As I keep saying – part of my survival with late stage III COPD is to continually read and learn as much as I can about my ailment and those ailments closely related to it.
Working to pass on some of this information is part of my acceptance of my condition and all it entails, which means sharing what I may learn, read and experience with others so they know they are not alone and just maybe may find or be refreshed about some new tidbit of information to help with their own struggles with COPD and/or life altering disease.
So as with previous postings I share with hopes of raising awareness among others about COPD – this time with some questions and discussion about ‘Pulmonary Rehab’.
‘Pulmonary Rehab’ in any sense is needed to help delay the eventual loss of ability to do things we are used to doing and have control over – especially our ability to breath.
The ‘HOW’ of pulmonary rehab would entail the starting, doing, progressing and paying for your pulmonary rehab so that you can work to improve your battle with COPD/Asthma.
The ‘how’ to get started may possible start with your physician and/or pulmonologist as they would have to give a written referral or prescription for pulmonary rehab in order for Medicare and/or most insurance groups to cover some and/or all the costs involved.
Many times Medicare and/or insurance groups will also require an updated spirometry and/or complete pulmonary function testing done, most likely within the last year at the minimum.
A lot of times the pulmonary rehab will be set out over a period of time or guided by a set number of goals to be reached before Medicare and/or an insurance group will most likely stop covering the costs.
Many times individuals will find a way to continue their pulmonary rehab, even if on a reduced time frame (say like two times per week) because they find the rehab does wonderful things to making them feel better, think better and keep a better outlook toward the future of life with COPD and/or asthma.
Once done with pulmonary rehab the ‘how’ for so many will then become a very personal, individual path as most will want to continue the workout levels of rehab at home on their own because the benefits of continued exercising is measured for what it can do for the body, mind and soul.
Do you understand the ‘how’ of getting a pulmonary rehab program going?
Do you understand and see the ‘how’ a pulmonary rehab program continued long term can be so beneficial to those of us battling COPD and/or asthma?
As with any other of the who, what, where, when and why of pulmonary rehab – the ‘how’ is up to you, and knowing the number of benefits from both a short term concentrated and long term pulmonary rehab program we all should take the ‘how’ and make it a ‘doing and done’.
As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.
Remember always that without breathing a person is without life itself.
With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.
(Copyright@2015, CrossDove Writer)
(Image used cleared for use by yahoo.com and/or google.images.com)
(Information gathered from various news/health websites, the book “Live Your Life with COPD” by Jane M. Martin and COPD Foundation’s “Big Fat Reference Guide on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
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