Rehab Starts In Earnest

The day was warm and sunny with a cooling breeze as we motored over for my next morning of Pulmonary Rehab. I was a little fearful that we were slightly late but I needn't have worried, everyone was there but not properly started.

I was hit by the stench of somebodies perfume and recoiled and had to say something. They quickly moved me next to the open outside door and Jon said that it had even got to the back of his throat. You would have thought folk would have more sense but oh well.

Anil the physio along with Gemma were going along taking everyone's SAT's and heart rate and giving them a clipboard and pen with a sheet printed with columns and rows of a list of the mornings exercises. We had to put the date, SAT's and Heart rate and the number on the Borg scale that we felt regarding how breathless we felt in the first column. As we completed each task we entered at the side of that in the same column the number of repeats we did in the 2 minutes allowed us. Thus we could see at a glance at the end of the six weeks how we had progressed week by week if at all.

Anil explained that it was important that we didn't go past the severe stage of breathlessness and a good way of telling if we wern't sure was if we had trouble saying a sentence, e.g. "the cat in the hat came back" lol. If you had to take a breath in between the words then that was above severe and to stop.

That being said they decided to make my first exercise throwing the ball and that so happened to be right by the door where I was sat. lol. Basically I had to throw a soccer ball at the wall and catch it. I was to do as many repetitions in the 2 mins as I liked and to pace myself so I didn't burn out in the first minutes. Take a breath and throw...catch. Take a breath etc.... Jon got out his camera, I gave Oliver the clipboard and asked him to count and Gemma said go and we were away. Pretty easy that one I got 34 although I was glad when the time was up.

Next up was sits to stands. Not one of my favourites but at least I was getting it over with. I took it very steady. I took a breath in and let it out...stood. Breath in and out sat...etc. I did 5 I was SOB but next time I will try to do a few more.

Next came arm raises at the side (I was told not to use the weights yet) I did a very respectable 22.

On to trunk rotations. Sit with hands on hips and face forward then twist head and body to first one side and then the other. 37

Then to my least favourite step ups which they very kindly lowered for me. I was allowed to hold onto a chair placed at the side. We were to step and then down with right leg and then the same with the left leg, that way we were assured that each leg got an equal work out. 4

Wall press's next. Stand facing the wall place hands on wall and lean into wall. Repeat. 25

Marching on the spot 45

Arm curls 23

Bike. Which I missed this time

In the future we would at this point do a walk for up to 10 minutes if able and then break for tea or coffee while we had a talk. However because we had a late start while each exercise was explained to us we left it out.

While we drank a much needed beverage Anil gave us a talk on the facts about our condition which I will cover later.

I have to also say that I look and feel horrible. Years of steroid medication, bad diet and no puff left to brush let alone wash my hair. A year ago I was malnourished now I am just into the over weight category. I was not even this big at full term while pregnant. So be kind to me I am only putting these pics out in the hope they will motivate others and after all, the fact is I am still breathing. ;)