This is whats called, Incentive Spirometry. The goal is not to exhale forcefully and all the way like typical spirometry tests but to inhale slowly and forcefully while keeping the blue bead all the way to the left (my right) in between the two blue arrows and bringing the blue cylinder inside the clear cylinder up as high as possible. For a man my size the typical goal would be about 2000 liters, since Im sick with pneumonia the respiratory therapist set my goal to 1000. I was barely able to bring it up to that before breaking into a coughing fit and taking 10 minute to recover. My second try was better (1000 on the nose), my third was even better (2500!!!!!), my fourth dropped back down to 1000 and my 5th attempt was just under 1000. This test is exhausting, my body is racked with pain all throughout my chest, back, spine, neck, hips, legs and even my feet. I am uncomfortable. It hurts to breathe. Im covered in sweat. My mother is massaging my back which is providing little relief if not almost actually making it worse. We are supposed to complete 10 attempts within an hour..throughout the entire day. On top of everything else that we have to do and be put through on a daily basis. Its hard work and it wipes me out but.. Its worth it. Im hurting beyond comprehension but I can feel my lungs are more open and that soon I will be able to start clearing out gobs and gobs of the sticky gross mucus that clogs up my airways and complicates my breathing. This is hard work, this is trying, this is painful, this is not how I wanted to spend the next 2-3 weeks of my month let alone the rest of my life. Sometimes... I dont want to do this .. But I have to. Sometimes.. I want to give up.. But I cant give up. Im not allowed, my mind wont let me. Im not a goddamn quitter. The words, What cannot be cured must be endured aint tattooed on my neck for nothin.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 23:49:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015