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.

All For Coffee.....

Today I ventured out of my room in search of coffee. I have a need for coffee when I am in the hospital more than when I am at home. I don't know why, it's just something I like when I'm stuck here. I've been trying to get out more to keep my strength up. I figured I could make it to the McDonald's that is located in our hospital. The only problem is, it is located a long way from my room, probably a good quarter mile if measured. I'm pretty stubborn so I decided to head out, just me and my O2 tank. I let my nurse know that I was going out for a bit and to the elevators I went. I got on the elevator and went down to the 1st floor where the main lobby is. That was my first rest stop. Good grief, it'll take an hour to get there at this pace. I sat down, got my breath, let my heart rate slow down, then I was off again, slowly. I made it about halfway there and stopped in the middle of a long hall and did the same thing I had done in the lobby, minus sitting down, and waited to calm down. At this point I'm thinking I should just go back to my room and forget it, but again, I am stubborn so I pushed on. I will not be defeated! I finally made to McDonald's and had to stand back from the order line to catch my breath. I almost wasn't even in the mood for a coffee anymore. I just wanted to lay down and cool off, lol. Well I made it this far, I might as well order it, so I did. I also decided to reward myself with an M&M McFlurry, hee hee. I got my coffee and mcflurry and found a table to enjoy my ice cream. I was thinking about my journey back and was wondering if I could find someone to carry me on their back, back to my room. I decided that was too close of contact with someone so I thought about asking someone to roll me back in a wheelchair, then I said what the heck, I made it down here I can make it back. Slowly, I made it back the way I came with my coffee in hand. I got to my room, sat down, cooled off, and enjoyed that cup of coffee even though it took a lot out of me to get it. Whew! Who knew a cup of coffee could be so darn tiring. I think I need to get a coffee pot for my room and save mcdonald's as a treat that my family brings to me when they visit.