I was due a PFT and a consultant appt. Lockdown meant they were cancelled.
My consultant called to ask how I was. So far so good.
He asked more questions than he does when we are face to face. Excellent.
Until :-
I told him I'd managed well but sadly put on a lot of weight. However I believe as shielding finishes I'll be able to loose it.
He then started saying I should exercise on the stairs.
Did he have my notes or someone else's?
I cannot get up the 14 stairs at home without a break half way, he should be aware of this, I've told him more than once. In fact his answer before was "Take it easy on the stairs".
I walk with a wheeled frame with a seat. He has even written a letter for me stating I am very breathless with any movement.
I know he's a busy man but I'm not happy.
Rant over
Written by
wheezyof
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Yes, I am exactly the same as yourself and had the same experience with hospital doctors AND my consultant.
I also have 14 steps upstairs to the loo.. and I have an illeostomy and nerve pain in the left side of body and legs they know this and still they say exercise.
Lat time I said Na, I`ll jist pee the flare an poop in the corner..
That didn`t go down well.
I now just say OK i`ll do what I can. to get to the can, if I can do the can can I`ll use the loo unless i EXPIRE ON THE WAY UP .
Confused........................Join the club........................??
He probably meant the first two or three stairs? if you can get up 7 before having a rest doing a couple up and down now and then is a good idea don't you think?
I can stop for breath every two to three steps although fully knackered by the time i get up the stair but coming down is frightening my legs start to go breathing bad and dizziness.
So I fully sympathise with the post.
HHAHA, I couldn't hit a wet paper bag even if I tried .. so, I think your safe.
When I went for physical rehabilitation they also told me just the first couple of steps. Not all of them. They had steps there and I had to go back and forth on the first three. At the time there was no way I could have done a flight of them. xx 😊
My last Oncology (cancer specialist) appointment was by phone. The whole consultation was taken up with my Covid infection. However given that there is a very high mortality rate with Covid and cancer, I could understand his acute interest with how I managed to avoid hospital admission and survive it as well.
Its ok to rest half way up the stairs and then continue when you have recovered. Why not just use that as your exercise. Climb 4-6 rest then come back down, I am sure over time you will build strength and stamina. But at the same time take good care on the stairs.
The trouble with not doing enough exercise we deteriorate even further and breathing as well as the ability to climb stairs and walk become even more difficult.
I am always breathless, I don't have stairs but on my short walks out there are 4 steps I always make a point of using in order to try and keep fitness maintained. I know my knees would deteriorate further if I didn't.
Doctors will never remember everything you tell them, they see so many patients and they don't have the time to read a patients file before each appointment, hence we do need to keep reminder them.
I have 2 lung diseases, both progressive and I'm 68. I've been lucky, very lucky that my lung function has held at FE1 30% for 18 months : he saw that and said "We wont see any changes now"
My rest half way is a long rest. I do some exercise anyway. The weight is really overeating and not going out for walks (walk a bit and stop to rest, walk rest, walk rest). I explained my house fronts the main foot path through the housing estate, during lock down it's been very busy, like bank holiday at the beach. Makes getting out even for a short walk a big risk.
You don't want to be walking out in those situations. I think many of us are dealing with a bit of the mice who take our clothes in overnight I've been looking for the gnomes who can let them out again but no luck so far
Good you are keeping the exercise going. Well done.
Before i started exercising i could only manage 3 or 4 stairs before stopping. Exercise has boosted me tremendously. I follow the youtube fitness for over 60s with Joanna, cant remember her last name and it is really good, i can walk nearly half a mile on the flat before stopping annd on a good day manage the stairs without stopping. You need to start small and increase gradually i think is best policy.
I agree sometimes doctors don't think before they say. But I'd imagine he did not fully understand the impact of his words had. 😐 Maybe just try the first two steps wheezyof . And see how that goes. xx 💕
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I've been looking for the gnomes who can let them out again but no luck so far 
strange things to find 
pulmonary hypertension
Phone call from Sheffield Hospital
1st hospital respirtitatry appointment cancelled 
