A place to process the past road to disability, to record current insights and life lessons, and hopefully to encourage others with life changing incidents to share, learn, and grow with me!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Do I Have To Go To Cardiac Rehab?......Yes, Yes, YES !
Since Ive been home these 7 months
Ive been dealing with being so shortwinded,
it's the #1 "ailment" that I struggle with
besides the actual "tightness" and pain
of the second incision (around the ribs on
my left side)....I'm really out of condition...
To that end Ive been set up in cardiac
rehab 3 times a week, every Mon, Wed,
and Friday....I get a cab ride paid for by my
insurance. When I first arrived there,
again, I wept for the fact that I was
among disabled people having to exercise because we all almost died at one point in the recent past...
I fill out a slip about my meds and weight, and start class with
tabs stuck to my chest that hook up with wires to a transmitter
that sends a signal to the nurse about my "vitals" while I'm exercising..
Then we all stretch, and I use a set of 3 lb. dumbells to start building
back up some muscle....I haven't progressed much on the weight
since the rotator cuffs in both my shoulders hurt too much....
After that short initial stretching, we all use a treadmill, and a stationary
rowing machine, and a recumbent cycle machine for a minimum of
ten minutes each.....I'm at the beginning using the lightest settings as
far as resistance and time...
I really have a love and appreciation for the two rehab nurses who
run the class, Cheryl and Pat....They tirelessly take all of our blood
pressures 3 times a visit, before, during and after the exercises, and
check on our exertion and keep us motivated and cheerful...
This is the rehab class I had the TIA (small warning stroke)
and if it wasn't for the attentiveness of Cheryl who knows what
would've happened! Luckily, I was on the same floor in rehab as
the ER, and I was taken care of promptly.
Ive been told that I should figure Id be going there till at least
the middle of January....I am progressively getting my "wind"
back, and feeling better every day....It's great! I realize that it
takes consistency to really reap the benefits of exercising, and
getting in condition again.
When I go home, I use my computer, and have started a
portrait drawing class online, since I am now able to do the
things that I couldn't very easily when I was painting houses
every day.....like practice my bass and guitar
I still play in a band, and have even gigged a few times since
my heart events. Thank God I am still ALIVE and able to live
life daily to its fullest...to still pursue what I love to do in life,
and I still am living to love and be loved....
Thanks so much for reading
Smilinsteve
Dec 7, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow, looks like you are making the best of it and using your time creatively to boot :)
ReplyDelete