August 16, 2005

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I am so frustrated!!  Had to go to Dr.’s office today to get an oxygen level test.  Have been on oxygen at night since September of last year when I was hospitalized with bilateral pneumonia and given a portable unit to use when I am physically active.  Evidently Medicare needs verification of need every year to continue payments.  Anyway, I went for the testing and my oxygen level had to drop to 86 to be accepted by Medicare.  I was told to exercise to build up my oxygen levels and to strengthen my lungs.  Just this past February I was hospitalized 12 days with a diagnosis of pneumonia, after extensive testing because I had symptoms of other conditions and/or diseases.   I get so frustrated when they do not seem to take into consideration, the years that I smoked, my age, history of bronchitis and pneumonia.  I have damaged my lungs!!!! They will never get better!!  If I go back to the doctor and show no improvement, then I will be declared non-compliant.  Just the 6 ½ minute walk we did this morning has my legs screaming..  I had to stop once because my chest was hurting.   We had to step up the pace on the return walk to get the level to drop to her 86% level.  <o:p></o:p>

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Have any of you been able to increase your lung capacity and/or your physical endurance through exercise while having the diagnosis of COPD and Fibromyalgia?

Sincerely, Avey<o:p></o:p>