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Give and get support around quitting

Barb102
Member

Need Pulmonary Rehab

Went to pulmonary doc today. It’s been getting harder for me to do things and breathe. I do one thing and rest. The stairs leave me breathless. He said my COPD and Emphysema is worse and sending me for tests. Blood oxygen is low. Added a new steroid and wants me to start Pulmonary rehab. I’m waiting to hear if insurance covers it. I’m very nervous. I guess I thought not smoking would make it better. I don’t think it can. I think it would have just made it worse. I’m very nervous and not really sure what lung rehab is. It’s 3x a week for 8 weeks. Sorry I’m just feeling down 

there are worse things and I’m here having a pity party. I guess it’s because I did this to me. Please newbies keep your quits and don’t turn out like me. I don’t smoke anymore but the damage is done

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28 Replies
Barb102
Member

Oh Ellen. Thank you so much. I will do this. I want to get better for the VA trip

Sent from my iPhone

LKevinl
Member

You’re in good hands. Your therapist will assess where your lungs, oxygen and overall health is . therapist will work to teach you to try new breathing techniques to avoid exacerbation. You’ll learn about exercise that is doable . I meet with mine, once a week, she sends me home with workout: walk two blocks. Try to kick a ball. My breathing and body together are getting stronger. My pulmonary clinic is part of a hospital. Quite a distrance but worth it. Try it. You can hate it. It’s okay.

kevn

marciem
Member

I haven't read all the replies yet, but I CAN speak to the benefit of Pulmonary Rehab.  Mostly as a motivator.... I mean we can all walk and do some strength and balance exercises with Youtube, right?  Getting started was the hard part for me.

I wasn't sure of the benefit at first, but there is also an educational side, we had 30 minutes of "talk" about various types of breathing, other things we can do, and then 60 minutes of programmed exercise with them checking SAT's every few minutes.  I noted improvement each week, so it was working.

After 8 weeks I was really motivated to continue, and signed up for a close-by gym that had similar equipment that I'd learned to use, and planned on getting some training in strength and especially arms which were weak.

I was good to go for almost 2 months and then.... Covid hit and gym closed.  Weather wasn't good enough for outdoor walking.   Then fires started and air was too bad to exercise outdoors.  Since then I totally lost motivation to even try... What else is gonna pop up? 

Sorry to whine.  Medicare will pay for one go-round of P. Rehab. for COPD.  I spoke to my doc and apparently I have appearing/disappearing lung nodules on top of the COPD, and he gave it a name that he thinks can get me another round of Rehab w/medicare when all this shytestorm is over with.

Yes, COPD is not curable and the best we can hope for is to slow or stop progression.  but with exercise we CAN keep ourselves in shape to still be relatively active.  (c'mon kick yer own butt outta that chair, Marcie  )

Barbara145
Member

Hi Barb.  Pulmonary rehab is a very good thing.  They will teach you how to best take care of yourself.  I have COPD and Emphysema.  I walk every day no matter what.  I know it is helping me alot.  If you don't use you will lose it.  Keeping you in my prayers.

Barb102
Member

Thanks everyone. Great advice I sent this 2 years ago. The Pulmonary rehab was helping me a lot. I was walking a mile!! 3x a week. Now since COVID the rehab is closed. I see the difference in my breathing w/o it. I try to still walk but it’s been so hot humid here or raining. I go for my CAT Scan in December

Strudel
Member

Barb - Great to hear from you! So sorry about the rehab being closed. Hope all goes well on the scan. Please - take care! 

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JACKIE1-25-15
Member

Take care of yourself. Good hearing from you. God bless you and have a happy Thanksgiving.

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Giulia
Member

May your CT scan show nothing of importance.  And may you find something that intrigues you and motivates you enough to keep moving.  Maybe finding  something on line like a Leslie exercise or... come join us in https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/25444-lets-get-moving-part-3 .  It's hot and humid in NJ at this time of year in late November?  Sorry.  It's finally cooling down a bit here in central Tennessee.  For which I'm every so grateful.

elvan
Member

Good to hear from you. I have temporarily had to stop exercising because my O2 sats were dropping so much & my heart rate was over 200 trying to compensate. More testing in December. In the meantime, l “cheat” a little & do little exercises several times a day. What a MESS!

Ellen