After a short, but not so friendly flare up last week by ‘Lenny’, I realized that due to several personnel/family matters that had been going on since early June that I was not taking care of me like I should be.

So, with discussions within my own mind I realized that maybe it would be a really brilliant idea to get back into that thing they call consistent exercise.

The final thought came when thinking about my 91-year old aunt that just passed away last week and realizing that that is just 30 years older than where I am at today (literally), so maybe I should make the best of it because of the health issues I have and my companionship with ‘Lenny’ – those 30 years are of no guarantee.

With that I made my first effort to get back on that old style stationary bike that sits in the corner of our bedroom, finding in just a few seconds a reminder of how ‘not so comfortable’ the seat was and how boring the ride would be for the 10, 15 or 20 minutes I was hoping to travel.

Boring was solved in a hurry by grabbing the headphones and plugging into my phone while I listen to some Paul McCartney, Backman-Turner-Overdrive, Beach Boys, Gino Vannelli, CCR and others to make the bike trip seem a bit shorter in time.

I have learned from previous miscues to make sure I have my oximeter close by to grab periodically during the trip, so I can make sure my oxygen levels are staying stable and my heartrate is getting into that quality exercise level without pumping too fast – an important factor to watch since I have a permanent glitch in my ticker.

How have the first few days gone, surprisingly well and I have (at least at this early point) been consistent at getting a bike ride in sometime soon after getting up and again mid-afternoon sometime.

According to my LG Health info on my phone, I should be aiming to hit 9,000 steps a day (though my goal eventually is 10,000) and for four of the first five days of my exercise rebirth, I have hit at 71%, 64%, 59% and 56% – for me that is stunningly awesome.  The only day I faltered was on Monday and that was because I had meetings on both ends of the day and other commitments in between that kept me from making the time to get on the bike for more than just 12 minutes.

Even today, my birthday, I began my day as I am hoping to do every day – getting up, awakening my lungs with a run on my nebulizer and then a 15-20-minute trip on that bike in the corner.  My new goal is to not find, but make time in the afternoons to get another minimum 15-20-minute trip in at least five days a week.

What’s on my mind this morning, it’s the fact that normally when I get into a good solid routine of exercising and staying busy for a week, that ‘Lenny’ seems to blast me with a very unexpected case of flare ups or SoB’s (Short of Breath).  Of course, while getting back into the routine I am also being very observant of those darn triggers like weather, stress and foods – my three most major trigger points.

So, as I head into my 62st year of waking up and taking a daily trip down the highway of life – I grasp those elements of life and happiness called hope, faith, love and grace and carry forward with the hopes of giving my wife, kids, grandkids and friends the opportunity to put up with me for another generation of growing up.

And that my friends, is where ‘Lenny’ (my COPD/Asthma) and me are at 4 today.

Want to know who ‘Lenny’ is?  ‘Lenny’ is the name I gave my constant companion called COPD/Asthma.  I have found that referring and dealing with my chronic illness as a companion I am less apt to get angry with it, but instead more likely to work with it like you would in a strong relationship.  Besides treating anything with TLC is much better than hammering away at it as if it was an enemy.

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 – ‘a person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer through wheezingaway.com – no part of this write may be used or copied without written permission.)

NOTES: Sometimes we share what may seem like medical information, but we are only giving descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or Asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer medical founded information.