Taking A Stroll

Today I got my O2 tank and cranked it up to 10 liters and headed out on the paved walkways around the complex where we are staying. It is a really nice hotel complex, made up of numerous buildings with several rooms to each one. My friend Jess is in a building behind me. I have yet to meet her, but I hope to change that tomorrow. I met a nice man and his family on one of my walk abouts. He had his double lung transplant less than a month ago and is recupperating well. I hope to meet him again soon. Of course pulmonary rehab was mentioned and he did say that we would definately see each other there. What is it with this rehab? I'm almost curious to the point that it doesn't scare me anymore. I want to be a part of it too, lol! I don't want to be the outsider, let me in on the action. Those words could come back to bite me in the butt, but for now I just want to know.
It is amazing how I could have been walking and exercising all this time if someone had given me enough O2. My doctor back home tried to keep me from using too much O2 because of my body retaining CO2, but now I have a bipap machine that I use at night to help expel the CO2. When I was in the hospital here at Duke, the physical therapist said however much O2 it took is what I would get in order to be able to exercise and sustain an oxygen saturation in my blood of at least 90%. In the hospital I pushed myself pretty hard and it took 25 liters of oxygen. Today on my stroll, I was taking my time so it only took 10 liters. I still got a little short of breath, but no more than anyone else who was just out of shape. It felt good to not be a couch potato. I am here and determined to give it my all. This is going to be a new beginning for me. The Lord has seen me to it and now he will see me through it. God Is Great!
My fellow Cyster, Piper, that got her call earlier today, her surgery went well and she is recovering as I write this. Please continue to pray for Piper a speedy recovery.

Out Of The Hospital

Oh wow, I got out of the hospital yesterday and slept soooo good last night! I feel like a new person today. I got discharged around 4 yesterday. The day was spent doing more tests. One test I did was the 6 minute walk. This doesn't sound difficult, but when you have a set of bad lungs it can feel like a marathon. I did really well. I pushed myself and that is what the Dr.s want to see. I am determined to do everything expected of me, even the pulmonary rehab. I have never been to pulmo rehab and I hear it is intense at Duke, but I'm up for the challenge. I used to enjoy exercising so I'm sure I'll still be alive at the end of the day. I couldn't believe how exhausted I was last night when we got settled into the hotel. My legs were weak and I just wanted to sleep and this was just from the testing in the hospital. After being in the hospital for the past 6 wks I've got a lot of work to do to get my strength back. Today I am going to enjoy freedom and peace and quiet. No alarms going off, nobody taking vital signs, no labwork, no tests, just me and the hum of my oxygen concentrator.
I am staying in the same hotel as a friend of mine, who had her surgery in April, and is still recovering. She is recovering well with her new lungs, if only her meds could get adjusted so she wouldn't have so many side affects. It's all part of the trade off I suppose. Thank Goodness us CFers are tough going into this battle. Hang in there Jess!
Please say a prayer for a fellow CFer that got "The Call" this morning for her miracle. She has waited long enough. I pray this is her day!!!
I'm going to drink coffee and lounge on the sofa for a while. Ahhh, enjoy the weekend because next week pulmo bootcamp starts, lol! Lord Give Me Strength!