Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Hello, Mary. Yes, my breathing is adversely affected by the heavy, humid tropical weather, by icy cold weather, or heat like in Vegas - 110 degrees years ago when I was there for a week. I came sooooo close to a heat stroke just by walking to another hotel for shopping. I had a time that week.

Same thing happened the summer I spent as a college student in Estes Park, Colorado. Loved that place, but couldn't do anything that took me up more than a couple of feet above the YMCA Conference Center, up in the mountains. No hiking, limited walking or I couldn't breath. Yuck! Interesting, I didn't officially develop asthma until age 35...must have had it earlier

I'm realizing this isn't directly related to age! I never thought about that, have been associating much of my lung stuff with aging. Its not! It's been with me most of my life, I just didn't recognize it, went on about my business, played lots of tennis, ran, played golf, very active. At sea level. I got asthma at 35. Sarcoid hit my lungs at age 40. Since, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Severe obstructive sleep apnea and nightly bi-pap. Truly progressive.

Mary....you helped me just now better understand all this. I called a few minutes ago to the sleep doc at Mayo to find out if we can change the bi-pap settings to give me more air in my lungs at night. My O2 level at home stay around 91-94, 95. Rarely higher. In ED and hospital, mid-high 90's. Maybe she can help increase those numbers? Which I believe will help the heart issues as well.

I'm now having constant lung issues- asthma every day now, so I'm using Symbicort daily and Ventolin as needed. Singulair, for years, sinus meds often, Flonase at night, another nasal spray daytime. Steroids help a lot. It's worse and constant now, but, I will get in better condition by walking....at Mayo inside, at the mall, wherever I can breath.

I just called the YMCA that has the therapy pool with Brooks Rehab. The Y may not reopen the pool and only be run for physical therapy. So, tomorrow I'm getting a prescription for PT at the therapy pool. I'm desperate to get going again and get healthier.

I will share with you folks and look forward to sharing about walking in the pool!
Bless you on your walks and always. elizabeth

I love that you are going to try pool therapy! When my Mom was recovering from a stroke and broken arm (2 events) she needed something to help her feel "normal" - having spent many winters in Texas, where she used the swimming pool every day with her sister and friends. A wise doc prescribed pool therapy in a warm pool at a nearby senior residence in Minnesota. It was her happy place twice a week for over a year. She walked, swam, used the kickboards and pool weights - improved her land endurance and balance and soothed her RA pains. She also visited with the others doing their exercises, so it was social.
After my 5th hip surgery, when I was having gait and walking issues, my therapy team put me in the pool ay our Y - it was wonderful for me, and I used those exercises in our Texas pool for several winters, even taught them to some of my friends. Coincidentally, breathing against the pressure of the water helped me take deeper breaths, so even though I have damaged lungs, I have better O2 sats now.
Pool therapy may not be a magic bullet, but it is a wonderful adjunct therapy, and an especially good place to hang out when it's hot. If it helps you, maybe you can find a pool nearby to use after therapy ends.
Sue

@ess77
Do you know what your O2 saturation levels are while you're asleep? Have you ever had a sleep study? I'm wondering if they are lower during sleep and if you need oxygen connected to your cpap.

I love that you are going to try pool therapy! When my Mom was recovering from a stroke and broken arm (2 events) she needed something to help her feel "normal" - having spent many winters in Texas, where she used the swimming pool every day with her sister and friends. A wise doc prescribed pool therapy in a warm pool at a nearby senior residence in Minnesota. It was her happy place twice a week for over a year. She walked, swam, used the kickboards and pool weights - improved her land endurance and balance and soothed her RA pains. She also visited with the others doing their exercises, so it was social.
After my 5th hip surgery, when I was having gait and walking issues, my therapy team put me in the pool ay our Y - it was wonderful for me, and I used those exercises in our Texas pool for several winters, even taught them to some of my friends. Coincidentally, breathing against the pressure of the water helped me take deeper breaths, so even though I have damaged lungs, I have better O2 sats now.
Pool therapy may not be a magic bullet, but it is a wonderful adjunct therapy, and an especially good place to hang out when it's hot. If it helps you, maybe you can find a pool nearby to use after therapy ends.
Sue

@sueinmn Just yesterday, my physical therapist suggested I get a note from the drs to use the therapy pool at their other office location, 25 miles away. I am not a fan of pools or big bodies of water. We'll see in the coming months...
Ginger

25 miles is a bit of a jaunt, but I was amazed at the progress Mom and I each made with pool therapy. I really believe it helped with the post surgical nerve damage too.
Sue

25 miles is a bit of a jaunt, but I was amazed at the progress Mom and I each made with pool therapy. I really believe it helped with the post surgical nerve damage too.
Sue

@sueinmn Today, I strapped on my sandals, making sure my elephant like left foot was comfortable, and went yard sale-ing with our neighbor. She loves these things, and there was a city-wide event 25 miles up the road. [we're far from everything!] I think I walked a couple of miles total. Very slow, and with assistance from my husband over uneven ground. Whew! Thank goodness for the Tylenol and Gabapentin. My big find was an old dairy milk can that I will clean up and paint, use to hold canes and umbrellas!
Ginger

In reply to Sue…@migizi….I really benefitted from pool therapy, but when Covid started, out only available pool was closed and it still is not open for people to use for maintenance. Thus, there continues to be no pool therapy options available yet here. I miss it so much😔

@jakedduck1

I think a mile and a half is great and don’t dwell on what you used to do. Those are hot temps to be walking in. I never swam 1 mile much less 5 miles and have only been this active since I retired 8 years ago. Like everyone I have up and down days. What I like about my new Galaxy watch active is the reminder to get up and move or stretch at a predetermined time intervals that you can select. It’s currently set for 2 hours…originally preset at every 50 minutes which was so annoying. But I do listen…it’s like a personal trainer and a little animated person appears saying “That’s Great” when you’re done.

I have only had “normal” food at the few restaurants I have been to since my birthday dinner but I will let you know after Fathers Day Brunch. Don’t know where we are going yet but I have a yen for Escargot. I do pick up a 1/4 lb of chopped seasoned ahi tuna at Sprouts when they have it. Did I ever tell you of the time I had mashed sheep’s brains? Thought it was mashed potatoes….tasty. People I was with told me to order this strange sounding dish without letting me know what it was….so I did.

Not a bad walk this morning and I managed to do the 2.5….there are days I only do 2 because of the humidity. Met up with some runners and walkers part way so it made the walk go by faster but I was starting to drip swift when I came through the gate.

Keep moving throughout the day even if it is only a stroll into the dungeon and back to the chair.

FL Mary