Starting Rehab

...but not THAT kind of rehab.

Yesterday was my first official day of pulmonary rehab! Tuesday was my 'setup' day where we went over all of my information, made sure my chart was up to date, and went over the program and what I would be doing.

Every day I do exercises on the treadmill, then the arm machine (that little thing that sits on a table and looks like your arms are pedaling a bike), and a step machine which is like climbing steps but you're sitting. I think they're excited to have me because I'm a slightly different case than usual. I'm excited about it too.

When I walked in, I immediately saw a woman doing crafts to pass the time while her husband was in rehab, talking with another lady about their AARP benefits. Yep, I'm definitely the youngest person there.

The most common reasons cardiac and/or pulmonary rehab is prescribed for heart patients and adults with COPD or emphysema. Even the nurses commented how they weren't sure I was the patient, saying "Your chart painted a different picture." I get that a lot, and my doctor and I have talked about it. It's a blessing and a curse. I look healthy—my skin has good color, I'm young, I'm not overweight, I don't struggle to walk or display problems with my joints. But my insides, mostly my lungs, tell a different story. It is difficult because it takes some mental power on my part to also admit that I'm as sick as I am, when I show no outward signs. But hopefully it'll stay that way for a long time!