It's been an adjustment coming back and trying to get into the swing of things. I finally got myself a place to work out--the Senior Center. The people there have been so welcoming and supportive of me being there. The facility has an indoor track with good air movement so I'm not melting and running into the cracks like I was walking around the neighborhood in 90+ degree weather.
I've also noticed how much harder it is to exercise with the altitude. Instead of getting by with one liter of O2 like I did in North Carolina, I have to use 3 liters and bump up to 4 if I start coughing too much. To have such a drastic change does tend to build the anxiety when I get breathless. It's something I'm trying to work through. Unfortunately, twice I've started bleeding during my walks and that hasn't helped.
I was seen by my old CF team in Denver on Monday. I wanted to impress them with my improved breathing but it was not to be. I am back down to 27%. I will be starting IV's next week to work on the infection that is taking hold. It remains to be seen whether I will be doing the IV's from home or starting them at the hospital like my doctor would prefer. I think I can do more moving and exercising if I stay home since I don't feel too yucky. They were impressed with my bulging muscles, however, and had heard how well I had done in rehab.
One of my good friends, Danyell, got listed last week for her double lung transplant. I've been a facebook stalker waiting for her to get the call. Another friend, who got her transplant just before I left Duke, passed away this week after being in the ICU for over 5 weeks fighting for her life. She was strong going in so it was surprising things went so wrong.
We celebrated Josh's 26th birthday on Tuesday with dinner at Famous Daves BBQ. He was a good sport to wear his balloon birthday hat for the whole meal which thrilled his little cousins. He got his first ever ice cream cake thanks to the fact our oven blew an element which tends to make cake baking difficult. Thank you DQ.
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| Josh is ready for a pork attack. |
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| The balloon guy was fabulous. |
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| Put his birthday candles around the outside and took off my oxygen so we all wouldn't go poof! |
Thanks for keeping us all posted. I thought of you often while I was in Utah visiting family for over a month this summer. All the wildfires kept you and the firefighters in my prayers too. I hope you are able to be at home with your IV and are making good progress. I love your "attitude of gratitude" and it helps me to see and appreciate all the tender mercies in my life too.
ReplyDeleteKeep your chin up.... you are not alone!