy) and the person wearing it had the cannula in her nose and the tubing ran along the side of her face and through slits of some type in the headband and around to the back. It looked good to me. I have tried wearing the tubing at the back but the front seems best for me although I do get tangled up and find myself awakening and tossing the tubing from left to right on the bed depending on which way I turn. So, I might look into that. I don't want to buy anything I won't use, so Thursday, I will take down the 1-800 number, and give them a call for information.

I put my rehab cannula in it's proper place along with the oxygen tank, collected my purse and Helios from the locker and proceeded to sit down and wait on the Respiratory Therapist. I also sanitized my hands again. My hands are probably going to dry up and wither away, but they stressed it so much that I do it a lot. I also purchased at the Dollar Store several more hand sanitizer bottles to carry with me and have at home.

My pulse rate was higher than last week, so they had me sit there about five extra minutes, but then it was fine, and my oxygen saturation was fine, so I left for the day. My oxygen stayed in the upper nineties the whole time I was at rehab which I'm glad of. I'm not sure why my pulse rate was a bit higher, but it went down.

After rehab, I had enough energy to go by my pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions and then went home. I really wasn't that tired today. Maybe because I slept well last night, but instead of taking a long two hour nap, I dozed on the sofa for about an hour and feel good now.

Thursday they are going to increase my Treadmill rate to 2 miles per hour. The Respiratory Therapist told me that most women walk about approximately 2 miles per hour, so that sounds good to me. Of course, they don't have me on an incline yet, but I'm sure that is to come. I think they are increasing my bicycle rate or level to 6 - 8 Thursday instead of 4 - 6, but cannot remember for sure. I'll let you know Thursday.

I can tell I have worked out today especially when I walk. I can feel it in my thigh muscles. My thighs are not what I would call sore, I just can feel the muscles pulling when I walk a certain way or step to the side. It makes me feel good because I know that these thigh muscles want and need this exercise so very much. It gives them oxygen and better circulation and strength. I have become more aware too of my poor posture which needs working on badly. I told the Respiratory Therapist that I felt that I should have been doing some type of exercises between last Thursday and today and asked if I could. She recommended that for now, I only do the stretching exercises which I've learned at rehab twice between Thursdays and Tuesdays. She also said that if the weather permitted that I could take a short walk twice. They really do want you to go slow, and I feel it's the best way too because I know me, and if I were really sore today, then on Thursday I might not try as hard or as much.

When Thursday comes, I'll be ready with bottled water in hand and determination in my heart and a big wish and hope that I haven't gained weight.

Until Thursday.....Joyce