Finished my pulmonary rehab assessment this afternoon. I had to do a 'walk test' - walk the length of a room, round two cones 9 metres apart continually for 6 minutes. Twice.
It's something you'd think was rather easy but Gods it was brutal.
Been absolutely shattered all day since!
Start the pulmonary rehab next Tuesday, the 25th.
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Symes
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Hello Mr Stone. I always find you very informativee and would like to be a follower of yours. Problem is I don't know how to go about it. I am a pure dunce when it comes to techy stuff. What Do you know of stem cell treatment/transplant? In plain English of course. I am more or less your age and with severe emphysema. Six months ago was fev of 32 but I expect it will be lower next time.I imagine that you must have checked it out-what is available in Europe, trials, hospitals etc. I can give you my email if you don't want to put it here. Thanks x
Symes,What was the result of your 6 min walk test,Did you pass not requiring ambulatory o2 or possibly long term o2 or are you fit to do without both.Hopefully the result was pass o2 not required!can,t do emojos so have a smile on me...skis
I have had two types of walk test - the normal one as I call it at the hospital where you go as far as you can backwards and forwards for 6 mins then the pulmonary rehab one - boot class style ~ backwards and forwards between two cones to an ever increasing beep test - hell!!!!!! I expected Ant Middleton from the SAS TV programme to appear!!!!
Ah right thanks. I've been on the waiting list for 3 months! I'll be changing doctors surgery after I move house this weekend, so will chase it up yet again! Hope the PR is helping, Brian
Some Doctors believe that the six minute walk test is a better way of assessing functional capabilities than just pulmonary function tests alone. Which a lot of research would indicate is true.
I had mine when I first came out of hospital with oxygen to see if it would be permanent it was .Had another before PR started was told to stop after 3 minutes levels to low next Monday have another it's the end of PR 😷
Hi Done the walk test, you'll have to do it again at the end to see if you have improved, which you will if you do all the exercises they set you. It really is a worthwhile course and you get to meet people, some some worse. You should get some enjoyment from it.
When I'm given the walk test, it's in a narrow hall with markers I'm told to walk to then turn around and walk to the other marker and repeat; for six minutes. It's slightly claustrophobic
and one day there was a "very" overweight woman doing the walk in the same space so it was quite a 'dance' when we passed each other; all somewhat stressful and I'm sure adding to my overall performance failure.
Hi there. I've recently completed my 6 week session of PR and had my post assessment last Friday. I must say I was very apprehensive starting out, but it's the benefits are so good. Feel so much better in myself, more energy and not so tired. I am being referred on to the local leisure centre to be enrolled on their fitness programme. Good luck and you will find it so beneficial.
I have my assment at the end of the month. You are dead right about the walk test being brutal, I really don't like it, I think it says so in my notes as everyone seems to know. What's this beep thing? Sounds even worse.
Hi Symes, There is no way would I have done that twice. I'm not sure I would/could have completed that entirely the first time around! You know your limit. Next time, you stop them. If that is all you can do without feeling worse, tell them you just aren't able to finish it. Believe me, you won't be the only one that don't/can't finish and don't worry about it. They document the information for therapy and the pulmonologist; because when you are done, there is no one at your house to help you from being in pain from over doing it. I had to learn to say no or that's enough to a lot of things. I' m the one that has to tend to me and I don't want to feel worse. They can get enough information in the first test.
I should have done, you're right. I just felt like I wasn't able to, like there was pressure on me from the assessor to complete it both times, you know?
"There's a chair at the end by the cone. Have a rest if you need one and then carry on..."
You absolutely have the right to say no. If you aren't able to do it, you just aren't able to do it. So if they have to increase your oxygen by a smidge....then so be it. It sure beats being out of breath, feeling bad and just washed out. The Doctor doesn't expect everyone to finish. In fact, probably many don't. Get well soon and the next time, don't push yourself. It's not worth it....and don't feel bad about it. Beats feeling bad like you do now on the next day!
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