Week of April 13, 2009

[adina]

Goodness, where IS everyone? Merry? Colleen? Pat? Sue? I know where MaryAZ is..... she and I were the only two left "standing" at the end of last week! lol well .....

This is the worst I have felt in a LONG time! I started taking theophylline last Wed. in an effort to breathe more easily AND avoid having to land in the ER every 2 months getting an IV push of Prednisone followed by another 4-5 days orally. But I've been getting more and more SOB, so I talked with my doc's office today, and I'm to stop the theophylline, and we'll see if that IS what's causing the increase in SOB. They said it can take 5 days for a med to get out of your system, so I'm to call them back on Friday and let them know how I'm doing - one way or the other.

Anyway, I did my strength training - upper body - 6 exercises, 10 times each, using 2 lb. weights.. I decided to do it before the TM today instead of after as kind of a "warmup." Then I did 8 minutes on the TM at 1.2 mph. Had to stop for a short time. Then did 7 more minutes for a total of 15 minutes and .3 miles. I'm going to do some peddaling this evening while I watch the hot French Gilles Marini on Dancing with the Stars. OO LA LA!

[maryaz]

Hi Adina; Wish you could get your breathing more stablized. Since you say it is the worse ever, could something new be going on? Maybe something else obstructing your breathing. You do still manage to work out or I might think it was an infection. Is your heart okay. I don't like to see any of us get worse.

I have been struggling but pretty sure it is allergy/sinus. I did a nebulizer tonight even and I don't normally use it. I couldn't get my saturation up.

I didn't workout today. I would have this morning but spent time trying to get some exercises in order for daily use. I am going to add theraband to my daily workout once I figure out how to do the 4 I was looking for. As the day went on I was not feeling good. Just got up from a 2nd or 3rd nap.

Interesting about 5 days to get out of your system. If I feel better I will workout tomorrow. I have some catch up to do because I got off my diet yesterday and today. Today was leftovers.

Good work out Adina. Merry we think probably doesn't have computer hookup where she moved into temporary apartment, not sure.

[sue]

I hid out Adina, I didnt do a thing over the weekend!
I've been more SOB lately too, but I think it is allergies with the change of seasons. I hope that's all it is.

As soon as it warms up a bit today, I plan on getting a walk in. I work tonight, so will get some running around/cleaning stuff in there.

[Colleen-NC]

HI ALL, after my disaster at rehab last Thursday, I was layin low for a few days!!

Yesterday did some squats and walked the Target Store.

Today @ rehab I did 8 min on the arm peddler, 6 min on the bike (still hate it) and 8 Min on the Nustep (love it)

Tomorrow I am going to get back to the walking CD by Leslie Sansome, hopefully I will make at least 8 mins.

Adina, thanks on the tip about 5 days for a med to get out of our systems. I was wondering how long it would be before I felt better from not taking that migraine pill. 5 days was just about it.

Mary, I swear I about slept the day away Sunday. Got up, did all prep for Easter Dinner, went to Church, came home, got a few more things together, slept for like 2 hours, got up, ate, slept another 3 hours, got up for a while and then went to bed at 10 and slept all night. I have NEVER done that! Felt pretty good yesterday, thank god!

Till Tomorrow......................

[blondie]

Hello everyone. Colleen, I think you really needed the sleep. Good for you kiddo.

I went to the park today and walked about 1-1/2 miles. My hip started hurting, so after that starts up, I can't walk any further. I am getting out everyday and walking around various stores. The park I go to is beautiful. It's all tree's. No flowers. As a matter of fact, some VERY BIG trees:) Pat

[adina]

Sue, I took it easy over the weekend, too. I hope your SOB is "only" seasonal allergies as well. Isn't it a bummer when spring finally arrives, and we're allergic to it!

Mary, I know you're working hard to get going again, too, and I hope you were able to get to rehab today. I also hope your saturation is up today. Thanks very much for your kind thoughts on my own situation. And I think you're right about Merry's situation with internet access. I hope she's continuing her amazing recovery from TX.

Colleen, you certainly deserved to lay low after rehab last week. Squats and Target walking are good. Now, you didn't do the squats IN the Target store, did you?! lol Great going at rehab yesterday, (I like the NuStep, too) and I hope you and Leslie had a good walk at home today. I hope you know, Colleen, just how hard one has to work to do all that napping.

Pat, good to see you back with us! Great walking outside (which I think is harder than on the TM). But I'm sorry you're having trouble with your hip and hope the problem goes away. Are you packing for your move yet? That will be a real workout!

I didn't take the second dose of theophylline yesterday, and of course, none today. WHAT A DIFFERENCE already! I think I can safely say that my SOB problem was definitely from the theophyline. I really didn't expect it to work the absolute opposite on me, but evidently it can (and did). I was able to do a full 30 minutes on the TM today at 1.2 mph. I stopped for a couple of minutes after 19 minutes (due to an interruption). Then I finished my 30 minutes and had gone .6 miles. Whew! I hope to be back up to 1.5 mph again soon, and then start building back up to 2 mph.

Good luck tomorrow everyone!

[Colleen-NC]

Just picture it,(now I sound like Sophia from Golden Girls) walking down the isle, stop, squat, get up and continue walking ROFLOL!! No I did them at home before I went! (still chuckling)

Glad your feeling better after the theophylline, just never know with these drugs anymore.

[maryaz]

It always frustrates me that one of the nicest times of the year is a good time not to be going outside due to allergy season.

Adina, I am so glad you found your problem and especially before it got worse. Your workout sounds good.

Colleen; I sleep better when I am more active during the day. You sounded like you had a busy day even with your naps. You usually seem active.

Welll, I think I am starting to get sick again. I have the irritated scratchy throat and that is what has started me a couple times. I can feel it coming on and don’t know for sure what to do about it. I think the added drainage is what it is from. Joe is seeing ‘our’ pulmonary doctor in the morning and so I will send a note to him. I would like to nip this right now but have no clue what would work. I will use the Astelin each day now. I was told to do that every day but I cannot accept that unless it is the season and it is now.

No workout and messing up my diet in a way. Maybe tomorrow will be better. Great work Adina.

Pat, hope you are doing better tomorrow. Don't push it. You are right to stop.

[adina]

Oh gee, Mary, I'm SO sorry to hear you're getting sick again... but hope maybe it's "only" allergies. Hope your pulmo sends home a treatment plan for you with Joe.

And yes, I've often thought it's some cruel trick that spring (which is especially welcome here after a long snowy winter) brings with it all the allergies. sheesh!

[Colleen-NC]

Did a set of squats w/5lb. weights at home and 2 reps with the weights. I was hoping to get in some walking to Leslie's CD but I don't see that happening. Not a real good day for me.

Hope you all are doing well!

[adina]

Colleen, I'm sorry you're not having a good day and hope tomorrow is better for you. Still, good work with the squats and weights. I can't even THINK about using 5 lb. weights yet.

I feel a little better today and was able to increase my speed on the TM to 1.3 mph, and I walked for 30 minutes without stopping!! for a total of .65 miles. I did six upper body strength training exercises with 2 lb. weights and increased my reps from 10 to 15 for all but the reverse overhead curl. Whew.

[sue]

I did all the usual cleaning chores at work last night. As soon as I get off this computer in a few minutes, I'm going to get a walk in. I'm hoping to get one in after supper too, before I lay down before work.

You guys are doing good! Adina, couldnt you just picture Colleen squatting in the aisles in Target??
Mary, did you hear anything back from your dr?
Pat, you have such lovely areas to walk in.
Colleen, now that it's later in the day, I hope you are feeling better. Are you coming down with something?

[blondie]

It's very, very windy here and brrrrrr cold. I had to go get film for my camera, so I walked the store for about a mile. Pat

[maryaz]

Hi All; Glad to see everyone is getting 'some' exercise. I still have a scratchy throat today. I sent a note with Joe to my Pulmo of what was happening. This is just how it started in December. After the throat, then got a cough and then blowing nose. Forget which order but everything lasts for few days.

I am doing what I feel might help like resting, eating soup, taking meds I know I should. The doctor called in an Antibiotic. I had mentioned that I dreaded getting on Prednisone. So far my breathing is not real bad. If I have to call in yet, he will know what is going on.

I will be popping in and out between naps. If it gets me totally in bed, I will try to let you know. Just maybe I can stop it but never have before. It is the drainage. Keep up the good work.

Colleen, sorry you had a bad day. Sounds like just a bad day all around

[adina]

Got my exercising in earlier today. I managed 30 minutes on the TM again today, but with one brief stop at about 24 minutes, for a couple minutes' breather. I was able to go 1.4 mph for the first 15 minutes or so, but then I had to drop it back to 1.3, and the final 5 minutes at 1.2 mph, for a total of .667 miles. Still feel good that I could go the full 30 minutes, but maybe I should not try to move up my speed too quickly.

Sue, cleaning can sure take a lot of effort and energy. Were you able to get your walking in yesterday like you hope to?

Pat, I'm with you; it's VERY hard to walk in wind, and when you add the cold, then it becomes impossible for many of us with COPD. Glad you could get your walking in indoors. Do you wear a pedometer? How do you tell how far you go if you don't?

Mary, how are you feeling today? Hope you didn't have to call the doc after you got the antibiotic. Take it easy for now, but do let us know how you are.

[Colleen-NC]

Mary, my pulmo always tells me to gargle with warm salt water fro the sore throat at least 4X's a day, works the best. Hope you feel better soon.

Sue, the weather here is beautiful today, hope you got out.

I think my squats yesterday with the 10 lb. weight was too much on my legs. Stayed off the bike & nustep today. Did 20 min @ 1.2 on the Treadmill and 8 mins @ 5 watts on the arm thingy.

Adina, your doing wonderful!!

I dont' know about the rest of you but overall I feel better. I hope it continues, not sure if its the nice weather coming and the exercise or what but who cares !!!

[adina]

Colleen, I'm sorry your legs are feeling wobbly or sore today, but you sure did a great workout at rehab anyway! And 20 minutes on the TM is GREAT! I'm glad to hear you're feeling better than you were the other day.

It's warmer here and sunny today, and it's supposed to be near 70 degrees tomorrow, and I KNOW that helps ME feel better. I think you have similar weather to what we have here in NE Ohio, Colleen, so spring is ALWAYS a MORE than welcome sight!

Whoopee!

[willomar]

Hi Everyone,
Sounds like you are all doing well. Mary, hope you are feeling better soon. Its so hard to be active when you are sick.
For me, I went to Tai Chi class twice this week. I'm excited because our teacher is going to start teaching a Zumba gold class next month and it sounds like so much fun.

[adina]

Willomar, great to see you here! I've heard good things about using Tai Chi for COPD. How long have you been doing it? And do you do other exercising? I've seen some videos of the Zumba classes, and they look like fun. I don't think I'd be able to keep up, though, with my FEV1. Sigh. You'll have to let us know how it goes.

[blondie]

Hello my fellow exercisers...I was in Redlands yesterday. Let me tell you, we went on a guided tour of the Kimberly House. OMG beautiful, but to get to it you had to walk up a gazillion steps. That did me in. I was able to tour the downstairs of the house, and the other gals went on the upstairs tour without me. We did some driving by beautiful victorian homes and I mean beautiful. I got 2-1/2 miles of walking in. Pat

[adina]

Way to go, Pat! And what a lovely way to get in 2 1/2 miles of walking! Sure beats the heck out of an old TM. LOL What is the Kimberly House? Is THIS it: www.kimberlycrest.org/about_house.html ? Looks absolutely GORgeous!

Well, I plodded along on my TM for 30 minutes, mostly at 1.3mph, and a couple minutes at 1.2 and 1.4 mph, for a total of .65 miles. No stops again today, so I feel good about that. Then I did my weight training - 6 upper body exercises, 10 reps each, 2-lb. weights. Whew! Glad it's Friday.

[blondie]

Adina, yes that was the Kimberly Crest home we toured (for me, only the bottom floor). As you can see stairways on either side of the house and below out of sight was terraced stairs from the parking lot. It was sure easy coming back down the stairs:) The whole city of Redlands has beautiful restored Victorian, gingerbread homes. If I won the lottery, I'd love to buy a home there. Air is clean, town is beautiful. What more could I ask for? lol I'd settle for a cute cottage there.

I went to mall and walked 2.39 miles. I have not set my stride correctly, so not really sure how far I walked. I bought a dark chocolate candy bar from See's. Sugar-free. It is soooo good. 100 calories. not bad Pat

[willomar]

Hi Everyone,
Adina, the tai chi is really enjoyable. I've been doing it for 2 years now. The classes are at our community center and all of us are over 50 and most of us have some sort of medical issue, especially arthritis. I'm the only one on O2 so far. Teacher is a breast cancer survivor. It has been very helpful for balance. As for the Zumba, I could never keep up with regular Zumba either. The Zumba Gold is for those of us who are more mature and slower and we will be modifying it to our individual paces. Aerobics are definitely not my strong suit. I also use an exercise bike and hand weights here at home. Used to go to rehab at our hospital but the time of day was difficult for me, 3PM and I have the energy of a dishrag at that time of day.
The Kimberly Crest home tour sounds lovely and so does the See's chocolate.

[sue]

Pat, that house is beautiful and thanks for the link Adina.
Willomar, i can do zumba in my dreams, lol.

I got a 15 min walk in and saw my first dandelions of the year.

[willomar]

Sue, I hear you, about doing zumba in your dreams. I may well be the hall monitor.