I didn’t want to go to Rehab I said no no no….

[WCGreen]

But today, after putting it off for almost two months, I finally went. Pulmonary Rehab, that is. A place where those of us who are Oxygen challenged can go and strengthen the muscles that help us breath. It also gives us a great excuse to get a whole bunch of us semi-shut ins out of the house so we can mingle with people who just might be floating around in the same boat.

What was difficult about today for me and why I put it off a lot longer than I should have is that about six years ago, I walked into this very same Rehab program a very different man. Back then, I was clawing my way back after a 36-day stay at Fairview Hospital. Twenty of those days were in Intensive Care in a drug induced comatose state.

I was in bed with tube feeding for so long; I could barely walk let alone function in the temporal world upon my release. For instance, it took me about an hour, using my cell phone, just to reorder my drugs from the pharmacy trying by trying and failing to touch the correct touch-tones.


http://mylungtransplantyears.wordpress.com/about

Another segment in my Lung Transplant Odyssey.

[artfan]

1. hope you feel better

[WCGreen]

3. We will find out in about a week or two...

If it is anything like it was back in 2004, I should start to feel more energized in about a week or two...

[madmax]

2. Wishing you the best

don't give up. It's hard work - you CAN do it! :hug:

[WCGreen]

4. Thank you....

[grantcart]

5. keep fighting

[myrna minx]

6. May your energy return and you feel well again.

You have been through quite an ordeal. Hang in there. :hi:

[Warpy]

7. I have trouble with that touch tone crap because of arthritis

I suppose I could get a gimp phone with a huge touch pad but I'm not altogether sure how much it would help.

The really challenging one is the menu with all the different options to press. I can either listen to the menu or see the damn keyboard but not both.

I have a cousin on the lung transplant list, so this has been very enlightening to read.

Rehab can save your life. What you're doing without it aint livin'.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. And what an odyssey it is.

I applaud your efforts.

It's so easy to let other things get in the way; I do it too. Today I was supposed to get to the gym, and work out.

I didn't go.

I just didn't feel like it.

So, I understand, and I suspect many of us do.

We want you to live. So get going!

[HereSince1628]

9. Blow!, blow!, blow!, blow! blow!, blow!, blow! blow-BLOW!!!!!

I listened to that twice a week for 16 weeks. There is definitely a psycho-social dimension to therapy with the same people.

The pulmonary rehab clinic was right next to cardiac rehab. Being yelled at sounded stressful, couldn't tell if it bothered patients. The PT's in cardiac rehab checked our BP and turned us loose on treadmills and stationary bikes and let us push ourselves.

[WCGreen]

11. these folks are pretty low keyed...

I get the blow blow blow routine when they are trying to get my lung capacity

[nenagh]

10. Good for you to go to Rehab..

It's just hard to get past that hospital door again as you say so well,

Thanks for keeping us updated...

[jimshoes]

12. Glad you're still with us WC,

Hope things progress well during your recovery.:thumbsup:

[WCGreen]

13. I actually have a good outlook....

I am still aprehensive, of course, who wouldn't be...

But the upside is starting to easily over take the downside...

[gleaner]

14. Good luck to you ...

It will be difficult, but you will come back stronger and better. Take care of yourself. You are in my thoughts.

[WCGreen]

15. Kick

[applegrove]

16. vibes to you on your incredible journey.

[vanlassie]

17. You will probably outlive Amy.

[roguevalley]

18. get better, wcgreen. you are needed. there will come a day when

you don't even remember this it will be so long passed. take care.

[Scurrilous]

19. Good luck.

:thumbsup: