One Door Closes...

 

Today I graduated from Pulmonary Rehab! 

I have been tested to see if I can walk further, or be able to do more modified squats (to standing from the edge of my chair.) And the results are being announced to my group of other patients.

I had a group that dwindled down while I was in rehab...whether people dropped out, were sick, or what, I don't know. So there were just 4 of us who graduated out of I think 6 who started together.

I noticed that a huge group (say 18 or so) patients are doing the cardiac rehab on the same days we do...MW & F afternoons. They are doing lots of exercises wearing those heart monitors, then have some sitting balancing and stretching training, and then do a few minutes of quiet meditation...much like the Ornish program, only just a few minutes to do "stress management." Ornish had an hour, with yoga and breathing techniques, then at least 15-20 min. of deep meditation. But I'm glad those folks are learning the importance of reducing stress in order to be more healthy.

The really sad part of all this, is having seen so many sick people be served in Heart Path...where cardiac rehab is offered. It reminds me of the hospital where a whole wing of a floor had nothing but cardiac patients. This is the number one cause of death for lots of us...whether looking at elders, or those who are obese...or just women. And I was all of those!  And the list of cardiologist doctors on the wall at the entrance to the Heart Path building is staggering.

I see all the folks in rehab, or in rooms at the hospital, or in a waiting room at a cardiologists office, and think, some of these folks aren't going to make it. And I have no way of knowing who's more likely to live several more years or not. I wonder if the technicians can tell.

I'm glad I'm not in a medical profession these days.

On a final note, not exactly uplifting unfortunately. The Ornish program is being put on hold as of December. The owners of our hospital and rehab facilities (Mission was bought by "for-profit" Hospital Corporation of America, HCA) are probably looking at the bottom line of the cardio rehab business. And if it doesn't make a profit for them, they may not want to continue offering it. Just think like this (I'm ashamed to say I do think like this)..."why keep these heart attack survivors alive longer, when a second heart operation would mean  more billable surgeries and beds full in the hospital?"

And now I'm going to just live my life one day at a time, including somewhere I can go exercise at least 3 times a week. Yesterday I signed up at our local YMCA. It's a bit smaller than the gym at the Heart Path center...but there's someone who can show me how to use some of the things I haven't used. And there's a heated pool. Of course there's no wearing masks in the pool, so I probably won't use it till Covid is behind us.

Speaking of which...the stats are ugly for today. Even though vaccines are apparently beginning to be available...there is talk that they will only last for a year. For now, I am skeptical that I'll get the vaccine right away. We shall see.