Today, it has been 2 ½ years since I quit smoking. I am still not doing well at pulmonary rehab, oddly enough, my oxygen sats are lower there than anywhere else, including when I am working out in the pool, get out, dry my hands, and check my sats. They are always in the 90’s. The past three times I have gone, they have either made me get off the treadmill or they have slowed me down, same with the stationary bike. I am doing the pursed lip breathing but I can FEEL tightness in my chest. My left shoulder and arm constantly hurt. I called my pulmonologist, they always take days to return calls. I went to my PCP, he ordered a stress test but the hospital has yet to call me to schedule it. I the PCP’s office today to explain what is going on with rehab. He wants me to start an antibiotic on the off chance that there is a low grade infection causing this and he also wants me to see a cardiologist. I asked that they refer me to the same office where my pulmonologist is because they have a really good reputation. I did tell the nurse that there is NO WAY that I will pass a stress test on a treadmill so they need to keep that in mind. There are apparently a couple of other options, one is medically induced stress and the other is a nuclear scan. I have no preference but I do want to know what is going on. I am going to Florida for a week in August with my oldest daughter and my granddaughter, everything is planned and paid for and nothing is refundable. I NEED to feel like myself. I did contact the oxygen people and there will be a concentrator there.
I am so glad I stopped smoking 2 ½ years ago, I suspect that I would not be alive if I hadn’t. Thank you EX, thank you all of my friends.
Love,
Ellen
