Aging Support Group

The Doctor told me I should start an exercise program.

Not wanting to harm this old body, I've devised the following:

Beat around the bush

Jump to conclusions

Climb the walls

Wade through the morning paper.

Drag my heels

Push my luck

Make mountains out of mole hills

Hit the nail on the head.

Bend over backwards

Jump on the band wagon

Run around in circles.

Toot my own horn

Pull out all the stops

Add fuel to the fire

Open a can of worms

Put my foot in my mouth

Start the ball rolling

Go over the edge.

Pick up the pieces.

Kneel in prayer

Bow my head in thanksgiving

Uplift my hands in praise

Hug someone and encourage them.

What a Workout!

Rest At Last.

Submitted by Kenneth, Shropshire, England

Nice try Nevayda!!!!!

LOL

WooHoo, those exercises are second nature! Not too long ago Sue tried to stir up some enthusiasm in the COPD group to get us off our dupas and start exercising.

I ordered Susanne Andrews' "Functional Fitness for COPD" DVD and after one session I swear my chest muscles separated from my rib cage. So I put the soup cans back into the grocery cupboard and hauled out my stepper. I dusted it off and adjusted the tension wheel down to minimum and after no more than 5 steps my ham strings almost snapped! Then Georgie came to the party with her treadmill, rowing machine, trampoline and stationery bike!

So when I saw my doctor on Tuesday about my BP that was doing the fandango, I mentioned my intention to buy a treadmill. To my surprise (and my great relief!) he said absolutely not! "You must walk under your steam, at your own pace and definitely not on the slightest incline!"

So here I am, taking baby steps up and down the corridor, putting my foot in it, bending over backwards, pulling out all the stops and trying to lift my spirits!

Post edited by: Dennie, at: 01/16/2011 07:46 AM

Hey there Ms Denny,

If you felt a lot of stretch in your chest, then you were doing the DVD right. Yes it's gonna hurt for a few days but any new exercise will hurt at first when you have no stretch. Try the DVD again, just start out with the breathing and slowly add some other stuff. I know you can do this, I have faith in you.

I'm really surprised that your Dr. is against a treadmill. You set the treadmill for what you want. I started out with no incline at the slowest speed and worked up. Now I haven't done it for so long that I'm gonna have to start over.

Don't get discouraged if Joe Blow can do more than you can. Everyone is at a different place in our desease. Just know your limits but do not give up, even if you get a little sore. I should really listen to myself and take my advice too LOL.

I am starting another exercise/diet thread at COPD. It will probably end up to be me again. Hope not. Get bored talking to myself. I'm not that interesting!!!!!!

Sue

Sorry denny u cant try the treadmill I dont do incline at all and I started off very little distance slow as I could go and worked up then I had a setback and had to go from 2.4mi/hr to 2mi/hr so its what u can do on any given day but dont do any thing against doctors orders. Does bp mean pulmonary hypertensin?

Hi there ya'll. Yeah, I was quite surprised that my doctor was against the idea of me using a treadmill - seems quite the opposite of what the doctors over there say. Anyway, he said that I must begin my walking up and down my corridor or any flat ground for just 5 minutes per day, gradually working up to about 15 mins without getting SOB. Only then may I work out on a treadmill. I think he prefers caution, knowing that I'm inclined to be impatient with myself.

I went with Rowena to look at treadmills - WOW, they are soooooo expensive!!!! The cheapest & smallest bottom of the range would set me back by about $1,000 - far out of my reach! So it seems the corridor shuffle is my only option. I also hauled out those 2 soup cans from my grocery cupboard to give the Suzanne Andrews exercises another shot. Slowly!!! Argh, gotta fend off the ravages of gravity!

((((hugs)))) all round

Denny

Hiya Georgie. Sorry, BP is my bood pressure. Thank goodness it's behaving itself now. As for PAH (pulmonary arterial hypertension) the doc explained that any lung infection, e.g. pneumonia, bronchitis etc, often puts strain on the heart to pump blood to and from the lungs, but returns to normal when the infection clears up. However with us COPDers, the PAH is always there to some degree, depending on the severity of the disease and our SOB. He said I'm actually fortunate that my emphysema is dry otherwise I'd be worse off than I am now.

I also have what is called here as "thick blood" - a syrupy gloop that makes the heart's job even more strained. I've gotta take meds to thin my blood, but it makes my skin bruise with the slightest bump or scratch. Sometimes my arms from knuckles to elbow are so full of red blotches, you'd be forgiven for thinking I've been through the wars! Although the bruising fades, my arms are permanently scarred. Urgh, real ugly!!!!

Wow if the treadmills are that much there, you are much better off just walking in the house or when it gets nice, outside. I have had mine for years so I never realized how much they went up. And then to think my old man has a $1000 coat rack Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Just start out slow so don't you burn yourself out. There is no way I can do a lot at one time. I have to do a little at a time, several times a day.