From My Mind to....

Physical Therapy

As I move into my second full day from the hospital, I'm learning a few things about myself.

Normally I like to go for a walk each day. Now that it's a requirement for my recovery, not so much. I guess I'm stubborn and don't like being told I have to do something.

My attempt at exercise this morning showed me two things:

         I grossly underestimated the toll my surgery took on my body. I managed 750 steps (according to my phone), and that really did me in. I wanted to do more (like yesterday doing 1300). I woke up this morning feeling a bit out of breath and in pain. But I didn't listen to my body saying, "Take it easy today." I had to get at it.

         I feel bad that I can do the things around the house that I'd normally do. Doctors placed a 10-lb limit on what I could pick up ... right now that seems generous. I couldn't take the full clothes hamper to the laundry room. Nor back to the bedroom to be put away. My wife is about to witness the many things I do without being told. Oh yeah, she prods me occasionally, but not that often.

Because of the type of surgery I had, I'm required to do a breathing exercise. I must inhale into a plastic apparatus called the Voldyne 4000. Inhaling raises the plunger as far as I can AND as often as I can during the day. It's designed to keep me from getting pneumonia, a common complication from my surgery. As with most people who must do some post-op physical therapy, I dislike it ... a lot.

At least all this therapy can be done at home.