Rehab started......

[Fantasy3]

Had my first rehab session today.im afraid to say I feel a bit of a cheat really.

Lots of people on oxygen,and with sticks,or trollies.i don't have to use any equipment yet,and therefore felt a bit 'odd'.

Has anybody else felt they were taking the place of someone more worthy?

I did enjoy it tho,after I got over the initial surprise of how many people were far worse off than me.

[valm]

Glad you enjoyed it don't worry about the other's it's you the important one. When I go to mine find some of them on the treadmills going quite a speed wish I could do that.

They are all varying degrees at my sessions once you get to know the other's hopefully you won't notice the difference, you’re not taking a place of someone more worthy

[Hidden in reply to valm]

Hi Val, hope all is going well for you at PR. I know it is hard for you after having quite a setback with being ill. I am not a betting person, but if I were then my money would be on you - I know you are determined and a 'tryer'. Not many have stuck it out at work as long as you - you have my utmost admiration and I am sure others feel the same too. Remember that when 'the going gets tough'. You are a 'Super Trooper'! x

[valm in reply to Hidden]

Hi P I am in fine form at the minute, doing PR getting out for walks, walking a little further each time At the hospital next week to do the test with the conserver - we will wait and see. When the nurse from BOC came out he said if I can't use a conserver you can't go back to work! A lady on here pointed out to me yes you can still get to work a cylinder on 6L will last an hour enough to get me there they can put a concentrator in the office, it just needs jigging about a bit ha ha. I am on the case to return approx 3rd Sept so watch this space will keep you posted thanks for your comments they give me a great boost Val x

Just want to say to everyone this site is great for advice and support so keep on posting - helping each other

[mactherion]

I felt much the same when I first went to rehab but realised that the reason I was there was to try and prevent me from ending up worse off, relying on oxygen and mobility aids. Enjoy your rehab and make the most of it. Good luck.

[Hidden]

Hi Fantasy, what will make you 'worthy' as you put it, is that you do the exercises and then continue to build on whatever level you reach after the course has finished. One thing you may come to notice over time - as doctors and researchers have - is that our degree of SOB or mobility is not related to our stage of disease or fev1, but to the degree of physical activity we indulge in and keep up. That is why someone with moderate copd may have difficulty walking and be extremely SOB, while someone with fev1 35% going into the very severe stage may be active with little SOB.

I also speak from experience - nearly 4 years ago at fev1 29% I could barely do anything - even turning over in bed had me gasping for breath, it was awful. Now I am really active all day and have comparatively little SOB unless working out - when I would expect to have it. The funny thing is that once you start to really stick with the daily exercise, after the initial struggles of the first few weeks it really becomes noticeably easier in leaps and bounds. As Val mentions above, some of us go at quite a speed. It didn't start out that way though, and had anyone told me just how far I would get I probably would never have believed them. You have to do it for yourself. You GO Girl! P

[Fantasy3]

A huge thank you for all of the lovely,inspiring answers.

Dear p.your comments make huge sense now.i do have severe emphysema,but no cough or chestiness.

I do excercise at home though.quite a lot.maybe this has gone some way to helping my condition.and if that's the case,then I am as worthy as the next person in rehab.

Thank you

[valm in reply to Fantasy3]

Here here