Pulmonary rehabiltion

[Nik37]

Looking forward to going , but worried I want manage it as get breathless really easy at mo , bending to take washing out of dryer has even taken it out of me tonight .my fev1 is 42% and consult says I've got about 50% I'm 37 and have alpha 1 anti trypsin defenciey xx

[KingoftheCocktails]

The physios will monitor what you can do and you will not be expected to do more than that.As the weeks pass you will find a great improvement in what you can achieve.You will be able to take that washing out of the machine no probs! Please make sure you complete the course to get all the benefits.

Richard

[Nik37 in reply to KingoftheCocktails]

Thanks got assessment tomorrow and I start next Tuesday x

[kimmy59]

You be fine my lung function is lower than yours and I did it, and it made me feel wonderful.

Kim

[Nik37 in reply to kimmy59]

Thanks that makes me feel a bit more positive .

[cofdrop-UK]

Go for it Nik - give it a try. As KOC says they will monitor you and will not be expected to do more than able - although you might be surprised at how much you actually can do. Nothing to worry about - they are there to help you, and remember everyone else there is in the same boat as you to varying degrees. It is a very controlled environment.

Good luck.

cx

[Hidden]

Hi Nik37, a lot of lung patients initially think they can't manage PR because of breathlessness and tiredness, but it really will help you become fitter, cope much more with breathlessness and enable you to achieve much more than you do currently. Being breathless when exerting is quite ok, the PR course will include information on how you can help manage your breathlessness and lung condition as a whole. Well worth moving those legs for

Enjoy it.

[Hidden]

Can't add to the good advice given,go and enjoy it!! xxx

[GIBBO]

You will enjoy it,I've only got 25% lungs working but enjoyed it so much that when the eight weeks where over carried on for the next course positive steps its called in Wales.

[Nik37 in reply to GIBBO]

Thanks that sounds really positive x

[whit]

i`m in my third week of p.r. now ,like you i was apprehensive, but its ok they won`t over stretch you ,go for it(my fev similar to yours 39%/41%)

[Nik37 in reply to whit]

Hi thanks that's good to know , It's going to take in a hour or so to get there by bus and and about a 30 min walk to get there .

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Nik37]

Some at our pul rehab have had taxis arranged for them. I would ask about it.

Good luck.

cx

[Nik37 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Oh ok thanks will ask x

[worried-wife]

My husband starts his course on the 8th. It is ME who is nervous because he seems to have lost hope that anything will make him feel better and is just going to please me! Keep your fingers crossed for us.

[Nik37 in reply to worried-wife]

I will keep fingers and toes for u x

[worried-wife in reply to Nik37]

Thank you, good luck to you too xx Will exchange our 'up' moments in due course I hope!

[Nik37 in reply to worried-wife]

Yeah definitely x

[Ellena in reply to worried-wife]

Fingers crossed and good luck, he will enjoy it and thank you at the end of the course. Make sure he finishes the course, he'll be pleased he did, and you too will feel better.

My husband is my carer and he actually enjoyed the course as much as me and did the excercises with me also, it was a great help to have him with me spurring me on Bless him. let us know how he gets on. xx

[worried-wife in reply to Ellena]

Thanks, in our eighties and 54 years married, this is possibly the hardest part...it has always been ME having operations, etc. now it is the 'strong one' and the roles are reversed! No kids, nobody but us now...so here we go!!xx

[scrobbitty]

Hiya - you will be fine and dandy, honest injun ! My lungs only operate at 21% and I survived quite nicely !

Getting breathless in the PR group is safe and it gives you the confidence to do a little more and not worry as much !

[brooksju]

Hello there, I too am in my 3rd week and its great, the physiotherapist will ask you questions when you are assessed so that they understand you capabilities, I was scared to begin with, its the unknown but now I have got to know them and the others who are in the same situation as me its not so bad and the cuppa and buscuits and chat at the end is nice too, I am beginning to feel the benefits as well so don't you worry it will be fine, let us know how you get on.

Ju x

[beatles]

One of the perverse objectives of PR is to actually make you breathless in a controlled manner/environment. You will learn a range of warm up exercises and circuit aerobic exercises, you will all be carefully monitored and it is graduated so that the first few weeks are short duration exercises gradually increasing as the course and importantly you, progress. You will find it easier as the weeks go by.

My FEV is slightly lower than yours and I managed fine, but yes you will get breathless that is the point and you will feel much fitter. There is a lot more to PR than exercise you will learn an awful lot and all will be explained.

Importantly you will learn critical breathing techniques which help enormously with managing your condition. I found it interesting and also we had a good laugh too. Enjoy....Adrian

[limbobimbo]

Hi Nik37,

I go to P.Rehab and my physio is excellent, she keeps an eye on my oxygen levels which have fallen as low as 59 and never pushes me so I think you'll be fine.

Good luck Liz x

[sitstand in reply to limbobimbo]

An oxygen level of 59 did not concern the physiotherapist how remarkable the recovery rate must be.

[limbobimbo in reply to sitstand]

Hi sitstand,

Sorry to be so dim but didn't quite get the meaning of your comment about my low oxygen levels.

Liz

[sitstand]

Exercise is the largest measure we can take after stopping smoking, during Pulmonary Rehabilitation courses education where you can discuss all elements of your condition with staff with time to tailor activity / ability.

The social aspect should not be overlooked when we learn so much from each other, i do hope all has gone well at the assessment and enjoy the course.

[Ellena]

Good luck Nick, you will certainly benefit by sticking to the course, I too was aprehensive before going, but glad I did, and when it came time to be re-assessed again a year later, they were very pleased with me, so try to do the excercises they give you and when the course has finished, keep up with them as best you can, certainly worth while.