Well, you accomplished Step 1 - you realized that you can still cook for yourself. I hope it was something you enjoy. I'm not surprised that your heart rate went up, you have been inactive long enough that your body has become "deconditioned." Now you need to move a bit more every time you get up to recondition yourself. A person on the joint replacement discussion says she sets a timer for every 90 minutes, then gets up and walks around for 5 minutes.

Are you ready for Step 2? What might that be? A short walk - even just down the hall if you live in an apartment, or out your door and down the walk if you are in a house? Just keep your phone along in case you need help.

After my Mom had a stroke, she lived in an apartment building in a lovely setting, but was afraid to go out for walks there alone because she tired so easily. She figured out a great solution one day. We took a short walk together, and after a couple minutes, she stopped and said "Right here, mark this spot." Then she said "I'm going to have your brother bring a sturdy lawn chair and set it right here. Then I can walk this far, sit and rest, and walk back." They did, and each week she had someone moving the chair a bit farther for her until she was walking quite a long ways.

The other thing - I'm pretty sure your doctor will agree - stop measuring your blood oxygen and heart rate every little while - this is just increasing your anxiety. Once or twice a day...maybe...as long as you can still breathe (even if it's a little shaky) and your heart isn't pounding out of control, your body will take care of you. If the doctors were really thinking there is something dangerously wrong they would be running a gajillion tests and annoying the heck out of you.

Let me know what you are going to try next!
Sue