PHYSIOTHERAPY

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Gale

PHYSIO   PHYSIO   PHYSIO

Hi there.  Hope everyone had as great a Christmas as we did.  It was a wonderful time that we spent with family and enjoyed good food and good company.  My daughter Laurie held Christmas Eve. so I could just relax and enjoy the evening. Thanks Laurie.  My sister Kathy held Christmas Day.  Thanks for all the work and the great food.  Kathy always goes out of her way to accommodate me any way she can and I really appreciate all her efforts.  It felt strange not to be preparing anything myself this year but I just wasn’t up to it.  My daughter Allison had to put up the Christmas tree this year and she will have the job of taking it all down again once the New Year is over.  Putting the tree up is a fun job but taking it down was never a job I enjoyed so I don’t mind that part.

I don’t get to see my sister Bonnie too often or my nieces Sarah  and Katie and their families either so I look forward to seeing them at Christmas.   Unfortunately my Mom and her husband Jon were sick with the flu so they couldn’t make it but my sis sent them a care package Christmas supper to enjoy at home.  Hope they feel better soon. 

Time for an update!  As you can tell from the title of this post, my new focus is physio.  Three times a week and more when I can fit it in at home.  I am limited to some degree in how much I can do because of my breathing and because of the secondary pulmonary hypertension.  The physiotherapists   use a Borg Scale to decide what degree of intensity I should work at.  The scale goes something like this:

I was told not to go above a 3.  I reach 3 very quickly on the treadmill or when walking so I have significantly lowered the speed of the treadmill  and increased my oxygen from 8 litres to 12 while using it or when I’m walking.  I have also started using a wheelchair occasionally if I have a difficult day and I can’t seem to walk more than a few feet without getting winded.  On the stationary bike and when using the arm weights and ankle weights I can keep my oxygen at about 8 litres.  Same with my stretches.  Strengthening all my muscles is extremely important because I will need to use all the muscles in my arms and legs to assist me in getting up and out of bed or out of a chair.  Unfortunately the body loses some muscle tone just from having the surgery so the more toned and fit I can make myself the better off I will be. 

Speaking of Borg Scale, I really embarrassed myself last time I went to see my local respirologist for a follow  up visit.  I was explaining to him what the team in Toronto were doing and I actually asked him (a lung doctor mind you) if he knew what the Borg scale is.  That’s like asking a gynecologist if he knows what stirrups are.   LOL!!!!  When I realized how dorky I must have sounded I just said, “Well DUH!  Of course you would know what that is!  Please excuse my stupidity.  I must have turned 3 shades of red.  Oh well, live, learn and laugh.

One of the physiotherapists in the treadmill room at TGH said she will arrange for me to start going to a local facility at Freeport hospital here in Kitchener twice a week for physio.  I will still have to go to Toronto physio once a week so they can continue to moniter me.  I think Wednesday morning sounds like a good time so that I can go to support group after. 

There will still be many other appointments in Toronto that I will have to attend like monthly clinic, etc.  but at least this helps cut the number of trips. Guess that just about brings everyone up to date so far.  Check back for updates often.  Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.