Day 2 - Lessons Learned

 I arrived on time for my 2nd session and was very pleased with myself. The gym is on the top floor of Cape Fear Heart Associates. When we first arrive, we go in and retrieve our clipboards and, if there is a yellow mark on our chart, we have to get weighed. I was told this is because we either have or are at risk for heart failure. Any sudden weight gain is troubling as it could mean a worsening of the condition. There on my chart was the dreaded yellow mark. That was a bit of a reality check. I do not have it, but I am at risk due to the damage done to my left ventricle by the chemo. 

We then go sit in our assigned chairs (about 8ft apart) situated around the gym and wait for the nurse to come by and take our vitals. I find myself sitting there reminding myself of my weight over and over again because we were asked to remember it and tell it to the nurse when it's our turn. I'm afraid I'm going to forget, so I just keep repeating it to myself in my head, LOL. 

Next to our chairs we have a bucket, which is actually one of the plastic pans they sit by your bed in the hospital in case you need to throw up. Thankfully, so far I have not needed it for that. In the bucket is a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope that will only be used for me, and my clipboard where they record all my stats. When it's my turn, the nurse checks my blood pressure which is 100/60 (she frowns because it's rather low) and my heart rate which is 85 (this was ok since I had just walked across the parking lot). She asks me how much water I've had to drink and doesn't like my response of 1 cup of coffee and 1 cup of tea. I usually do better than this, but I was busy at work and just forgot. "Your dehydrated", she says as she brings me a cup of water and tells me to drink it. 

I am assigned to the treadmill this time and told to warm up for 5 minutes, then bring it up to my assigned speed and go until they tell me to stop. At the 15 minute mark they come around and check my stats again. This time, blood pressure is 124/70 and my heart rate is 110. I am given a thumbs up. Hooray for me! After 25 minutes we are told to bring it back down to the warm up speed  for 5 minutes so we can cool down, then go sit back in our chairs.

They come around and check our stats again. I am feeling a bit wonky and I tell her so. I feel a tad dizzy & can't catch my breath. My blood pressure has come back down to 100/65 but my heart rate is still at 95. She tells me I'm a bit "tacky" and I say, "I'm what?" I am told that just means my heart rate is still high. I am told to sit and drink more water. 

They come around again and this time I'm told I can now go downstairs for our relaxation session but to take the water bottle and finish it while I'm down there. I'm still feeling a little wobbly legged, but do as I'm told. In the room downstairs the Stress Management Therapist turns off the light and has us practice deep breathing exercises. I'm hot...and hungry...no not just hungry...I am HANGRY. I think about asking if there are some crackers somewhere I can munch on but don't want to make a scene, so I drink my water and breathe deeply. I then remember that I never ate my lunch! I had taken a salad but the lettuce wilted into a puddle and I couldn't eat it, so I ate an orange and drank a cup of tea. Hmmm, that might have been a bad idea.

After about 15 minutes of "relaxing" we are done. I am sweaty and hot and I do not feel relaxed but most of all I need to pee...like NOW. I drank all that water after all. So I stand up feeling very shaky and make my way out into the lobby to find the bathroom. Half way across the lobby I get the distinct feeling I am about to pass out which is the LAST thing I want to do at that moment. I half run to the bathroom, with my vision starting to tunnel, and into the stall before sitting down and putting my head between my knees to keep from passing out. 

After a couple of minutes, I am feeling much better and I'm able to make it out to my car where I cram some gum into my mouth and head out to find the nearest fast food place I can find. I couldn't get over in time to pull into Wendy's and so cursing my luck, I head to Zaxby's which I know is at the end of 17th. I do fully understand that fried chicken fingers after cardiac rehab is probably a bad idea...but I didn't care at that point. After waiting what felt like an eternity in the drive thru lane finally I have food. I park and eat it right then and there. 

So, lessons learned this time??

1. DRINK water. ALL DAY. Coffee & tea don't count.
2. EAT LUNCH.
3. Have a protein-rich snack about an hour before exercise.
4. DON'T hyperventilate during deep breathing exercises. 

All in all, I think the exercising part went well. I didn't feel over-challenged, just enough. As far as relaxing goes...I think if I am not starving or dehydrated or need to pee, I may be able to relax a little better next time. So far this has been quite an adventure! 

Prayer Requests for Today:

1. Pray for me to remember to drink WATER!
2. Pray for the other ladies who are in my group.
3. Pray that I will continue to improve.
4. Praise that I am able to have this opportunity to improve my heart function!
5. Continue to pray for Jarod as he looks for a job. This Mom wants him to be close to home, but I also want him to have a job that makes him happy, wherever that may be.

Verse for the Day: